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State Official: Climate Change Challenges State's Water Supply

Scientists say global climate change will have a major effect on California's water resources. Water experts are making plans now to deal with future shortages. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

State Official: Climate Change Challenges State's Water Supply

Scientists say global climate change will have a major effect on California's water resources. Water experts are making plans now to deal with future shortages. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

Regional water experts are worried about the effects of global warming on California's water supply. Climate change models show the Sierra snowpack will be reduced at least 25 percent by 2050.

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Tim Brick is chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California . He says less supply means we'll have to stretch our water more than we do now.

Brick : Re-use of water supplies, recycling water as it's used so that we make multiple benefits of it, so that we can use reclaimed sanitation water for irrigation and other purposes.

He says what we now consider a drought is going to be a permanent condition by 2040. California's 2006-2007 water year was one of the driest on record for many parts of the state. A second dry year could mean mandatory water restrictions.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.