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

Tunnels are obsolete solution to water problems

Coalition response…Scientists have been involved for the past seven years in studying the development of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The result of their efforts includes improved conveyance of water through the proposed tunnels and improvements to the Delta ecosystem that include a restoration of habitat.

There is no debate that the current system of delivering water in our state needs updating and that the Delta is in need of help. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is the best opportunity to answer these needs and at the same time provide a secure water future for California.

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

Tunnel vision—Local experts assess the governor’s peripheral-tunnels plan

Coalition response…Individuals and organizations who state they do not trust the state government are refuting the seven years of study by scientists that has gone into developing the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). Instead of continuing the “lose-lose situation” in the Delta as correctly pointed out by Mr. Winternitz, BDCP provides the best opportunity to create a reliable water supply and restore the ecosystem of the Delta, both mandated goals by the Legislature in 2009.

The benefits resulting from the efforts of farmers in any one area of the state are spread through other regions of California’s economy and way of life. Jobs are created and financial contributions are made at both local and statewide levels. Creating a reliable water supply that will allow San Joaquin Valley farmers to grow a healthy and affordable supply of food that consumers depend upon will help everyone.

The operation of the federal Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, which rely on reservoirs in Northern California, has enabled California and its citizens to prosper for nearly three-quarter of a century. BDCP provides the opportunity to continue that prosperity.

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

Wishful thinking on Delta

Coalition response…Take a look at  www.farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf to gain a better understanding of how water that flows through the Delta would be managed under BDCP. When flows in the Sacramento River are low, such as 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), the export level is significantly reduced. In this situation the flow through the tunnel would be less than one-third its capacity when using the example of Sunday’s mean flow of the river at Freeport. It is important that people realize how export operations are actually planned under BDCP, and not base opinions on frightening examples that will be prevented by operational plans already being discussed.

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

AquAlliance wary of water transfer deals in the works

Coalition response…Past transfers by Sacramento Valley water users have been rigidly reviewed by the California Department of Water Resources before implementation. Area of origin water users and the environment must not be harmed as a result of a transfer and the same applies to these proposed transfers. As the water moves through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a portion of the water remains in the Delta for environmental benefits.

Transfers safeguard the area of origin and also provide a needed water supply that is used by farmers to grow the food that consumers depend upon.

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.

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

Rep. McClintock wrong about Merced River

Coalition response…H.R. 934 does not remove the Merced River from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. It also does not increase the height of New Exchequer Dam, only the spillway by 10 feet. The length of the Merced River is 122 miles from Yosemite to the dam. Rep. McClintock’s legislation would only cover the last 1,800 feet for two to eight weeks every few years. That’s 1/350 of the protected stretch of the river.

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. HR 934 creates an increased reliability of available water for farmers to grow food for consumers.

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

Storing water is an old concept that takes on new importance

Coalition response…Storage is a vital part of resolving California’s long-term water issues.  Work is currently underway in several venues to improve California’s water system for both supply and delivery. As noted by the two authors, increased storage is a vital part of secure water future for our state. They correctly identify several projects that are being studied that would increase the supply of water needed for the future of our state.

The importance of storage has long been recognized by water experts in California. A water bond that is slated for the 2014 general ballot would provide funding to continue these critical studies into increased storage facilities. Rumblings are being made about downsizing the cost associated with the water bond, but the importance of storage to the future of California is critical. Those individuals and groups wanting to decrease the water bond cost should recognize the value of not touching the amount designated for storage.

Likewise, the water bond also provides funding that would go toward habitat restoration in the Delta as part of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). The two-part goal of BDCP is to create a reliable water supply and ecosystem restoration in the Delta. This funding is equally important to California’s water future.

There are multiple efforts associated with improving the reliability of California’s water supply. Moving forward, we all need to remember the benefits that a reliable water supply provides for economic prosperity, jobs, food production and recreational activities throughout the 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.

Irrigation wastewater can revive damaged soils

Coalition response…There has been a long relationship between farmers and university officials and other agencies to improve the production of food and fiber crops on California farms. This story illustrates the benefits of improved soil conditions resulting from water management practices at the farm level.

A similar illustration is further to the north to the 100,000 acres in the Grasslands Drainage Area south of Los Banos. Farmers have worked with local water districts, some environmental groups, and state and federal agencies to resolve the runoff of certain minerals in drainage water from the fields to the San Joaquin River. From 1995 to 2010, the drainage of selenium from the Grasslands farms was decreased by 87% and the reduced amounts for salt and boon were 72% and 64% respectively.

Farmers throughout California are committed to protecting their soils as they strive to provide a safe and affordable food supply to consumers.

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

Democrats urge Brown to consider alternative to water project

Coalition response…The alternative plan put forth by the lawmakers simply does not meet the water needs of California. Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley would lose water that could irrigate 750,000 acres under the single-tunnel plan. Less acreage planted means less jobs and a reduced supply of fresh fruits and vegetables from some of the most productive land in the world. The negative impacts of this proposal can be viewed at www.farmwater.org/BDCP-NRDC_alt.pdf. Additional water restrictions would be felt by the 25 million people who rely on water that flows through the Delta for a portion of their water supply.

The alternative plan calls for conservation and recycling of water at the regional level but fails to acknowledge that these efforts are already underway.

The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is a comprehensive effort to improve water supply reliability and the Delta ecosystem. It is much more than creating a few wetlands and building a pair of tunnels. The BDCP is an approach to fixing numerous ecological and conveyance issues that currently prevent the reliable delivery of water. Scientists and researchers have worked for years in developing the BDCP as the best opportunity to create a dependable water supply and a restored Delta ecosystem. The result of these efforts is the current BDCP and it provides a secure water future for California.