How Will California Get More Water?

According to columnist Dan Walters, the political choicesavailable for resolving problems stemming from California's growingpopulation can be reduced to either increasing the supply of whatCalifornians want, or reducing the demand for amenities throughpopulation restrictions, a highly controversial strategy. He citesforeign immigration and high birth rates as the two primary factorsbehind population growth. Highlighting examples of the electricityshortage and the increasing development of open space, Walters explainsthat both supply and demand oriented policies are politicallycontroversial and often lead to inaction. On the energy side, Gov. GrayDavis has attempted to evade making decisions over how to respond to theenergy shortage. Along similar lines in the supply vs. demand policyarena, the Sierra Club is revisiting their neutral stance on populationgrowth.