Posted on 02/28/2015 3:15:35 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Farmers again will get no federal river water for more than 2 million acres of cropland in the San Joaquin Valley, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday.
Though the announcement was no surprise, it sent ripples of anxiety through the farming industry on both the east and west sides of the Valley, which rely on water from the federal Central Valley Project.
Don Peracchi, board president of the Westlands Water Districts board, mostly in west Fresno County, said: The federal governments Central Valley Project is broken. Some of the most vital elements of the states economy are being allowed to wither and die.
The bureau, which operates the massive Central Valley Project, blamed depleted reservoirs, drought and a snowpack that is a fifth of its average size. Officials said they would update the forecast if stormy weather produces more water.
We are bracing for a potential fourth year of severe drought, and this low initial allocation is yet another indicator of the dire situation, said Reclamation Mid-Pacific Regional Director David Murillo.
(Excerpt) Read more at fresnobee.com ...
The water of Millerton Lake sits far beneath the old Fresno County Courthouse this month.
That building in the upper left of this photo normally lies deep beneath the waves of Millerton Lake.
The town of Millerton was moved to higher ground and its remains flooded in the early '40s when Millerton Lake was created behind Friant Dam. It was opened for public recreation use after the end of WWII. It had been closed to the public prior to that because of fear of war-time sabotage.
Key developments
2014 farm losses are expected to be more than $2 billion and this year could be worse, farm officials say.
The rainfall season has been wetter, but the Sierra snowpack still is less than 20% of average heading into a fourth year of drought.
Federal officials say they will update their forecast if stormy weather produces more water.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/02/27/4400705/new-california-water-legislation.html#
In the mean time, US Congress dithers on legislation to help CA farmers as they engage in internecine feuds.
The Democrats want to destroy our food supply.
The Dept of Agriculture culture should encourage farmers to grow crops that land can support. Nature never intended those irrigation dependent crops to be grown there when they’re more suited for more S. Eastern states.
Some of the most vital elements of the states economy are being allowed to wither and die.
Can you think of a more efficient way to strip the Assets from the American PEOPLE. When the Land goes fallow and the owners walk away, the State and the Bankers become the NEW OWNERS!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.