“With the state extremely dry, the farmers fear federal officials
could effectively seize for other purposes the water set aside
primarily in San Luis Reservoir on the valley’s west side.
Affected farmers say that would be wrong. Unfortunately for them,
it might also be legal.”
“With 2013 San Joaquin County’s driest year on record, and
January – typically one of the highest rain months – coming to
an end with no measurable rain, area farmers are increasingly
worried.
“The drought has already taken a heavy toll on those who depend
on fall rains …”
From the San Francisco Chronicle Politics blog, in a post
by Carolyn Lochhead:
“UPDATE: House Republicans failed in their last-minute effort to
insert a policy rider into the farm bill that would have diverted
water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to parched
farms in the Central Valley.”
“Central Valley Project water allocations for summer won’t be
announced until late February, but farm water contractors on the
San Joaquin Valley’s west side already expect a zero allocation.”
“Madera County almond grower Tom Rogers is the second recipient
of the Farm Water Steward Award jointly presented by the Pacific
Institute, Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF), and Ag
Innovations Network at an award dinner celebration on January 21
at the T.S.
“In a sign of increasing political pressure to address
California’s drought, south San Joaquin Valley congressmen on
Wednesday said they will introduce legislation to ship more water
out of the Delta and temporarily block plans to restore the San
Joaquin River.”
“Two years after being sucked nearly dry for dam maintenance,
Shaver Lake has become a prime destination for anglers — some who
recently nabbed the largest rainbow trouts on record.”
“A news conference featuring House Speaker John Boehner at a
dusty Kern County field made for dramatic political theater
Wednesday afternoon. But it’s doubtful that the emergency drought
legislation touted by Republican lawmakers will be bear fruit
this year for parched San Joaquin Valley farmers.”
“At times, there were more government employees and consultants
in the room than there were members of the public.
“Still, more than 100 citizens turned out in Stockton on
Tuesday evening to ask questions – or, as some might put it,
demand answers – of the experts who are writing Gov. Jerry
Brown’s controversial, $24.7 billion twin tunnels plan.”
“We look up and see blue sky and sunshine. We look at the
reservoirs and see in some cases they are less than half-full.
We await the snowpack measurement and see that it’s basically
non-existent.
“A 13-year effort to protect critters from urban development
could be jeopardized by parts of Gov. Jerry Brown’s twin tunnels
plan, officials have warned.”
“All around the central San Joaquin Valley, it’s easy to find a
sign denigrating Rep. Jim Costa — even in parts that the Fresno
Democrat no longer represents in Congress, such as Kings
County.
“The signs criticize him for supporting the state’s high-speed
rail project and blame him for the region’s water woes.”
“Residents’ opportunity to weigh in on the the governor’s twin
tunnels plan arrives next Tuesday, with a public meeting planned
at the University Plaza Waterfront Hotel.”
“Modesto-area farmers are not likely to get a shot of irrigation
this month to help drought-stressed crops, and could get far less
than they’re used to this summer if Mother Nature doesn’t start
cooperating, Modesto Irrigation District leaders said Tuesday.”
“A third straight dry winter – and the prospect of Don Pedro
Reservoir getting perilously low – has the Turlock Irrigation
District looking at sharp cutbacks to farmers this year.
“District leaders on Tuesday said the deliveries could be
roughly half of what’s available in average and wet years if
the weather does not change drastically in the next few
months.”
“Stanislaus County supervisors, on a 4-0 vote Tuesday, approved
the hiring of a former Modesto Irrigation District staff member
as water resources manager.
“Walter Ward, who oversaw MID’s water operations, will work
with a committee the county is forming to develop groundwater
policies.”
From the California Farm Bureau Federation Ag Alert weekly
newspaper, in a commentary by Lance W. Johnson:
“Throughout most of California, especially among farmers, and
particularly farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, the hot topic
of the 2014 new year is the ever-worsening drought conditions
and this year’s abysmal water supply outlook.
“As I write this, the state Department of Water Resources has
begun releasing results of its Jan. 1 snow survey.”
“Gov. Jerry Brown said Monday his administration would soon
declare that California is officially in the midst of a
drought. …
“Brown’s comments came at a Fresno City Hall press conference
after a day of meetings here with members of the Westlands
Water District, local farmers and other regional agriculture
leaders.”
