Sonoma County Water Coalition Resolution
on
the Protection of Sonoma County Water Resources
December 2010
Whereas human population increases and subsequent
expanded water use are depleting limited water
supplies;
Whereas global warming and consequent changing
climate are causing a chain of circumstances
whereby less clean water will be available in
the future;
Whereas increased pollution of limited fresh
water resources is causing degradation of our
oceans, our groundwater, and our waterways;
Whereas many native animal species and plant
populations are being greatly diminished and
are dying out at unprecedented rates due to pollution,
habitat degradation and over-harvesting;
Whereas agencies responsible for protecting
water and ecosystem resources are subject to
political pressure and, in many cases are being
persuaded to ignore scientific evidence and accepted
scientific values;
Whereas public water and wastewater infrastructure
have not been adequately maintained and are resulting
in water waste due to leaky pipes and hardware;
Whereas private property rights, historic water
rights and well log confidentiality have limited
public policy options and blocked the collection
of critical information needed for effective
management of ground water resources;
Whereas some land use practices, such as inappropriate
forestry and agriculture, and urbanization adjacent
to our waterways are adversely impacting surface
water quality;
Whereas many of our local waterways have been
declared impaired for temperature and sediment,
and some for dissolved oxygen, mercury, pathogens,
and nutrients;
Whereas little is known about bioaccumulation
and the synergistic effects of pollutants as
they may interact under reduced flows and other
degraded conditions;
Whereas these impairments are very likely to
be contributing to species loss, further ecological
degradation, and disruption of the ecological
balance;
Whereas time is of the essence and changes in
our water management priorities are imperative
if we are to ensure water resources for future
generations;
In order to help change future policy direction
toward the protection of our water resources,
Sonoma County Water Coalition (SCWC), consisting
of 32 organizations representing more than 24,000
concerned citizens, resolves as follows:
SCWC will continue to work with elected officials,
governmental agencies and others to focus attention
on water resource issues, give input on proposed
water policy and contribute to the improvement
of our local water environment;
SCWC will advocate for development that will
require no net increase in potable water demand;
SCWC will advocate for reduced greenhouse gas
emissions with special focus on those emissions
created by water use and by water and wastewater
infrastructure;
SCWC will continue to lobby for groundwater
management programs that emphasize both natural
and enhanced recharge and include retaining rainwater
and irrigation runoff as close to the site of
origin as possible;
SCWC will advocate for protection and restoration
of our waterways, wetlands, forests, and other
native habitats;
SCWC will advocate for advanced wastewater treatment
options that assure that any discharge of treated
wastewater is of the highest quality;
SCWC will advocate for conservation and source
control as the first defense against water waste
and water pollution;
SCWC will advocate for infrastructure repair
as a first resort in order to minimize pollution
and diminish water waste by water and wastewater
utilities;
SCWC will advocate for advanced testing and
regulation of emerging contaminants, including
personal care products and pharmaceuticals, and,
where that is not possible,
SCWC will promote the Precautionary Principle
which advocates avoiding harm
first, before toxic substances are discharged,
in circumstances where toxic
impacts cannot be immediately addressed;
Therefore, be it resolved that Sonoma County
Water Coalition will devote itself to educating
its members, decision-makers and the public,
advocating for effective policies to repair ecosystem
damage, and working to ensure clean water supplies
for future generations.
Note: This Resolution has been approved by 30 SCWC organizations with abstentions from CBSC and CNPS.
