Farm Water News: News articles and links from February 13, 2013

Water supply

Smelt-down fires up Delta tunnel talk

Story

From Stockton Record - Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013

Coalition response...Despite the well-written description by the author of the current issue surrounding water deliveries and Delta smelt, those who oppose the current BDCP efforts continue to use unfounded claims such as the threat of "taking half the water out of the estuary." Export levels of water that flows through the Delta will be increased or decreased depending on the available supply of water (farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf).

Relocating the intakes along the Sacramento River just south of Sacramento also provides a water flow in the river that enable fish, such as juvenile salmon, to continue their journey toward the ocean. It is important to realize that Delta smelt are not present at this new location and the current threat to their numbers would be greatly reduced from pumping.

The intake relocation also helps to avoid the loss of water as reported in this story. The lost water, more than 727,000 acre-feet or 237 billion gallons, could have irrigated 286,000 acres of farmland, an area eight times the size of San Francisco. Crops grown on that acreage would have a value of $873 million, which economists tell us would represent a $2.2 billion contribution to the State's economy. See more information at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

Combining the new safeguards for fish with an improved water delivery is a significant step toward meeting the mandated goals of the Legislature of a reliable water supply and restored Delta ecosystem.

Deaths of endangered fish curtail water exports

Story

From LA Times - Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013

Coalition response...Water deliveries from the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project are expected to be less that the contracted amount for users. The loss of more than 727,000 acre-feet of water, which equals more than 237 billion gallons, would have offset a portion of these reduced deliveries. Instead of sending this water to storage, it was redirected to the ocean. It could have produced the food that 726,000 people consumed in a year. It could have irrigated 260,000 acres of farmland, an area eight times the size of San Francisco. The value of that food could have been $873 million, which represents an economic contribution to the State's economy of $2.2 billion. More information of the economic impacts of this lost water can be found at farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf.

Moving the location of where water is taken for export to an area closer to Sacramento means that the threat to Delta smelt will be avoided since the species does not exist at the new point of diversion. It will also provide a more reliable water supply.

WATER SUPPLY

Water cuts slam agriculture, jobs and economy

Story

From Western Farm Press - Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013

Once again, cutbacks show need for new approach

Blog

By Tim Quinn

From ACWA - Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013

Klamath pact will hurt flows and fish

Opinion

By Hayley Hutt

From Sacramento Bee - Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013