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Letter to Governor Davis The following is a letter sent to Governor-elect Gray Davis from the Environmental Water Caucus on November 20, 1998, commenting on the composition of his agriculture and water transition group. It asks for a more balanced composition not dominated by Central Valley agribusiness interests. The governor has the power to shape California's water policies, and his office just announced the composition of this new group. Environmental Water Caucus VIA FACSIMILE AND MAIL November 20, 1998 The Honorable Gray Davis Dear Governor-Elect Davis: I write on behalf of the Environmental Water Caucus, a coalition of conservation, fishing, and civic groups working for a sustainable water future for California. We work closely with the Southern California Water Group and with partners throughout the Central Valley, Sierra Nevada and the North Coast. Water resources are central to all Californians. As you well recognize, development of a fair State water policy is among the most complex and important resource issues facing California. Over the past few years California has made progress toward involving a balance of the full range of interests with a stake in California's water future including, for example, environmentalists, recreational and commercial fishing interests, agricultural interests, the business community, urban water districts, community groups, and tribal groups. Yet the composition of the agriculture and water transition group announced by your office yesterday is clearly dominated by a single group--Central Valley agricultural representatives. The history of California water makes it clear that it will require the full complement of interests to produce a durable solution to longstanding disputes. The ongoing CALFED process recognizes the need for this balance. Please let us know how you plan to solicit and incorporate the full range of views on California water policy, whether that involves a reconstitution of the new group, the creation of another water and environment advisory group, or another strategy. We remain committed to balanced water resource policies which are economically and environmentally sustainable, as demonstrated by the water supply reliability blueprint, submitted recently to CALFED (being sent under separate cover). We look forward to hearing from you regarding the role of this new agriculture and water group and your further transition plans to address California's important water resource issues in a way that fully reflects the broad diversity of California and that ensures a balanced, consensus-based and implementable program for California water. Thank you in advance for your consideration as we work together to address California's water future. Sincerely, Jean Auer
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