Monday Top of the Scroll: San Francisco cuts deal with California water regulators to avoid severe restrictions
Three of California’s biggest water suppliers, including the city of San Francisco, have reached a deal with the state that calls for reducing their immense consumption of river water but not as much as the state had initially demanded. The compromise, announced Thursday, is the latest breakthrough in a years-long effort by state regulators to protect flows in California’s once-grand but increasingly overdrawn rivers. The toll on the waterways, where as much as 90% of the water is pumped to cities and farms, has been exacerbated by drought, leaving fabled runs of salmon and other plants and animals at risk of perishing. … But whether Thursday’s deal, known as “voluntary agreements,” will meaningfully increase river flows — and protect fish and wildlife — remains uncertain.
Related article:
- California Natural Resources Agency: Four More Local Water Agencies Join Agreement to Improve the Health of Rivers and Landscapes