FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, February 12, 2014
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft; @MrSandHillCrane; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta
In case you missed it…
San Francisco Chronicle
Drought should make state rethink water policy
February 7, 2014
“…Drought is a product of nature, but some think the drought emergency is the result of mismanaged water resources. With Shasta, Oroville and Folsom reservoirs full last spring in what was already shaping up as a second dry year, the state increased pumping to water districts in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California rather than decreasing pumping as planned. “Droughts are known; emergencies happen when people ignore facts and overpromise water supplies,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta.
“It’s better to think of the drought emergency as the inevitable result of 100 years of California water policy.”
To read the full article click here: http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Drought-should-make-state-rethink-water-policy-5215327.php
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In case you missed it…
Mercury News editorial: California needs a more balanced approach to water
Mercury News Editorial
February 7, 2014
“…But almond trees, unlike vegetable crops, can’t be taken out of production in dry years. The trees would die. Each acre of almonds needs about 1.3 million gallons of water a year, twice as much as fruits and vegetables, but farmers have planted them without securing sufficient water rights.
“This is what the massive, $25 billion, twin tunnel Bay Delta Conservation Plan is really about. Big Ag is paying the upfront costs for the project. Backers claim it’s needed just for reliability, not to pump more water, but there are cheaper and better ways to do that. Farmers expect to get more water flowing through those tunnels. If not, why pay for them?”
To read the full article click here: http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_25087244/mercury-news-editorial-california-needs-more-balanced-approach