STUDY: HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT KEY TO CENTRAL VALLEY ECONOMY

Review of past five years shows region-wide increase in urbanization,
water demand and energy use.

MODESTO, California, November 30, 2005 – According to a new study from the Great Valley
Center, the health of the Central Valley’s environment is linked to the ability of the fast
growing region to attract highly educated workers and well-paying jobs.

The new report shows as the region’s population has grown, the indicators that impact
quality of life, such as pollution and water use, have also increased. In the San Joaquin
Valley, land converted to urban uses accelerated 31% and energy use increased 19%
while in the Sacramento Valley diesel emissions increased 4.5%. These findings are
among more than two dozen documented in a comprehensive revisit of environmental
data first tracked by the Modesto-based Great Valley Center in 2000. The report is part
of the Center's five-year series examining the region's economy, environment,
community well-being, health and educational performance. Its findings cover the 19
county region stretching from Redding to Bakersfield.

"The environment is tied to quality of life," said Carol Whiteside, president of the
nonprofit Great Valley Center, "The good news is we have made some progress as a
region. But it is unclear whether these gains will be overshadowed by the impact of the
Valley’s dramatic population growth.” At stake, she said, is the future ability of the
region to attract and retain businesses and skilled employees. “Educated workers will
choose regions that are healthy and desirable places to raise their children while
businesses are unlikely to make long term investments in a region that faces imminent
environmental sanctions.”

The report urges policymakers to develop effective strategies to balance population
growth with environmental management or risk facing higher long-term costs and
reduced profits in the future. For example, while progress has been made in reducing the
air pollutants that cause ozone, the number of days above government standards has
continued to increase and the emissions from road dust, exhaust and waste burning is
projected to increase – alongside population growth.

The State of the Great Central Valley: The Environment (2000-2005), is available online
at www.greatvalley.org and includes data on air quality, water supply and quality, land
use, species and habitat, and resources and energy. It was made possible with support
from the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the San Joaquin
Valley Air Pollution Control District and the State Water Resources Control Board.
Additional support was provided by Citibank and Kaiser Permanente.

The Great Valley Center is a nonprofit organization that supports organizations and
activities working to improve the economic, social and environmental well-being of
California’s Central Valley. Major support for the Center is provided by the William and
Flora Hewlett Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation.

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Media Contact:
Richard Cummings
Director of Research & Communications
(209) 522-5103
Email