California is in the most severe water crisis in recent history. With federal court orders to significantly reduce pumping in the Delta and climate changes that produced the driest spring on record for Northern California in 2008 and the first state-ordered drought in 16 years, the state’s ability to deliver safe, clean water to its residents and businesses grows more threatened each day.On July 10, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) proposed a $9.3 billion water bond to address the state’s water crisis.ACWA believes the need for a comprehensive water solution has never been more urgent. To truly address the state’s water issues, substantial investments in local water resources, including conservation, water recycling and desalination are imperative. But in addition to local investments, the solution must improve the sustainability of our statewide water storage and conveyance system. The aging system must be modernized so it can protect the aquatic environment and fisheries while still meeting the economy’s need for reliable water supplies.