In "Managing an Uncertain Future: Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for California’s Water" [PDF], California's Department of Water Resources notes that "California faces shrinking snowmelt, increased flooding, longer droughts and a rise in sea level."
DWR suggests plans, strategies, coordination, and research. Guess what it does NOT mention consider?
Prices.*
I am shocked, really, that DWR -- the folks "in charge" of our water do not even discuss prices as a means of dealing with water use, climate change, etc.**
I don't know how this looks to you, but DWR looks pretty naked to me.
This glossy report is a waste of paper pixels. We don't need more plans, we need better incentives!
Bottom Line: Coping with climate change will be difficult, but it will be far more difficult and far more costly if we are not using all the tools at our disposal -- like prices!
* The only mention of "pricing" was a reference to the conservation pricing and incentivized pricing strategies included in other organizations' laundry lists of "things to do".
** The Legislative Analyst's Office at least discusses realigning water rights, which can happen through markets.
17 November 2008
DWR Has No Clothes
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4 comments:
Rather one is "shocked, shocked" that prices are not part of their solution. No gambling going on there!
Is there a lobby or special interest of some sort putting pressure on DWR to leave that out of the plan? Price is always the sure fire way to cap or reduce water use. Something must be going on behind the scenes.
Jackie: Welcome aboard!
...And I thought only decent, nice people lived in California, and all those crooked, gun toting conservative types had all emigrated to Idaho.
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