Farm Water News: News articles and links from March 9, 2012

Water supply

It's time to realize real value of water

Editorial

From Modesto Bee - Thursday, March 8, 2012

Coalition response...While the editorial makes the case that power customers subsidized the water side of the District by about two bucks a month in 2011, it's important to remember the much lower price customers pay for electricity from MID. Homeowners in Fresno and other parts of the state routinely pay $400 a month or more for electricity from private energy providers. The foresight of Modesto Irrigation District as a public agency to serve not only water but also electricity has benefitted the local economy immeasurably for more than 100 years

Also, it is misleading to compare the cost that consumers pay for water with farm water rates. Farm water is a raw, untreated product coming directly from its source, such as a reservoir or groundwater. On the other hand, water for consumers must be treated to meet State and federal drinking water quality standards, pressurized and stored, and available for delivery at the homeowner's faucet 24 hours a day. That costs money.

Delta

Westlands' rationale doesn't hold water

Column

By Michael Fitzgerald

From Stockton Record - Friday, March 9, 2012

Coalition response...Listening and working with one another to find solutions to the State's water problems surrounding the Delta is much better than continuing a fight that will only guarantee someone is a loser. Those who refuse to listen with reasonable minds usually cloud their arguments with rhetoric not based on facts. Claims such as Westlands' farmers sending their used water back to the Delta to sicken it is false. It is the enforced policy of Westlands that no drainage water is allowed to leave a farmer's lands. Consequently, Westlands farmers have installed return systems that reuse any water that flows off their fields.

Peltier is right in saying that the water belongs to the State. Claims of "our water" and "their water" must stand up to the State mandate of reasonable use. I often wonder what would be the result if water users in the upper reaches of the rivers flowing into the Delta decided to take enough water to essentially make the rivers only streams when they reach the Delta? None of us would want to see that and hopefully people would talk before taking action. Likewise, the open dialogue demonstrated by this article is a better path to resolving the water problems we face today.

Keeping Up With the Delta

Editorial

From Vacaville Reporter - Saturday, March 4, 2012

Coalition response...Staying involved in the BDCP process is important for all water users. The current process which includes the BDCP and the Delta Stewardship Council is the closest California has gotten to ever resolving its water problems. All voices are being heard and concerns are being vetted. Extensive research is being conducted to reach the best possible solution that benefits all of California.

WATER SUPPLY

Modesto area expects a soaking next week

Story

From Modesto Bee - Friday, March 9, 2012

Stormier pattern next week

Blog

By Ken Clark

From AccuWeather - Thursday, March 8, 2012

Local farmers fear dry weather could take toll on crops

Story

From Lodi News-Sentinel - Friday, March 9, 2012

MID letter to growers cites 'driest year on record' for tiered water pricing