Reliable long term source of additional water to SLO

By David A. Jeffrey

Long term, reliable water sources are essential to maintain our quality of life in San Luis Obispo.

Clearly we need to partner with our North County neighbors to develop mutually beneficial water resources. Ignoring their concerns with regard to the 19 foot expansion of Salinas would not be in our collective best interest. Perhaps expansion of Salinas in a less ambitious nature would be less costly and more amenable to our northern neighbors.

Our concentrated efforts should be in development of Lake Nacimiento as the most reliable long term water resource. Lake Nacimiento has one of the largest water sheds in the state. The Paso water basin has been estimated at in excess of 27 million acre feet of water. Creative solutions could greatly reduce pipeline construction costs. Most importantly this approach to development of long term water supply will likely be embraced by our North County neighbors in a spirit of cooperation and mutual benefit.