Statement on Behalf of the County of Tulare, State of California, Concerning the Pacific Southwest Water Plan

Abstract

Document: Before the California Water Commission, Statement on Behalf of the County of Tulare, State of California, Concerning the Pacific Southwest Water Plan Report of August, 1963, November 1, 1963, page 2With this in mind, the County of Tulare looks askance at any proposal such as the Pacific Southwest Water Plan to make further inroads upon the available water supply in the Delta without the importation of additional supplies to the Delta. While the County of Tulare endorses the theory of long range planning, and commends the responsible officials of the State of California for the far-sighted, long range, comprehensive California Water Plan, it must be pointed out that comprehensive long range planning is not like a cup of instant coffee, but requires extensive brewing. The California Water Plan required years of study and research before it was even presented for approval, and a plan as comprehensive in scope as that presented by Secretary Udall is worthy of even more studious attention by those concerned and affected. In view of these basic considerations, the County of Tulare must at this time oppose the endorsement by the State of California of Secretary Udall's report as it is now constituted. However, the County of Tulare believes that this plan should be given further extensive study and examination, and that it could be so amended and revised as to satisfy the principal objections to the report and at the same time achieve its basic objectives. In this regard, the County of Tulare wholeheartedly endorses the statement made by Secretary Udall in Sacramento, California, on October 18, 1963, when he said: "Now, there is only one way in which we can eliminate serious controversy and this is the reason a meeting of this kind is so important, and that is to sit down in advance and to work out points of dispute and try to settle the legitimate arguments and try to protect rights that need to be protected . . ." Secretary Udall is absolutely right and the areas of dispute should be worked out in advance, and to the County of Tulare this means before the plan is presented to Congress. If the report were to be approved by Congress before the problems are solved, the horse would be out of the barn before we could even get the door closed, much less locked. -2-Epson Perfection 4870 Photo, 400 dpi, 8 bit, 1,008,119 byte