Opinion: Federal water act makes sense
By Kevin McCarthy, Devin Nunes and Jeff Denham
The man-made drought in California is no secret. Burdensome environmental regulations restricting water pumping in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta have contributed to hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile farmland going fallow in recent years.
During California’s 2007-2009 drought, the Democratic majority and the Obama administration stood on the sidelines while farmers were forced to forgo planting, joblessness rose and families stood in food lines. It was a huge relief last year when we had abundant rain and snow, but instead of using 100 percent of that water for farming and storage, millions of acre-feet of water were allowed to be lost into the ocean.
This year is looking to be as dry as they come, and without adequate storage, we will continue to see the problem of water shortages year after year. We must act now to ensure that our communities get every drop of water possible to grow the crops that feed America and create the jobs that support families and local economies.
The U.S. House of Representatives did just that on Feb. 29 by passing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act. If enacted, this bill will get water flowing in California and increase water storage for future years. Right now, water traveling through the delta has been reduced from a gush to a trickle because environmentalists care more about protecting fish than putting Californians back to work. Protecting ecosystems is important, but so are the crops that help feed America and produce jobs that promote economic recovery in our state. This bill takes the zealotry out of these environmental restrictions and puts California’s water delivery system on more balanced and reliable footing.
Reps. Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield; Devin Nunes, R-Tulare; and Jeff Denham, R-Merced, represent the Central Valley in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Nonsense. This is a water grab by corporate farmers (who already get, what, 80% of the water at long time subsidized rates?), non-metered water use to keep lawns green in parts of California, and their congressional stooges who are carrying their water for them.
This leaves no incentive to apply water conservation measures that could save massive amounts of the water they want to grab, but they don’t want to pay anything more to do that.
Lost to the ocean? They seem to have no problem taking water that’s harmed the fishing economy, and no sense of the need for balanced use of the water supply, including a healthy ecosystem.
These regressive congressmen: all for states rights, as long as it’s an issue they support. Otherwise it’s top down, baby.
Hands off, this is a long time state controlled issue.
Yeah “lost to the ocean,” gotta love that rally cry. Probably should dam up every river so that no water is “lost to the ocean.” And we should create more rice fields in the San Joaquin Valley, basically artificial swamps in a desert.
I agree. California is an arid state. We developed the deserts of southern California and their need for water grabbed and dried up the Owens Valley water supply. Not Born on the Bayou is right – Washington should stay out of it, this is a state issue and we have enough trouble with our state legislators that want to appease corporate farmers.
Not only do you people have rocks in your heads, you must have rocks in your diets as well… what else could you be eating? The Central Valley is NOT a “Desert”…it just happens to be some of the most fertile farmland on the planet! Ever hear of “America’s Breadbasket”? Although you may not be aware of it, there is a WORLDWIDE FOOD SHORTAGE going on… shocker, huh? We (America) need to be all about producing as much food as we can because (another shocker!~) we FEED the WORLD! We cannot afford to let hundreds of thousands of acres of the most productive farmland in the world lay fallow and then dry up and blow away. We also need to keep our small farming communities alive and thriving, those which are currently suffering from devastating unemployment rates, and as compared to last year here, are getting worse.
Here are the JANUARY 2012 Central Valley unemployment rates, followed by those from December 2011, which are in parentheses. All are estimates:
• Butte County, 13.7 percent; (11.9 percent)
• Fresno County, 16.9 percent; (15.7 percent)
• Kern County, 15.0 percent; (13.4 percent)
• Kings County, 16.9 percent; (14.7 percent)
• Madera County, 15.1 percent; (14.3 percent)
• Merced County, 19.5 percent; (15.8 percent)
• Sacramento County, 11.2 percent; (11.1 percent)
• San Joaquin County, 16.6 percent; (15.5 percent)
• Stanislaus County, 16.9 percent; (15.5 percent)
• Tulare County, 17.3 percent; (15.0 percent)
• Yolo County, 14.1 percent; (12.2 percent)
• Yuba County, 17.9 percent; (15.9 percent)
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20592
Water storage and management, flood protection and clean hydroelectric power make sense to nearly everyone, except a few environmentalist nut-jobs.
Sorry, Honkylonk:
This is a ‘hit piece’ – too many ‘Rs’ in the author slot – there is not a food shortage; there is more of a distribution shortage, as some do not get access to what is needed = beyond ‘processed’ foods.
You could learn a lot more about the hydrologic cycle before settling on the Republican “corraling” of water sources. It does not help, however, that urban growth is also “nipping at the heels” of water distribution – which causes the “agribusiness” folks to be concerned for their subsidies of water and $$. . .
If we fail to get the green pigs under control we will starve.
“under control” is the key term here. . .
Garry Bowen,
“…there is not a food shortage” ?
Tell that to the inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia where the GHI (Global Hunger Index) scores exceed 20 (alarming) and some even 30 (extremely alarming) and millions of children go to bed hungry every night.
A “hit piece”? Actually, it’s an opinion piece and it just happens to be an opinion that many of us agree with, especially the farmers (large and small)of the Central Valley and ALL the people who used to be employed by them.
So if the Central Valley gets more water farmers are going to immediately ship tons of food to Africa? Talk about spin! Maybe Monsanto and the U.S. should stop forcing suicide seeds and less drought-resistant GMO crops on the African farmers.
And you and I both know most of the Valley farmland is controlled by corporations and many or most of the hard-working farmworkers are left out of official labor statistics.
Relating water management to “families standing in food lines” isn’t an Opinion piece, It’s P.R. spin at its most extreme.
Classic big ag right wing bs. Keep the Federal Gov’ment out of states rights…except for when they want you to come in and overturn state and federal laws in the interests of a few. Yup, this bill would overturn existing state and federal law, including a settlement on the San Joaquin river that was years in the making. Talk about an entitlement program. Sheesh.
Also,Honky, much of the San Joaquin Valley could qualify as desert and is only saved by irrigation (irrigation from temporary water rights that are now viewed by the farmers as an entitlement). It gets desert amounts of rain.
link: http://esrp.csustan.edu/gis/maps/general/centralvalley_sjv_tub_climate.jpg
Suggest all visit Palm Springs and environs this spring and summer.
The number of golf courses public and private, being watered during the day will suprise one and all.
David,
Apparently you are unaware that we, the US, are already by far the largest contributor to the elimination of global hunger. In fiscal year 2009 (October 1, 2008-September 30, 2009), the United States provided more than $2.9 billion of food assistance to developing countries, providing approximately 2.8 million metric tons and reaching over 70 million people. It’s not like we’re going to “…immediately ship tons of food to Africa”, we are already doing that now.
The simple way commodity (food) markets work is based on that whole “Supply and Demand” thingy. If we can produce more supply (like in our bountiful Central Valley) not only will we we pay less for OUR own food, we will able to afford larger contributions to the aid of the truly needy, the STARVING people of the world.
That reminds me a classic Sam Kinison bit…
The words ‘conservation’ and ‘efficiency’ are not mentioned in this one sided story, thus making it propaganda. It makes me wonder if they really are interested in solving the water problem.
What this is all about:
Giant agricultural companies bought large tracts of Central Valley land at a discount, because that land has “junior water rights,” meaning that the owners are only entitled to water during wet years, after. In normal years, the land had no water rights. Land like that is less valuable. The only crops that can be grown are those that are planted yearly.
Land with “senior water rights” is much more valuable. That land gets water first. Owners can plant fruit trees and grape vines, confident they will receive water even during dry years.
These giant agribusinesses could buy senior water rights from other landowners, but it’s very expensive. It is much cheaper to buy congressmen and have them change the law to give them water rights they never paid for.
Look into who is contributing to these congressmen’s reelection campaigns, and realize that smart businesses know that the best return on investment comes from buying congress.
Honkylonk, look there is no food shortage. Growing more food is not going to prevent war lords from using food as a weapon. Please read up on global affairs a little.
John,
You statement (like Mr. Bowen) that “…there is no food shortage” is so utterly absurd it would be laughable… if it weren’t so deadly serious. And your snotty condescension about the loss of human life is even more damning.
Sure, part of the hunger crisis is due to Marxist autocrats and Military dictatorships, but a great deal of it is due to things way beyond our control, like drought in Africa.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/07/horn-of-africa-drought
Funny what a little WATER can do, huh? Which brings us back to the theme of this opinion piece. We allow untold volumes of fresh water to run out into the ocean when we could put that water to work generating much needed food and electricity.
You tell ’em Honkylonk, You absolutely OWN absurdity, snotty condescension and incorrect wingnut-BS info in this town… ask anyone
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Blubird,
“Ask anyone”?
Who asked you?
Ouch! I guess you certainly put me in my place with that snappy comeback… I’m not to be bullied by the likes of you.
Blubird,
Feel free to join the adults in the “Discussion” at hand… or you can just sit on the wire and pipe up with your little ad hominem chirps.
snotty condescension at it’s finest… I give up… you’re the best.
Blubird,
I take it you don’t want to talk about such trivial topics as water usage and storage, electricity generation, food production and the starving masses?
Too bad, I was looking forward to having a debate with you.