Battle Over State’s Role in Fight for Water Ends in Senate Committee

August 31, 2018

(SACRAMENTO) – Nearing the final hour of this year’s legislative session, the fate of Senator Richard D. Roth’s Senate Bill 120 was decided. The bill, which proposed to enhance protections of our state’s deserts by further assessing proposals to export desert groundwater, was held in the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

“Proposals to extract water from California’s aquifers deserve the highest level of scrutiny. Anything less is unacceptable. But the validity of that scientific process inherently depends upon people doing the right thing at every stage. Any proposal that takes liberties with that time-tested process turns a potentially sound project into a boondoggle,” said Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside).

Senator Roth continued, “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the future as we determine the role the state will play in safeguarding its most precious resource: water. The facts speak for themselves, and will be discussed again by myself and my colleagues. The science of the Cadiz Water Project is based on a flawed process led by a self-interested agency. The discrepancies between numbers from the U.S. Geological Survey and Cadiz Inc. are alarming at best and dangerous at worst – imperiling an entire ecosystem. I am steadfast in my resolve and the conversation will continue.”

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Senator Richard D. Roth represents the 31st State Senate District, which includes the communities of Corona, Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, March Air Reserve Base, Moreno Valley, Norco, Perris and Riverside. Prior to his election, he served for 32 years in the United States Air Force, retiring in 2007 in the grade of Major General.