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

Higher Shasta Dam would harm wild river

Coalition response…A higher Shasta Dam was part of the original design when construction began in 1937 but war-related decisions capped the height at 602 feet. Studies have been ongoing for years regarding the potential raising of the dam and the current proposal of increasing water storage by adding 18 ½ feet to the dam is now being discussed.

Part of this discussion includes the benefit to Chinook salmon in dry or critical years because increased storage increases the cold water supply for fish that depend on it. More gravel augmentation for salmon in the upper Sacramento River is also included in the proposal and their survival rate would increase as a result of improved water management flexibility.

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

Water reductions to impact Central Valley farmers

Coalition response…It is good news that pumping restrictions have eased somewhat but the bad news is that nothing fundamental has changed, meaning this same scenario can be expected to happen again in the future. During the last two months more than 727,000 acre-feet of water, or 237 billion gallons went to the ocean rather than the farms, homes and businesses that depend on it to support California jobs and the economy (farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf).

DWR Director Mark Cowin was blunt about the prospects for improvements in a press conference on Tuesday when he said, “We have no reason to expect that next year will be any different or the year after that will be any different. And this conflict will continue to play out year after year, until we make fundamental changes in the way we manage the Delta.”

It’s time we take a sensible look at how we provide for the ecosystem while supporting our farms and jobs and people – and our nation’s food supply.

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

Fish kills trigger water delivery slowdown; local agencies prepared

Coalition response…The pumping restrictions began Dec. 7 and for the following two months more than 727,000 acre feet of water, or 237 billion gallons went to the ocean rather than to farms, families and businesses that depend on a share of the water that flows through the Delta. This water supports California jobs and the economy ( farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf).

A portion of those pumping restrictions have been restored and that is good news. But the bad news is that nothing fundamental has changed, meaning this same scenario can be expected to happen again in the future.

DWR Director Mark Cowin was blunt about the prospects for water supply improvements when he spoke at a press conference on Tuesday saying, “We have no reason to expect that next year will be any different or the year after that will be any different. And this conflict will continue to play out year after year, until we make fundamental changes in the way we manage the Delta.”

It’s time we take a sensible look at how we provide for the ecosystem while supporting our farms and jobs and people – and our nation’s food supply.

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

Smelt-down fires up Delta tunnel talk

Coalition response…Despite the well-written description by the author of the current issue surrounding water deliveries and Delta smelt, those who oppose the current BDCP efforts continue to use unfounded claims such as the threat of “taking half the water out of the estuary.” Export levels of water that flows through the Delta will increase or decrease depending on the available supply of water (farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf).

Relocating the intakes along the Sacramento River just south of Sacramento also provides a water flow in the river that enable fish, such as juvenile salmon, to continue their journey toward the ocean. It is important to realize that Delta smelt are not present at this new location and the current threat to their numbers would be greatly reduced from pumping.

The intake relocation also helps to avoid the loss of water as reported in this story. The lost water, more than 727,000 acre-feet or 237 billion gallons, could have irrigated 286,000 acres of farmland, an area eight times the size of San Francisco. Crops grown on that acreage would have a value of $873 million, which economists tell us would represent a $2.2 billion contribution to the State’s economy. See more information at  farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

Combining the new safeguards for fish with an improved water delivery is a significant step toward meeting the mandated goals of the Legislature of a reliable water supply and restored 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.

Deaths of endangered fish curtail water exports

Coalition response…Water deliveries from the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project are expected to be less that the contracted amount for users. The loss of more than 727,000 acre-feet of water, which equals more than 237 billion gallons, would have offset a portion of these reduced deliveries. Instead of sending this water to storage, it was redirected to the ocean. It could have produced the food that 726,000 people consumed in a year. It could have irrigated 260,000 acres of farmland, an area eight times the size of San Francisco. The value of that food could have been $873 million, which represents an economic contribution to the State’s economy of $2.2 billion. More information of the economic impacts of this lost water can be found at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

Moving the location of where water is taken for export to an area closer to Sacramento means that the threat to Delta smelt will be avoided since the species does not exist at the new point of diversion. It will also provide a more reliable water supply.

Release immediate, Feb. 12, 2013

WATER SUPPLY CUTS HIT FOOD PRODUCTION,
JOBS AND THE ECONOMY 

Water supply cuts totaling 727,863 acre-feet, or 237 billion gallons, could significantly reduce California’s fresh produce production as well as the water supply for 25 million Californians. Water that was originally destined for farms, homes and businesses instead went to the ocean because of federal regulations designed to protect salmon and Delta smelt under the Endangered Species Act.

A fact sheet released today by the California Farm Water Coalition quantified the losses to California’s water supply, potential food production, jobs and the economy. The loss of 727,863 acre-feet of water during the past two months is sufficient to provide the annual food supply for 726,000 people. Additionally, this water represents:

• 12,863 farm jobs
• $873 million in crop production
• 260,000 acres of irrigated cropland, an area 8x the size of San Francisco

“The federal regulations went into effect on December 7 and redirected water that would have been used by farmers this year to produce fresh fruit, vegetable and nut crops, dairy products and premium California cotton,” said Mike Wade, Coalition Executive Director. “Instead, California faces $2.2 billion in lost economic activity that could have been generated from farming operations.

“This redirection of water could last through March with water losses escalating every day,” added Wade. “Sadly, these regulations aren’t working to protect the fish they were intended to help. It’s time we take a sensible look at how we provide for the ecosystem while at the same time support California’s farms, jobs and people – and our nation’s food supply.”

The fact sheet is available at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

The California Farm Water Coalition is a non-profit organization that provides fact-based information to the public. Its membership represents more than 5 million irrigated acres.

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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.

Delta water diversions reduced to protect smelt

Coalition response…More than 727,000 acre-feet of water have been lost over the two months since cutbacks began on December 7. That’s 237 BILLION gallons of water that could have been used to grow close to a billion dollars worth of crops or meet the annual household water supply needs of 4.2 million people. Water deliveries have been cut drastically under orders from fishery managers using rules designed to protect the Delta smelt. Sadly these regulations aren’t working to protect the fish they were intended to help. Despite 20 years of restricted water deliveries to farms, homes and businesses, Delta smelt continue to struggle. Its time we take a sensible look at how we provide for the ecosystem while supporting farms, jobs, consumers  — and the nation’s food supply.

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

Brown talks up Delta tunnels

Coalition response…Gov. Brown’s assurances of protecting water rights of those in the Sacramento Valley follows the California Water Code, which states that no new project may negatively impact existing water rights. Whether those water rights are up north or in the Delta makes no difference. The law protects any water right that exists today.

The financing plan for the tunnels calls for those who benefit from the project to pay the cost. This beneficiary pays approach means that water users pay the costs of the project associated with water supply. Public funds expended for the project are related to the benefits received by the public.

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

Salmon’s return a long project, raises concerns 

Coalition response…In 2010 the flows down the river were increased to monitor what would happen. Federal officials had been warned by local water districts and farmers that the results could be damaging. These flows seeped from the river and caused damage to nearby orchards.

Two years later Reclamation paid the landowner for the damages. Meanwhile, flows in the seepage prone areas cannot resume until mitigation measures are installed

Taking spring-run salmon from the Feather River Hatchery and placing them into the San Joaquin River before the completion of planned infrastructure projects is putting the proverbial cart before the horse and will jeopardize the salmon’s survival.

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

Galt City Council supports alternative to Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Coalition response…Years of study have gone into the Bay Delta Conservation Plan to achieve the goals of achieving a reliable water supply and a restored Delta ecosystem, as mandated by the California Legislature. Scientists and researchers have studied multiple options and the current proposal includes the twin tunnels with a capacity of 9,000 cfs.

Contrary to those who believe the tunnels will drain the Sacramento River or take away flows needed for the Delta, the water flowing through the tunnels will increase and decrease according to available water supply.

The alternative plan being pushed by NRDC features a single 3,000 cfs tunnel is insufficient to meet the needs of all water users, especially farmers in the San Joaquin Valley. BDCP researchers studied a similar undersized proposal more than a year ago and concluded that it did not meet the legislative directive that governs the BDCP. Results of that research can be found here.