Winter rains bring more crops to California farms
Radio program
From KPCC – Tuesday, April 26, 2011
California farms are set to have the best season in years, thanks in part to heavy rains this winter. Parts of the Central Valley where water was cut during drought years are getting bigger allotments.
Coalition response...In response to comments previously posted by dfb: Whether job loss totals were 6,000 or 60,000 at this point is irrelevant. The unemployment caused by water supply cuts was also the result of biological opinions from federal fish agencies that the courts found to be “arbitrary and capricious.” That is significant in the lives of people who lost their jobs as well as those farmers who lost everything, including their farms. The overreaching federal policy that caused much of this economic hardship is awful and yet you chose to ignore it. The drought played a role in reduced water supplies. No one argues that. The actions of federal biologists and their respective agencies are inexcusable.
Incidentally, as we enter one of the wettest years on record and all major reservoirs are nearly full, south-of-Delta State and federal water contractors are still receiving only 75 to 80 percent of their contract allotments, presumably because of the lingering effects of the biological opinions. That tells me that there’s more in play than just nature’s water supply.
WATER SUPPLY
Water shortages lead to record farmland losses
Story
From Ag Alert/CFBF – Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Even during a recession that slowed urbanization, the number of irrigated acres farmed in California dropped by a record amount—and analysts said water shortages had a lot to do with the decrease.
McCloud dam spill to increase river flow
Story
From Record Searchlight – Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Water will be rising late this week on the McCloud River between Lake McCloud and Lake Shasta, prompting kayakers to grab their paddles and fly fishermen to look for another place to cast their lines.
New Metropolitan Water District Presentation on Delta Costs
Blog
By Jeff Michael
From Valley Economy – Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I was looking for recent MWD cost analysis on a canal, and found this Powerpoint presentation from a MWD committee meeting that was today. At the risk of reading too much into a Powerpoint without hearing the presentation, I found several parts very interesting compared to what I saw from MWD last year.
DELTA
North Delta parcel owners OK assessment hike to defend water rights
Story
From Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Property owners in the northern half of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have approved a tax increase to defend their water rights in case the state pushes ahead with a plan to build a new tunnel or canal around the estuary.
Bill to sell Sacramento wastewater clears Assembly committee
Story
From Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Sacramento’s sewage district could sell treated wastewater to help cover the cost of upgrading its sewage treatment plant under legislation that cleared its first legislative hurdle Tuesday.
FISHERIES
Story
From News Sentinel – Wednesday, April 27, 2011
It was nearly noon. The time had come. They’d been swimming around in a giant stainless steel tank on the back of a truck for nearly two hours.
WATER USE
Temecula-area growers use technology to cut water use
Story
From Press-Enterprise – Tuesday, April 26, 2011
A handful of Temecula-area avocado and wine grape growers are now using soil moisture measurement devices wired to the Internet as part of a water district pilot program.
PROJECT REVIEW
State board denies Merced ID request to delay study
Story
From Merced Sun-Star – Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A request to delay studies on water quality and fish life and habitats by the Merced Irrigation District was denied by the State Water Resources Control Board last week.
Don Pedro Hydroelectric Project relicensing hearings
Announcement
During the relicensing process and other related activities, some participants will be urging Modesto Irrigation District to give up more water for environmental purposes. Hearings scheduled May 11 in Modesto and Turlock.
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