Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state lawmakers came very close earlier this month to a historic pact aimed at restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and ensuring the future of California's water supply. They should get back to work and close that deal.
The package that died at the end of the legislative session was like a glass half full. It was missing some crucial elixers — the result of some hasty, last-minute bartending. But now there is time to finish the job and give the proposals the public vetting they deserve. Why wait?
This package included some attractive elements, including provisions for conservation and groundwater management. The bills would set a statewide goal of reducing water consumption by 20 percent by 2020, and they would expand the state's role in monitoring the overdrafting of groundwater.
The package includes proposals for governing the Delta that improve on the status quo. But certain parts of the state could potentially be harmed by decisions made by this new governing board. They need assurance that they will have reasonable representation on that panel.
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