From News Line, a daily compilation of farm water news distributed to CFWC members and others upon request. To receive News Line, click here.

Opinion: Will There Be Enough Water for the Twin Tunnels?

Coalition response…Water users are seeking more reliable water supplies from the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. Deliveries of water that flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have been interrupted in recent years because of drought conditions and Endangered Species Act regulations that are suppose to protect fish. As an example, beginning last December at the same time that water flowing through the Delta was high, regulations meant to protect fish prevented it from being stored for farms to use later in the year. More than 727,000 acre-feet of water went to the ocean instead of helping meet the needs of 25 million Californians and nearly 4,000 family farms. Federal officials have yet to provide information that this action benefited endangered fish.

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan could have avoided this loss of water. Read more about it at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.