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MONTEREY PENINSULA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT BOARD

From the Monterey County Herald
Serving Monterey County and the Salinas Valley

September 14, 2004

L E T T E R S

Editor:

I wish to address the issue of Cal Am's proposed rate increase in water rates (Herald, Sept. 4). I share the concerns of the Felton residents about Cal Am's foreign ownership; its terrible record in terms of conservation and protection of watershed; delinquent stewardship of its water system exemplified by unaccounted water loss and unaddressed siltation of its existing dams and overpriced water.

Merging the rate systems of Felton and the Peninsula will only compound the critical issues facing both entities.

The desal project under consideration would effectively remove management control from the water district and place it in the hands of the county water resources agency, answerable only to the Board of Supervisors. Yet, past irresponsible land use decisions by the board are the precise cause of the overuse of our water resource, which has resulted in the current restriction imposed by the state water resources control board.

If our community wants to regain control of its water supply, we must follow Felton's lead and begin the process of getting rid of Cal Am.

Time is of the essence.

Janice M. O'Brien
Pebble Beach