Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 99
CHAPTER 59
Relative to Groundwater Awareness Month.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
June 03, 2003.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 99, Liu.
Groundwater Awareness Month.
This measure would declare May as Groundwater Awareness Month, and state the commitment of the Legislature to supporting efforts to protect and improve the management of this precious and limited resource, while preserving existing water rights.
Digest Key
WHEREAS, Groundwater is one of California’s most precious natural resources, representing 40 percent or more of California’s water supply in dry years; and
WHEREAS, California withdraws an average of 13 billion gallons of groundwater each day for rural, municipal, industrial, agricultural, and environmental uses; and
WHEREAS, Groundwater is a renewable resource that to some extent, is replenished naturally, but which also requires active management to maximize available supplies; and
WHEREAS, Groundwater is currently being depleted by an average of 425 billion gallons per year in California, causing declining groundwater levels and degrading groundwater quality; and
WHEREAS, California’s increasing population will continue to place new demands on our groundwater resources, through groundwater quality impacts, extraction, transfer, consumption, recharge interception, and supply diversions; and
WHEREAS, Many Californians are not aware that groundwater is an important source of water supply for the state; and
WHEREAS, The voters have recently approved three bond measures with substantial funding for groundwater protection and storage, and the Legislature has implemented several programs to encourage and assist local agencies in managing and protecting groundwater resources; and
WHEREAS, Substantial challenges lie ahead in order to sustain, protect, and manage California’s groundwater resources; and
WHEREAS, California must act through water conservation, public education, water reuse, artificial recharge, conjunctive management, improved source water protection, and other means, to address the increasing demands on our groundwater resources; and
WHEREAS, The Assembly has formed a Select Committee on Groundwater Quality and Availability to study California’s groundwater successes and challenges, and to evaluate opportunities for assisting local agencies in protecting and improving the management of this precious and limited resource, while preserving existing water rights; and
WHEREAS, Declaring May as Groundwater Awareness Month is an important statewide tool for raising awareness among governmental officials and the public about the nature and scope of the challenges ahead; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes and declares the month of May as Groundwater Awareness Month in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California is committed to supporting efforts to protect and improve the management of this precious and limited resource, while preserving existing water rights; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.