News articles and links from June 12, 2013

Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Tunnel Vision Part One: Delta in Peril From: Joaquin Palomino, East Bay Express Nearly everyone in California drinks fresh water from distant rivers or streams. The East Bay taps the Mokelumne River in the Sierra foothills; San Francisco pumps its water out of the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park; and Southern California imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California. Coalition response...People have a right to express concerns regarding the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP). Some of these concerns are inaccurate and have been based on emotions rather than facts. Following are some of the facts as they relate to BDCP. Nearly 4,000 farmers receive this water and most of them are family controlled. The land they farm is one of the most productive areas in the world for food production. Consumers around the world have benefited from the work of these dedicated farmers to provide a healthy and affordable food supply. The efforts of these farmers in recent years have been disrupted by an unreliable supply of water that they have a right to receive. Regulations intended to protect Delta fish have taken water away from farmers and 25 million Californians. These regulations have attempted to increase fish populations by the single action of keeping more water in the Delta; these regulations have failed. Federal agencies that have written these regulations ignore the factors of predator fish, poor habitat and food supplies, and equally poor conditions in the ocean as the leading causes impacting population numbers for both smelt and salmon. The National Marine Fisheries Service identified poor ocean conditions as the number one cause of dwindling salmon population. The National Research Council also concluded a study by explaining that resolving Delta problems require a wide-ranging approach that addresses multiple stressors. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is the best opportunity that fully complies with the mandate by the California Legislature to create a reliable water supply and restore the Delta ecosystem.

Water Supply

Committee suggests 20% water rate hike for Modesto farmers From: John Holland, Modesto Bee An advisory committee to the Modesto Irrigation District completed its work Tuesday with a proposal to raise farm water rates by roughly 20 percent next year. The panel suggested a new rate structure that would reduce the subsidy power customers provide to irrigators - about $110 on average this year.

Transfers

Modesto Irrigation District agrees to water sale to Turlock farmers From: John Holland, Modesto Bee The Turlock Irrigation District got the OK on Tuesday to buy water this year from the Modesto Irrigation District, its neighbor across the Tuolumne River.

District Projects

Projects to benefit local growers From: Thaddeus Miller, Merced Sun-Star A U.S. Bureau of Reclamation infusion of cash will benefit local growers, according officials. The bureau announced plans last week to spend $414,000 on conservation and efficiency grant projects on the west side in the 2013 fiscal year. The Los Banos-based Central California Irrigation District will see $300,000 of that money, while the rest is set for the Firebaugh Canal Water District.