Skip to main content

Rep. Napolitano Holds Forum on SoCal’s Water Future

August 27, 2015

(Pomona, CA) Today, Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (D-El Monte) held a public forum with local residents and leaders of industry, government, research, and academia at Cal Poly Pomona University to discuss how to achieve a sustainable water future for Southern California.

“We must collaborate to address our state’s ongoing drought crisis and prepare for the future,” Napolitano said. “Today we continue the important dialogue from two years ago, and we are pleased to bring together so many entities invested in water. Our drought challenges are more severe now, and a stronger, more comprehensive approach is needed.”

Today’s forum grew out of the water workshop held two years ago at Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Headquarters and coincided with the State Water Resources Control Board's announcement of conservation numbers for July 2015, indicating a 28.3% reduction in water use in the South Coast hydrologic region, which encompasses Napolitano’s San Gabriel Valley-based district. More than a dozen speakers and panelists offered insights into how to expand Southern California’s water portfolio in a sustainable manner.

“It was great to see how we are working together to talk about these problems, how what we are doing at the state level is informed by NOAA, NASA and others,” saidJanelle Beland, California Natural Resources Agency Undersecretary. “Today’s forum was a really good opportunity to showcase the coordination taking place as we consider our water future.”

Approximately 150 people attended the forum with the goal of continuing a water conversation and setting a different tone in addressing Southern California’s water future. Panelist presentations and discussions among participants also highlighted ongoing challenges the region faces in working toward a sustainable water future.

“The largest obstacle we face is cost,” said Caitrin Phillips Chappelle, Associate Director of the Public Policy Institute of California.” Everything Southern California and other parts of the state want to do to diversify water supplies is expensive. Raising funds locally, getting state and federal support, and trying to maintain affordable water prices are our greatest challenges.”

“It is critical that we fund and share new technologies, research, and innovation; science must be a part of our policy discussions,” Napolitano added. “We must continue to educate each other and the public because without water, we have nothing.”

Napolitano is the top Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment and a current member and former Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Water and Power Subcommittee.

All presentations by panelists will be uploaded following the event and can be accessed here.