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

Back to business as usual

Coalition response…For water users that are facing shortages this year it’s nice to read the words that “Maximum pumping is once again allowed from the south Delta.” But it doesn’t make up for losing more than 800,000 acre-feet of water to federal regulations. Massive cuts in December and January mean that San Luis Reservoir, a major off-stream storage facility for State and federal project water, will likely not fill this year. That affects almost 4,000 farms on 3 million acres and 25 million Californians who depend on water flowing through the Delta to meet their needs.

The impact of crippling regulations that prevented the water deliveries is seen in a graphic prepared by the Department of Water Resources, farmwater.org/DWRStateFedCuts.pdf. Not only does it show the enormous volume of water that went to the ocean, it also depicts how small exports are compared to the amount of water in the system.

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

Concerns mount for California water shortage

Coalition response…Commenter Mike Hudson targets commodities that fill a demand in export markets without realizing the benefits that result in dollars flowing from overseas buyers into California’s economy. In 2010 the value of our state’s agricultural exports totaled almost $15 billion, representing 14% of all U.S. agricultural exports.

Agricultural exports also provide a wide range of jobs in processing, packaging, transportation and a host of activities necessary to move farm products to shipping terminals. Officials at the Port of Oakland report that 30,000 agricultural jobs in the Central Valley region are tied to operations at the Port. Hudson’s statement that export crops don’t benefit any of us who live here is not supported by the facts. California farms can be one of the brightest spots in our beleaguered economy if farmers have the resources, including sufficient water, to grow the food that we and many others around the world depend on.

Coalition response…It’s important to have the facts on the table if we’re going to have a rational discussion about water supply in California. To begin with, no one is asking for “all the water they want,” that would result in you being out of business as a fisherman. What San Joaquin Valley farmers and Southern California residents want is an assurance that water supplies that they have the right to use (rights issued by the State Water Resources Control Board) will be delivered dependably. The system isn’t working for anyone now, not for farmers, not for families, not for the ecosystem, and as long as fish populations remain low, not for fishermen either. But focusing solely on export pumping as the cause of all these problems is not the answer. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan, as mandated by the State Legislature, address BOTH water supply and ecosystem problems. It is a big process that is not yet done and I’m sure your input along the way will help make it a better outcome for everyone.

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

State commits to transparency on Delta project

Coalition response…The strong leadership of past years that resulted in a water supply system that fueled our great state is in need of repair. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan provides an answer to part of that need. The leadership at work in developing California’s water future through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan needs to continue its efforts.

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

Fattening levees more effective protection for water supply, says group

Coalition response…The State has invested $300 million since 2005 to strengthen Delta levees and water officials report that those investments will continue. However, according to DWR Director Mark Cowin, “…to rely solely on levees to safeguard a water supply critical to the state’s nearly $2 trillion economy would be negligent.” We agree.

One of the goals for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is to establish a reliable water supply. If improved conveyance is not part of the future then only strengthening levees will not provide that reliable water supply. It is important to realize that the current movement of water through the Delta is subject to federal biological opinions that have already taken 815,000 acre-feet of water since early December away from farmers and 25 million Californians (farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf).

If the legislative mandated goals of a reliable water supply and a restored Delta ecosystem is to be achieved, then an improved conveyance system must be a part of California’s water future.

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

Protect northern California water

Coalition response…Individuals who suggest that California is going to steal land and water from Northern Californians are not focusing on the facts about land and water rights. The twin tunnels under consideration as part of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan are designed to move water to which users in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California already have rights. Water rights holders in Northern California are protected by language in the California Water Code that prevents any project from negatively impacting an existing water right. Furthermore, the amount of water that will be allowed through the tunnels is limited by the available supplies in the Sacramento River. During a wet year more water can be moved because more is available in the system. When it is dry, smaller amounts would be moved. A simple fact sheet outlines this process here:  www.farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf.

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

Ag expenses add to cost of food

Coalition response…Farmers are continually confronted with increasing costs of production to grow a food supply that the public relies upon. When the cost of new government regulations, such as the water monitoring requirement identified in this editorial, add to the cost of doing business, farmers experience a narrowing of the difference between a profit and a loss. Unfortunately, farmers cannot pass on costs to consumers because the market sets the price farmers receive for their crops. Rising production costs have already driven some farmers out of business, which can limit choices in the grocery store and therefore increase costs to consumers at the checkout stand.

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

Restore San Joaquin River for salmon

Coalition response…The author of this article suggests that taking San Joaquin River water away from its users can be made up through “More efficient use of water by agriculture and cities, along with wise development of other local water supplies…” This Pollyannish statement exhibits a lack of understanding of how today’s farmers, especially those along the San Joaquin River, are managing their water supply. Efficient irrigation practices in California have helped double the volume of crop production over the last 40 years while using essentially the same amount of water.

The author also incorrectly refers to a 2010 study by the State Water Resources Control Board by claiming that “60% of the natural winter and spring flows…would be needed to rebuild salmon runs and restore the bay-delta, its water quality and its wildlife.” What the author failed to mention is that the Water Board explained that the study was narrowly conducted as directed by the Legislature and did not take into account other important factors, such as the need to continue to provide water for humans. The board stressed that future policy decisions should not be based on the report.

Water users have asked for the science behind the Water Board’s current river proposal and they are still waiting for a reply. Too often decisions are made that are supposed to help species without any attempt at quantifying the actual benefits achieved, if any.

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

Future water price, availability in question

Coalition response…Water is a statewide issue and its availability affects public water agencies in multiple ways, as pointed out by the author. Sometimes local water suppliers take a position on a measure that fails to fully reflect the needs of all users throughout California. Such is the position taken by the San Diego County Water Authority and a few others who endorse the construction of a single tunnel through the Delta rather than a larger, more useful facility.

A single tunnel, with a capacity of 3,000 cubic feet per second, would reduce the amount of water available for many San Joaquin Valley farmers by a third; leaving about 750,000 acres with no water supply in a normal year. This is a size that is equivalent to three times the acreage of the city of San Diego. Further impacts on San Joaquin Valley food producers can be found at https://farmwater.org/BDCP-NRDC_alt.pdf.

A twin-tunnel proposal currently under consideration by the Bay Delta Conservation Plan has a capacity to move 9,000 cubic feet per second of water. This supply would provide the contracted amount of water by users while protecting existing water rights, meaning the water currently used by farmers and others in the Delta watershed would be preserved.

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

Farmers’ federal water supply cut by 75 percent 

Coalition response…This reporter does a good job in explaining the causes for the low allocation number for CVP water users. We’ve had dry years before that have resulted in low allocations but the loss of nearly 800,000 acre-feet of water because of dubious efforts to protect fish is unbelievable.

Water stored in federal reservoirs (Trinity, Shasta, Folsom and San Luis) totaled 7.3 million acre-feet on Feb. 26, 2013. In 1977, the driest year on record, that total was only 3.3 maf. The initial water allocation in 1977 was 25%, the same as this year; yet the amount of water in storage this year is more than double the 1977 number.

Federal regulations that have taken nearly 800,000 acre-feet of water away from farms, families and businesses need to be changed if California is to avoid a disaster in future years.

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

Battle heats up over proposed Delta tunnels

Coalition response…The latest comparison from the Bay Delta Conservation Plan regarding the two tunnels versus alternatives reveals that as many as 137,000 full-time equivalent jobs would be created with the twin tunnels (http://baydeltaconservationplan.com/Home.aspx). The capacity for these tunnels would be 9,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). A previous study noted that a single tunnel with a capacity of only 3,000 cfs would create 70,000 jobs and 130,000 jobs from a larger 15,000 cfs set of tunnels.

While some individuals and groups suggest that a 3,000 cfs tunnel would save money, it does not accomplish the goals set forth by the Legislature. Natural Resources Secretary John Laird has stated, “A tunnel this size, which would move much less water than is currently permitted, is not adequate to protect California from a disaster.”

Years of study and research by scientists have gone into the effort to reach a solution for Delta ecosystem restoration and a reliable water supply, the goals set forth by the Legislature. These studies are available at the above referenced website. “Frank and fair public discussions” will benefit our state’s water future but those involved must be committed to leave their agendas aside for the betterment of all California.DCP