The Bakersfield Californian: While D.C. plays politics, real water issues await

FOR  IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, January 30, 2014
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft; @MrSandHillCrane; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta

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The Bakersfield Californian

Tuesday, Jan 28 2014 10:00 PM

LOIS HENRY: While D.C. plays politics, real water issues await

By Lois Henry

There are real issues to be discussed involving California’s water troubles. Tough issues.

Such as, whether we’ve overplanted with crops that simply cannot be accommodated long term given regulatory changes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta.

Oh yeah, I went there. Let the howling begin.

Can our water system sustain the explosion in almonds, pistachios, grapes and other permanent crops we’ve seen in Kern and other valley counties?

I don’t know.

But I do know that’s a question being mulled, even among those in the water community.

And I know that congressmen stamping their feet demanding that the delta pumps run regardless of environmental issues, and that the San Joaquin River Restoration Act be tossed out the door, are playing politics with a very serious subject.

As far as that, I’m talking about the emergency legislation ginned up last week by House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield; Rep. David Valadao, R-Hanford; and the ever-ready water warrior, Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare.

They failed in a last-minute attempt to attach it to the farm bill and then tried to blame California’s senators (i.e., Dianne Feinstein).

Similar bills have already been rejected by the Senate, repeatedly. …

To read the full article, click here:  http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/columnists/lois-henry/x172376901/LOIS-HENRY-While-D-C-plays-politics-real-water-issues-await

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