The water releases into the San Joaquin River have become a high-profile symbol in the battle over how California parcels out a precious resource that must accommodate the state's 38 million people. On Thursday evening, we saw the first releases of water from Friant Dam under an agreement between farmers and environmentalists to help restore the river.
But while there's a legal agreement on the river restoration, there's not a political one. Farmers protested the water releases from Friant Dam, claiming that environmentalists reneged on the agreement by continuing to sue to limit water for agricultural purposes.
While we have supported the river settlement, farmers have a point about their water sources being under attack. There would have been no reason for agricultural interests to agree to the river settlement if they were going to lose water deliveries anyway.
Water politics have always been contentious in California. You can't grow crops, build homes or keep our environment sound if there isn't enough water to go around. We simply have too much demand and too little supply.
This is the result of the state and federal governments refusing to solve the state's long-term water problems. The water system was built for half as many Californians as live here now, yet our leaders have refused to solve the problem.
Now in a third year of a drought, and with water pumping limited under environmental restrictions, acreage on the west side of the Valley is being fallowed. Unemployment is high in the area, and the farm losses are hurting the Valley's economy.
Farmers say the river settlement will lead to the same result on the east side of the Valley. That is unacceptable.
In addition, Southern California cities don't have enough water for growing populations.
It is time for action for the good of the entire state. We believe California's limited water supply can be stretched to meet most of the needs if our leaders develop a comprehensive water plan. These are the basic elements needed:
The state must provide additional water storage in reservoirs and underground water banks to capture water in wet years to be used in dry years.
The serious environmental degradation of the fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta must be resolved.
The state must promote conservation by urban, agricultural and industrial users and spread the conservation mandates equitably across the state.
The structural improvements must be funded, and we have long supported a water bond. The federal government also must help in funding the improvements.
Meanwhile, the federal government needs to increase water pumping from the Delta as a short-term solution on the west side.
Ignoring California's water needs is not an option.
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