Farm Water News: News articles and links from June 4, 2012

Delta

California Peripheral canal coming soon

Editorial

From San Francisco Chronicle - Sunday, June 3, 2012

Coalition response... What is missing from this editorial is any real discussion about how water that moves through the Delta is being used. In short, it serves the needs of 2/3 of California's population and grows safe, healthy and affordable food on local farms that families everywhere find in the grocery store. Absent is any discussion about where that food will originate or what it might cost if California farms pay the price for a misguided approach to restoring the Delta's environmental resources.

Historically, water moved through the Delta from east to west. The "through-Delta" system we now use altered flows to a more north-south scenario. A new system, likely a tunnel at this point, would only move the water that already goes to serve farms, homes, and businesses in a way that doesn't disrupt the Delta's more natural flow pattern. That, coupled with aggressive habitat restoration activities would do wonders for the Delta ecosystem and it's the kind of solution the National Research Council said would work. It also helps meet the requirement of the 2009 law, which puts water supply and ecosystem benefits on equal footing for the first time ever.

WATER SUPPLY

William Tweed: The winter that was: We had 'an average dry year'

Story

From Visalia Times Delta - Friday, June 1, 2012

DELTA

Dan Walters: Is California high-speed rail an ego trip for Gov. Jerry Brown?

Column

By Dan Walters

From Fresno Bee - Saturday, June 2, 2012

From Sacramento Bee - Sunday, June 3, 2012

From Merced Sun-Star - Monday, June 4, 2012

Is the Metropolitan Water District going to pay 25% or 75% of the cost of a Delta tunnel?