Think before you spend ...

Great quotes in relation to the risk of chloride in water in the Santa Clara River Valley in the US and the need to do proper studies before spending vast sums of money.

"The residents of the Santa Clarita Valley are well aware of the importance of agriculture to Ventura County and are committed to ensuring that water quality is maintained at a level necessary to ensure continued protection of downstream agricultural activities. The provisions of the regional board's plan for addressing chloride in the Santa Clara River watershed were considered in numerous public hearings and other public meetings held between 2000 and 2004 and deserve to be implemented, rather than short-circuited, as called for by Mr. Roy's and Mr. Laird's coalition. The authors imply that everything we need to know about chloride is already known, which is simply not true. The studies that are being conducted as part of the regional board's plan, at a cost of up to $10 million with input and participation from stakeholders in the watershed, are designed to provide those answers. This is certainly not a sweetheart deal, as stated in the commentary.

While it is true that these studies will take time, the consequences of moving forward without the needed scientific information must be fully considered and balanced. The coalition is calling on the community of Santa Clarita to pay more than $350 million without knowing the answers to the many important questions that are being studied right now. Is this good public policy? We think not and hope the coalition will work with the district and the Regional Water Quality Control Board to develop the science and the ability to make good policy decisions that will protect water quality and benefit all stakeholders, regardless of whether they are Ventura County or Los Angeles County residents.

James F. Stahl is chief engineer and general manager of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, based in Whittier."

See: http://www.venturacountystar.com/vcs/opinion/article/0,1375,VCS_125_4163349,00.html

If only the embattled Mayor in Toowoomba thought the same way ...