http://www.californiadroughtupdate.org/pdf/20171109-California-Water-and-Infrastructure-Report.pdf
Domestically, we need to undertake a massive rebuilding of our infrastructure. Too many bridges have become dangerous, our roads are decaying and full of potholes, while traffic jams are costing millions in lost income for drivers who have jobs in congested cities. Public transit is overcrowded and unreliable and our airports must be rebuilt. You go to countries like China and many others and you look at their train systems and their public transport. It’s so much better. We’re like a third-world country. (page xiii)
Donald J. Trump
“Great Again: How to Fix Our Crippled America”
2015
A Note To Readers
President Trump’s identification of the sorry state of U.S. infrastructure in his 2015 campaign book, his policy of bringing industry back to the U.S., and his often repeated call for an end to the Bush and Obama regime change wars, is why he was elected President. That is why Democrats in the industrial states voted for him.
On this day, the anniversary of his election victory one year ago, the President appears to be making good on some of his pledges, as he and President Xi of China oversee $250 billion in new trade and purchase agreements. The agreements between the two presidents is only the visible element of the close friendship and respect they have for one another. That is clearly seen in this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIkR9dUXBHI
Beginning tomorrow, President Trump will be meeting with President Putin of Russia, and President Xi will be there too, at the APEC heads of state conference in Vietnam. A perfect moment to solve the North Korea problem.
“If China can do it, so can the U.S.,” should be the message President Trump brings home from his trip to Asia. Of course I am referring to the fact that China has the most advanced and extensive infrastructure in the world, and is spreading it to more than 50 other nations. Hopefully, the President will make that slogan a reality now.
In This Week’s Report
That this state requires billions each year just to repair its existing and deteriorating, yet also inadequate, water infrastructure, has been covered in these reports for months. So, what you will find below just pours it on more heavily. But, of course, it is a national question, and included in this week’s report are items that highlight that.
Below we begin with the Oroville Dam repair update.
Then this article, “California’s water problem? Demand keeps rising and supply stays the same,” is included here because it does accurately state the problem, but then falls into the fundamental error of assuming that we humans really cannot change anything so must adapt to “limited resources.” It always amazes me how authors like this one, by ruling out nuclear-powered desalination and really great infrastructure building projects like the North American Water and Power Alliance, want you to accept the idea that we are doomed to only the conservation of limited resources.
That leads to articles on the proposed Temperance Flat Dam and the Delta Tunnels.
Since 30 percent of Southern California’s water supply comes from the Colorado River, a new report on the Colorado River has experienced a 7-percent decline in water flow over the last 30 years, underlines the necessity of a serious, not project by project, approach to water infrastructure is required.
The Orange Country, or Huntington Beach desalination plant has cleared a couple more regulatory hurdles recently. That in itself does not solve the general problem, but does indicate the direction we must go.
I put all the reports on the potential of China joining in on building and financing U.S. infrastructure, calls for trillions of dollars by U.S. institutions, and the elements of the growing emergency funding for repairing the hurricane and California fires required in the report I name “Feature.”
