Council Asks Legislature to Help Silicon Valley Stave Off Drought Disaster

The Bay Area Council this week called on state legislators to appropriate $20 million to help Valley Water—Silicon Valley’s primary water provider—avoid a potentially disastrous water shortage. Valley Water’s largest reservoir is currently empty for seismic repairs and its allocations of state and federal water have been heavily curtailed by the drought, leaving the agency particularly vulnerable to California’s acute water shortages. The Bay Area Council is requesting $20 million to help Valley Water build the Cross Valley Pipeline Extension Project, which would allow the agency to replenish the Coyote Creek groundwater basin that serves San Jose, Gilroy, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, and more. Bay Area Council members are encouraged to call state lawmakers to voice their support. To engage with the Council’s Water & Climate Resilience Committee, please contact Senior Vice President of Public Policy Adrian Covert.