VIEWPOINTS: A water conservation proposal could kill tree canopies

BY JIM PEIFER AND VICTORIA VASQUEZ
SPECIAL TO THE SACRAMENTO BEE

California officials are preparing new urban water conservation rules intended to help the state adapt to a drier future caused by climate change. In reality, the proposed restrictions are so great they could actually harm those adaptation efforts by sacrificing the tree canopy we have nurtured in our cities for generations.

The “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” rule package, proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board, sets conservation targets unique to each urban water agency in the state. While conserving each and every year makes sense, so must the restrictions. A recent report by the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office found big flaws in the Water Board’s approach, describing the proposal as overly complex, expensive and unrealistic, with potential water savings amounting to a mere drop in the bucket statewide.

We are particularly concerned about the potential impact California’s mature urban tree canopies. They serve as our first line of defense against climate change. Trees play a crucial role in cleaning the air, sequestering carbon emissions and providing essential cooling in our urban heat islands. The California Air Resources Board identified support of trees among the most impactful urban adaptations to address climate change.

Ironically, the Water Board is proposing to reduce water budgets for outdoor use to the point that property owners could only comply by starving urban forests of water and making California communities hotter and less livable.