Deep AND Wide: LWV Water Work

1. Water: Advocating for Protection Chicago, Illinois June 27, 2018 Gretchen Sabel, Chair LWV Upper Mississippi River Region Deep AND Wide: LWV Water Work Lightning Round Introduction

2. How Deep? How Wide? Data Gathering Responses 59 Leagues responded to the survey. Based on the survey, Leagues in 26 states are active in water issues. The water resources that are being addressed include oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater. How many Leagues are involved in work on water issues? Which water resources are the target of these efforts? What has been learned, and what can be shared to help others succeed? To learn the answers to these questions, LWV Upper Mississippi River Region sought information through a survey, sent to all Leagues in the United States.

4. MassachusettsLWV Plymouth • Drinking water source protection and delivery • Nutrient pollution of water bodies • Groundwater protection • Toxic contamination of waterways and/or ground water • Water scarcity • Climate change • Flooding Focus area is the Plymouth-Carver-Kingston-Duxbury aquifer system, southeastern Massachusetts

5. WashingtonLWV Clallam County We have been conducting a study for the past six months on our watersheds and will need help in creating on outreach to educate the public. LWV Spokane We are just starting to look at toxics/PCBs in the river, and contamination from federal air force base - fire suppressants in ground/well water

6. OregonLWV Deschutes County Focus area is the Deschutes river basin LWV is participating in a current study of Basin by federal and state regulatory boards, irrigation districts and special interest groups on the availability of water from 2005 to 2050, diversions from the river and ground water use, possible actions to mitigate water shortages and the effects on stream and wildlife

7. OregonLWV Oregon LWVOR is involved with the regional Columbia River Treaty with Canada Published 2 studies on water quality/quantity culminating in new positions on which to advocate at the state and local level Participated in developing an Integrated Water Resources Strategy in 2012 and 2017 for Oregon that guides water policy in Oregon References to these documents will be included in the final report on this survey

8. CaliforniaLWV San Diego Drinking water delivery system Water scarcity Climate change Flooding We are very interested in water reuse in San Diego County. Are there any Leagues who are also working on this, outside of California?

9. CaliforniaLWV Benecia Well-documented in handout Concern: Finding Water for All Effects of moving water to southern California Cost of water is hard on some

10. UtahLWV Grand County Water Conservation Open House Presentation on water source protection, Water scarcity Groundwater protection

11. WyomingLWV Laramie Casper Aquifer provides drinking water for almost everyone in Albany County LWV works through Albany County Clean Water Advocates to protect this aquifer – example is using education and advocacy to stop efforts to reduce aquifer protections and allow polluting land uses Doing education now on upcoming special-purpose tax vote – would bring $250,000 for more monitoring

12. LWV has a long history of water work

13. And the work goes on today • Territory is the river basin, from the Headwaters in northern Minnesota to southern Illinois, and all tributaries • Focus on water quality • Water quantity added 2017 • Education and Advocacy • LWV Upper Mississippi River Region