California Misses Conservation Needs On Infrastructure Ballot Initiative

"It may come as news to many Californians that, in the words of Peter Gleick of the Oakland-based Pacific Institute, 'We can and in fact we have broken the link between water use, population and economic growth.'

That's been achieved partly by improvements in efficiency and conservation -- drip irrigation, low-flush toilets -- and in part by a changing economy less reliant on water-intensive crops and other uses. The Pacific Institute, a nonpartisan group, also estimates that contrary to the general belief, the state can continue to grow while at the same time further reducing its water use."

However, Schrag laments that conservation is not included in the bond package. "...nothing in those bonds is aimed at reducing demand or asking people to pay for what they want. Not a whisper about an increased gas tax for the road projects; nothing about billing developers for the levees they build behind or requiring insurance from those who live or run businesses there. If you include interest, last week's celebrated deal will cost another $75 billion in the years ahead. The kids will pay for it."