USDA chief, Feinstein weigh in on water problems

Published online on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009

In a sign that Washington is paying attention to the Valley's water woes, two federal officials came to the Fresno area Wednesday.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack spent the day in Fowler -- his second day in the area -- while Sen. Dianne Feinstein met with farmers and water agency officials on the west side.

Feinstein said she would keep on pressing for a more practical approach to water distribution in California.

In particular, she said she is encouraging the U.S. Department of the Interior to take another look at two biological opinions for how to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, as well as salmon and the delta smelt. Farmers have argued that the rules can restrict crucial water flows to the Valley.

Earlier this year, the Westlands Water District and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority sued the federal government to try to stop the federal government from enforcing rules that protect the delta smelt.

"There are 30 lawsuits on the biological opinions and two separate opinions, one for the smelt and one for salmon," Feinstein said. "The rules need to be reconsidered."

The visits by Feinstein and Vilsack come after farmers and community leaders have stepped up their efforts to get President Barack Obama's attention with rallies and marches.

Feinstein's visit was significant, said Thomas Holyoke, an assistant professor of political science at California State University, Fresno.

"She has the reputation of being a doer," Holyoke said. "And when she decides to get involved, she finds a way to get things done."

Holyoke said Feinstein has been advocating for a better water delivery system for years.

Among those who met with Feinstein were Lester Snow, director of the state Department of Water Resources; Ron Milligan, operations manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; and Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes. About 100 people attended the noon meeting at the Harris Ranch Inn and Restaurant in Coalinga.

Sarah Woolf, Westlands spokeswoman, was pleased with the senator's visit.

Feinstein "really wants to come up with a solution to how we are going to get water deliveries to occur," Woolf said. "Her main issue is that she does not want this to be in court."

Vilsack, meanwhile, heard Wednesday from farmers about two of the regions' biggest issues: water and immigration reform.

Both have been on the minds of many growers as regulatory decisions and several dry years have pinched water supplies, and as farmers have struggled with an unstable labor supply.

"Those issues really speak to the heart of the ag industry," said Dennis Parnagian, president of Fowler Packing, whose operation Vilsack toured during his stop in the Fresno area Wednesday.

Vilsack, a former Iowa governor, said that he understands the importance of water to Valley farmers. He said he has brought up the subject with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, whose agency oversees water policy. He also said he will remind Obama of the seriousness of the issue.

Vilsack reminded farmers that one of his agencies -- the Natural Resources Conservation Service -- can help them conserve water and use it more efficiently.

In July, the service awarded the Westlands Water District $2 million over five years to help farmers install more efficient irrigation systems. Westlands will match the grant. The money was part of nearly $58 million that was given out nationwide by the agency.

Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, who toured the Fowler packing house with Vilsack, said he appreciated the secretary's visit to the Valley. Vilsack also stopped in Modesto on Wednesday afternoon for a town hall meeting.

"We want you to be our advocate," Costa said.

Vilsack provided less hope for growers on the immigration front.

He said that while the president supports comprehensive immigration reform and believes it is long overdue, the administration is making health-care reform and climate change its top priorities.

Agriculture and farm-labor advocates have supported the AgJOBS bill, which would create a path to legal residency for more than 1 million illegal farmworkers.