Calif. draft water plan lacks substance

By Bettina Boxall, Los Angeles Times

State officials Thursday released the draft of a new California Water Action Plan that doesn’t include much action.

The 17-page document covers little new ground, outlining familiar water policy goals with few details of how they will be achieved.

Among the goals:

• Make water conservation a “way of life” in California.

• Develop local supplies such as recycled water to make regions more self-reliant and reduce their need for imported water.

• Expand the state’s water storage, whether in the form of new reservoirs or groundwater reserves.

• Improve flood protection and provide safe drinking water for all communities.

• Restore important ecosystems.