BIASC Responds to the Final Environmental Impact Report on California WaterFix

Irvine, CA, December 24, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Responses from organizations representing thousands of business and labor groups, water agencies, family farmers, environmentalists, and others came today after the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the Governor’s California WaterFix which was sent out by the Department of Water Resources (DWR).

The groups voiced their strong support for moving this project forward as quickly as possible and said that updating California’s aging water infrastructure through WaterFix is critical to protecting water security for two-thirds of Californians.

The CEO of the Building Industry Association of Southern California, Inc. (BIASC), Mike Balsamo, was one of the many to respond to today’s release of the final environmental impact report.

“California WaterFix is a long-term solution to our state’s water infrastructure problems, and we’re encouraged by today’s milestone. California’s homes, businesses and statewide economy depend on a safe, reliable water supply. We can and should do more to protect those water supplies by advancing this important project.”

According to DWR, the final EIR is released after more than 300 days of public review and 600 public meetings throughout the State considering the draft versions. It includes responses and revisions based on more than 30,000 public comments. The documents released today include review of 18 project alternatives, including the status quo, concluding that the WaterFix is the only viable plan to protect our state’s water supply and the environment.

DWR also reported considering hundreds of alternatives in the development of the WaterFix that were screened out due to lack of feasibility or public benefit. The WaterFix was chosen in order to satisfy the 2009 Delta Reform Act, which established the co-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem.