Water Supply
How state’s farmers weathered drought
From SF Chronicle – Thursday, June 16, 2011
Drought study refutes criticism of environmental measures
From Bakersfield Californian – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
From Contra Costa Times – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
(The following Coalition response is posted to the above articles.)
Coalition response...Studies that attempt to misdirect the impacts felt by the recent water delivery restrictions caused by environmental regulations and the drought is a slap in the face to those who have lost jobs and farmers forced to leave fields unplanted. Like previously stated by politicians attempting to discredit the effects of the cutbacks, this study introduces statewide agricultural production to minimize regional impacts. Linking unemployment in the Westside rural communities of Fresno County to countywide losses of home construction jobs is a fallacy. Anyone who has visited and met the people of these communities would realize their dependence on the farm economy. To do otherwise is misleading.
A Water Meter Mandate for California Farms
Story
From KQED News – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Coalition response...NRDC’s Doug Obegi continues to mislead the public about agricultural water measurement practices either because he doesn’t understand them or because he is intentionally ignoring the facts. Agricultural water suppliers that measure water upstream from the on-farm delivery points have for years been able to apportion water deliveries to individual farms and charge them volumetrically based on the amount they use. NRDC staff have previously been invited to the field to observe this first-hand but have yet to accept our offer. Is the new measurement regulation simply the status quo for farmers? Absolutely not. It will be a big challenge for some areas to comply and it won’t be cheap. But farmers, as they have in other areas in the past, will step up and do what is necessary to provide Californians with accurate data on water use.
DWR’s Sue Simms mistakenly states that agriculture uses 80 percent of California’s “developed” water supply. The recently published California Water Plan by DWR shows developed water allocated at 11 percent for urban uses, 41 for agriculture and 48 percent for dedicated environmental purposes.
Managing California’s Water – Breaking from the Past
Blog
From California Greening – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Coalition response...It is no surprise to read the direction taken in this blog when considering the source. Yet, it does contain some reasonable suggestions, such as empowering regional actions. However, it is short-sighted to indicate that transfers and diversions are bad examples of water management. Where would California be without the wise use of its statewide water resources for the betterment of all California?
Courts
Judge denies request to step up delta pumping
From Fresno Bee – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
B2 déjà vu – lawsuit claims government actions to protect salmon are unlawful
From Environmental Defense Fund – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
(The following Coalition response is posted to the above articles.)
Coalition response...It is disappointing that the federal government will continue to shift water from farms and homes and allow it to flow to the ocean under the guise of protecting fish that are not listed under the Environmental Protection Act. Everyone cringes at the number of fish taken at the Delta pumps but even federal biologists have stated that this action is expected in the wake of this year’s wet conditions. It’s too bad that the ‘higher-ups’ in the federal agencies are not listening to their own people who work day-in and day-out with these issues.
Congress
Letter
From Fresno Bee – Thursday, June 16, 2011
Coalition response...It is doubtful that this letter-writer has ever been to Mendota and other rural communities in Fresno County’s Westside. Such a visit to meet and talk with the residents would reveal that their livelihoods are soundly based on the local farm economy and not the collapse of the home construction industry. Attempts to place the blame for rural unemployment on the construction industry is a fallacy and misleading.
WATER SUPPLY
Dam project should be approved
Opinion
From Merced Sun-Star – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Feds cautious on Merced Irrigation District project
Story
From Merced Sun-Star – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
CONGRESS
Letter
From Merced Sun-Star – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Blog
By Bruce Ross
From Redding Record Searchlight – Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Viewpoint
By Jim Brobeck
From Chico News & Review – Thursday, June 16, 2011
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