From News Line, a daily compilation of farm water news distributed to CFWC members and others upon request. To receive News Line, click here.

Water reductions to impact Central Valley farmers

Coalition response…It is good news that pumping restrictions have eased somewhat but the bad news is that nothing fundamental has changed, meaning this same scenario can be expected to happen again in the future. During the last two months more than 727,000 acre-feet of water, or 237 billion gallons went to the ocean rather than the farms, homes and businesses that depend on it to support California jobs and the economy (farmwater.org/watersupplycutshurtusall.pdf).

DWR Director Mark Cowin was blunt about the prospects for improvements in a press conference on Tuesday when he said, “We have no reason to expect that next year will be any different or the year after that will be any different. And this conflict will continue to play out year after year, until we make fundamental changes in the way we manage the Delta.”

It’s time we take a sensible look at how we provide for the ecosystem while supporting our farms and jobs and people – and our nation’s food supply.