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

Two CA rivers on ‘most endangered’ U.S. rivers list

Coalition response…The report by American Rivers incorrectly indicates that HR 934 would remove the Merced River from its Wild and Scenic River designation. This is false. The legislation by Rep. McClintock would only lift the designation for the last 1,800 feet of the river for 2-3 weeks every few years as it flows from Yosemite to New Exchequer Dam. The stretch of the river affected is only 1/350 of the protected stretch of the river. The Legislation would increase the spillway, not the dam, by 10 feet, resulting in an increased reliability of available water for farmers to grow food for consumers.

Individuals should realize that construction of New Exchequer Dam was completed in 1967. Twenty years later in 1987 the Wild and Scenic River Act encroached on the hydroelectric project boundary on the Merced River.