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

Gebhard: Another attempted hijacking of our water  

Coalition response…The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) is being developed to provide a reliable supply of water to 25 million Californians and thousands of farmers. This is water they already have a right to receive. BDCP will also restore the Delta ecosystem as more than a 100,000 acres of habitat will be created that protects fish.

Those who benefit from the increased water reliability and the ecosystem improvements will pay their share of their costs associated with BDCP. San Joaquin Valley farms, which are mostly family operations, will continue to provide a healthy and affordable food supply that Californians enjoy.

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

Sac River a great all-time hot spot 

Coalition response…Describing the nearly 4,000 family farmers in the San Joaquin Valley as “Wall Street farmers” is far from reality. Second and third-generations operate most of these farms, including sons and daughters who saw their parents and grandparents work to develop the land into the most productive farmland in the world.

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan, as mandated by the California Legislature, is a proposal to create a reliable water supply and restore the Delta ecosystem. The water will flow to 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of farmland. Those individuals and cities have a right to the water and BDCP provides a solution for them to receive it while increasing habitat that will provide protection for Delta fish.

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

Letter: Brown’s tunnel project would destroy Delta communities

Coalition response…It is time for all Californians to come together, including Delta advocates, to solve problems that in some cases have been 150 years in the making. Thousands of farms and 25 million Californians depend on water that flows through the Delta and they have experienced water shortages that have caused land to go unplanted and a cut back in jobs on San Joaquin Valley farms. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is intended to fix these delivery problems and at the same time restore the Delta ecosystem.

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

Letter: Pistachio exporters should pay full cost for scarce water 

Coalition response…Where are the water subsidies that so many people are quick to claim? No subsidies exist for any user receiving water from the State Water Project. In fact, users pay a full contracted amount even in years when they receive less than their contracts call for. Congress decided when the Central Valley Project that the interest applied to construction costs would be waived and that is the only amount that is not charged. Considering the return in billions of dollars of crops produced with this water, it has been a great investment for the American people.

People also need to realize the role that agricultural exports play in our state’s economy. More than $16 billion of farm products are exported each year and that means jobs and tax dollars for California’s economy.

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

Cost of governor’s twin tunnels plan disputed 

Coalition response…Opponents to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan continue to reject the science that has been conducted over the years developing the current proposal. Economist Jeff Michael from the University of the Pacific rejects the work of economist David Sunding from the University of California, Berkeley. Other critics refuse to budge from their positions. Now is the time that all interests should put aside their self-interests and work together to resolve the water problems confronting California

Release Immediate
May 29, 2013

BDCP IS A COST-EFFECTIVE WATER SUPPLY SOLUTION

Questions regarding cost estimates, funding sources and effectiveness of a new water delivery system for California were answered today with the final chapters released that make up the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP), according to Mike Wade, Executive Director of the California Farm Water Coalition.

“The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is the best opportunity to provide a secure water future for all of California,” said Wade.

“The completion of BDCP answers the legislative mandate to create a reliable water supply and to restore the Delta ecosystem,” he added. “Other efforts such as increased water storage and conservation that are outside of the scope of BDCP should continue.”

The total cost of BDCP is $24.5 billion during its 50-year implementation period, as announced today by State water officials. A “beneficiary pays” process has been adopted, which means that water users will pay an estimated 68 percent of costs associated with the two tunnels. The remaining BDCP costs related to habitat restoration, pollution control, anti-poaching programs and other programs to reduce stress in the Delta are expected to be paid through State and federal sources. A final funding plan is still being developed.

“In recent years the water delivery to thousands of farmers that receive water through the Central Valley Project and State Water Project, along with 25 million Californians, has been interrupted by environmental regulations,” said Wade. “Alternatives to BDCP that have surfaced in recent months, including the NRDC ‘portfolio’ that includes a smaller conveyance facility, do not provide the benefits needed for Delta fish species.

“The two tunnels within the BDCP plan have a capacity of moving 9,000 cubic feet per second of water. The alternatives have included a single tunnel at 3,000 cfs. This means less water and a greater risk of interrupting deliveries to farms and city residents and the smaller facilities fail the cost/benefit analysis.

“Residents of Southern California depend on reliable water supplies and over the years public water agencies have been able to deliver. But the risk of earthquake and sea level rise puts that reliability in jeopardy. The cost for these consumers to insure reliable supplies in the future through BDCP is estimated at only $5 per month.”

Following public review of the BDCP chapters and the submittal of comments, a final version will be released later this year.

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

Viewpoints: Brown tries to roll Delta in rush to dig tunnels 

Coalition response…Steve Heringer has a right to question the impacts of new Delta water conveyance on his family’s farming operation. But neither he nor the Delta as a whole exists in a vacuum. Thousands of San Joaquin Valley farms and 25 million Californians depend on water that flows through the Delta and they have already faced significant water shortages – shortages that the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is intended to fix. This is a time when Californians should come together, including Delta advocates, to solve problems that in some cases have been 150 years in the making.

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

Guest commentary: Costa’s move to gut the ESA will destroy the Delta 

Coalition response…Carolee Krieger is wrong about the proposed actions within Rep. Costa’s legislation and she exaggerates the potential impacts on the ecosystem.

The legislation introduced by Rep. Costa, H.R. 1927: More Water and Security for Californians Act, will not “drain the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta” and her interpretation is simply false. In fact, a careful read of the proposal at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/hr1927/text reveals numerous safeguards to preserve in-Delta water supplies and enhancements to improve fish species but Kreiger is betting that you won’t read it.

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

We must avoid Delta disaster

Coalition response...Public water agencies have already spent $150 million to fund the research by scientists, economists and engineers to develop the Bay Delta Conservation Plan with the expected results of a reliability in water deliveries, which they have a right to receive. That reliability is absent today because of environmental regulations that have taken water away from 25 million Californians and thousands of farmers. See the impacts caused by these regulations at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

The public water users already have the right to receive water that flows through the Delta and is planned to be conveyed through the tunnels. The amount of water that will flow through the tunnels will be limited by the actual day-by-day conditions and flows of the Sacramento River. Studies have concluded that water diversions will likely be in the range of average exports over the past 20 years. When flows are high more water can be moved through the tunnels. When flows are lower less water will be moved…or none at all under dry conditions. Learn more at www.farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf.

Endangered species will not benefit from “new state-of-the-art fish screens in the south Delta,” as proposed by the author. Instead, fish will be trapped in a channel with no way out that will become heavily populated by predator fish waiting for a meal. BDCP scientists and engineers have already concluded that screens at the south Delta pumps will not help the fish; yet, the author and others continue to ignore years of research and study.

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan remains the best alternative to provide a reliable supply of water and at the same time restore the Delta ecosystem. Accomplishing these two goals as set forth by the California Legislature will provide a secure water future for our state.

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

Letter: There’s a better idea than Delta tunnels

Coalition response…It would require 120 desalination plants the size of the recently approved Poseidon facility in San Diego County to meet the 6 MAF requirements of the State Water Project and federal Central Valley Project. With 840 miles of California coastline, a desal plant would have to be placed every seven miles and would still not connect to our current water distribution system.

The BDCP is a much cheaper and more environmentally-friendly solution.