New battle in war over delta/san joaquin water
Submitted by mdunbar on Wed, 2008-05-14 16:21.
The fight over water in the San Joaquin River has resumed in earnest. In a letter dated May 12, Modesto Irrigation District general manager Allen Short demanded that action be taken against those who pump water from the south delta.
This is the latest salvo in a battle that stretches back decades. Acting as the coordinator for the eight-member San Joaquin River Group, Short says that two small irrigation districts and a specific farmer have been taking water they have no right to use. He lays out his case in a four-page letter to the State Water Resources Control Board, which has authority over such pumping.
Short wants the South Delta Water Agency and others to stop pumping. His arguments reach back to a 1961 board recommendation that pumping rights on the San Joaquin be worked out among stakeholders. But they never were. The board suggested again in 1978 that the rights be worked out or that pumping should stop. But nothing happened.
A board spokesperson said such complaints are more common in dry years. Four decades of inactivity suggests that this has not been high on the board’s priority list.
But now we’re in a “critically” dry year following a dry year. In such years, writes Short, unauthorized pumping of limited water adds to the salinity of remaining delta water and increases the dissolved oxygen in the Stockton Deepwater Ship Channel, where it is a hazard to fish. Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts release Tuolumne River water from Don Pedro Dam to help meet the San Joaquin’s water-quality requirements. If the water never reaches the delta, those efforts would be in vain.
Short objects to what he claims is unauthorized pumping because he writes that it deprives those actually entitled to use the water of any of its benefits.
He points to water released from New Melones to meet quality and flow objectives on the San Joaquin as an example. “Water released for this purpose is not considered abandoned while within the South Delta,” he expalins, “and therefore it is not subject to diversion.”
Short’s specifically names Alex Hildebrand, an expert on delta issues who farms south of Manteca. For years, Hildebrand has suggested the San Joaquin’s quality would be improved if summertime flows were “recirculated” using the Delta-Mendota Canal. This would create a current and keep stagnant pools from forming upstream, Hildebrand says. He says Short and the San Joaquin Group has fought the concept and that this most recent letter is just another attempt to tie up South Delta Water Agency resources defending its rights, and those of others, to use delta water.
Such issues hinge on little things, such as where the river stops and the delta begins. They also demonstrate the value of water in a dry year. This one could be interesting.
This is the latest salvo in a battle that stretches back decades. Acting as the coordinator for the eight-member San Joaquin River Group, Short says that two small irrigation districts and a specific farmer have been taking water they have no right to use. He lays out his case in a four-page letter to the State Water Resources Control Board, which has authority over such pumping.
Short wants the South Delta Water Agency and others to stop pumping. His arguments reach back to a 1961 board recommendation that pumping rights on the San Joaquin be worked out among stakeholders. But they never were. The board suggested again in 1978 that the rights be worked out or that pumping should stop. But nothing happened.
A board spokesperson said such complaints are more common in dry years. Four decades of inactivity suggests that this has not been high on the board’s priority list.
But now we’re in a “critically” dry year following a dry year. In such years, writes Short, unauthorized pumping of limited water adds to the salinity of remaining delta water and increases the dissolved oxygen in the Stockton Deepwater Ship Channel, where it is a hazard to fish. Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts release Tuolumne River water from Don Pedro Dam to help meet the San Joaquin’s water-quality requirements. If the water never reaches the delta, those efforts would be in vain.
Short objects to what he claims is unauthorized pumping because he writes that it deprives those actually entitled to use the water of any of its benefits.
He points to water released from New Melones to meet quality and flow objectives on the San Joaquin as an example. “Water released for this purpose is not considered abandoned while within the South Delta,” he expalins, “and therefore it is not subject to diversion.”
Short’s specifically names Alex Hildebrand, an expert on delta issues who farms south of Manteca. For years, Hildebrand has suggested the San Joaquin’s quality would be improved if summertime flows were “recirculated” using the Delta-Mendota Canal. This would create a current and keep stagnant pools from forming upstream, Hildebrand says. He says Short and the San Joaquin Group has fought the concept and that this most recent letter is just another attempt to tie up South Delta Water Agency resources defending its rights, and those of others, to use delta water.
Such issues hinge on little things, such as where the river stops and the delta begins. They also demonstrate the value of water in a dry year. This one could be interesting.
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Whiskey is for drinkin' - water in for is for fightin'!
Wow! A 94 year old man is a great target for the River Group, especially if he knows more than all of the fancy "models" that they have paid for. Alex isn't just a farmer, he's an engineer too! This is an old fight that won't be ending anytime soon. It pops up everytime water supplies get short - pardon the pun Allen - and judges makes decisions about species.
Here's the layout ... the River Group has rights to water on the eastside tributaries - the Merced, Stanislaus and Tuolumne. The big players are irrigation districts in Oakdale, Merced, Modesto,Turlock and Manteca (South San Joaquin). Stockton East also has rights to water out of New Melones. The US Bureau of Reclamation and Army Corps of Engineers also play a part in New Melones.
Throw in the Metropolitan Water District and their desire for a Peripheral Canal. It is estimated at a $4-5 Billion project! GET REAL! Multiply by 20 and you could be close by the end. That's not what ratepayers in Southern Califonia want to hear. The MET WILL win because they play for keeps - both politically and financially and our Governor needs a legacy.
How do the eastside tributaries play into this scenario? If the canal is built and all of the fresh water that now goes through the Delta on it way to the Tracy Pumps is diverted, there will be no back pressure to keep the salt out. The Delta will become a salty marsh - not good for farming and definitely not good for species. Judge Wanger has already shut the pumps down for the Delta Smelt. Who will be responsible to keep water quality? Where is the closest source of fresh (cool) water? The Stanislaus (New Melones), Merced (McClure & McSwain) and the Tuolumne (Don Pedro). Who has rights to that water? The members of the River Group! Who complains loudest about degrading Delta water quality from saltification? The South and Central Delta Water Agencies. Who is their most visible and known spokesman? Why Alex Hildebarnd, of course, who also happens to be a farmer near Manteca where the Stanislaus joins the San Joaquin.
This is just another battle in a long war. The River Group does not want to be repsonsible for maintaining water quality if a canal blocks the way. They may not have a choice, but do the South Delta farmers have a choice on the quality of water they get due to pumping - I don't think so! So much for assurances form the Department of Water Resources and the State of California. That's who their target should be!
an old war...
that has been fought all across the west. An excellent educational resource for the history of the west's water wars can be found here:
NO SIMPLE SOLUTIONS
[quote]
We are approaching the end of an era in the West. As with most such transitions, it is a period of some confusion and conflict.
The era in question is that of seemingly unlimited western water development. We have begun to realize that there are indeed limits to the water resource base, that we will have to learn to live within them, and that we must come to agreement on priorities for use of water supplies in the future.
[end quote]
Outstanding topic theorvii! Thanks...
Cadillac Desert
AE -
Another resource to the history of western water wars and water development - good & bad - is the point-counterpoint series by Marc Resiner. Reisner is an environmental writer that shook things up with Cadillac Desert. Book 1 is the Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water. Book 2 is from a different perspective - Overtapped Oasis: Reform or Revolution for Western Water.
http://www.amazon.com/Cadillac-Desert-American-Disappearing-Revised/dp/0140178244
http://www.amazon.com/Overtapped-Oasis-Reform-Revolution-Western/dp/0933280750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211127101&sr=1-1
I'm not saying I agree with Reisner - I am a biased observer.
Dan Day Attn:SPAM..SALES..SPAM Why isn't this GONE?
urispas was pointed out several days ago why wasn't this sign on deleted? Was someone keeping it around until they could bookmark it?...:)
I have been looking for
I have been looking for sites like this for a long time. Thank you!
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