Lives affected by eco-imposed
water laws
The Gridley
Herald- 8/8/08
By Karen Duncan
The Department of
Water Resources reports that California is in a drought that will result in the
"most significant water crisis" since weather-pattern observations
began. From the American Association of Climatologists, "We had the driest
spring in California" on record in the last 114 years. It was the driest
for Sacramento since 1849 and the driest for San Francisco in 159 years.
Between 1990 and 2000, as the
result of new regulations, one million acre feet of water was taken from farms,
residential and commercial use and handed over for "environmental"
purposes - water that would have served eight million people andworth 250
million dollars annually.
To save the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from "ecological" collapse,
these regulations were increased, preventing even more water from getting to
farmers in counties such as Fresno and Kern.
Paul Gosselin, Director of Butte County's Water and Resources, wrote in his
monthly newsletter, "The largest court-ordered water transfer restrictions
in state history contributed to place most of the state in a drought
condition".
This action has not only been devastating to agriculture but to California's
economy. Crops are whithering as fish take priority over families and food,
health and stability.
Matthew Park, Director of Kern County's Farm Bureau, indicated, (by phone),
that their small businesses, dependant on farming, are suffering greatly.
"Farmer's have had to let people go. Everyone is effected". He
mentioned how equipment sales and repairs are down and how some farmers are
plowing their fields under.
Two hundred and forty-five million dollars in losses have been tallied to date
throughout the San Joaquin Valley with rangeland taking the biggest hit: 80.1
million dollars lost, followed by cotton at 61.5 million, vegetable crops at
60.8 million - tomatoes, melons, cattle, all seriously effected. Thousands of
jobs are gone and construction projects are on hold since sufficient water
supplies can't be guaranteed.
In June, the Governor issued a "State of Emergency Proclamation" for
nine Central Valley Counties: Sacramento, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno,
Kings, San Joaquin, Tulare and Kern.
Currently, all reservoirs except New Bullards Bar, (Yuba City), and Trinity
Reservoir, (Trinity River), are below 50 percent capacity. Lake Oroville, with
a maximum surface elevation of 900', and a supplier of water to many Butte
County ranchers, is down to 38 percent of capacity. At 702', it is a mere 57'
from its record low of 645' recorded in Sept. of 1977. Much of that
volume was sent south to "provide fresh-water releases [for] control of
salinity intrusion into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to 'protect fish' and
wildlife", according to DWR.
Closer to home, farmers in Glenn and Tehama County get their irrigation water
from the Sacramento River. They were initially told to expect only 40 percent
of their normal supply. That amount was cut to 35 percent .
Gosselin stated that Butte County water-table levels are at "about where
they were during the last drought" which isn't too bad. Ground water is
monitored on a regular basis. "Water quality can indicate a problem"
he said and asked that anyone noticing sand in their wells or other anomolies,
to contact him: 538-4343. A "Drought Task Force" with a "Drought
Preparedness Plan" will be in place in the event we have another dry
season like 2007-08.
Dave Kranz, Manager of Media Services for the California Farm Bureau Federation
out of Sacramento, sent an email with details of an address given to a
Congressional subcommittee in Fresno, in July, on behalf of Federation members.
It included heart breaking stories of farmers having to choose between
sacrificing citrus crops over avocado trees, laying off workers, cutting down
some trees to spare others, a farmer letting his corn and alfalfa die to have
enough water for his almond orchard, another spending $24,000. on a new well
only to have it be a "dry hole".
The tragedies go on and on all the way to San Diego. One farmer implored,
"The future looks bleak without added water. Please help."#
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