A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
September 17, 2007
1. Top Item
Thirsty state could lose key supply of water; Ruling may complicate north-south transfers
By Michael Gardner, staff writer
But a federal judge's decision to protect a tiny, endangered fish in the Sacramento Delta could jeopardize north-to-south water sales when transfers may be crucial.
The last drought provides a lesson on the value of water transfers.
Now, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders have agreed to call back lawmakers for a special session this fall that could produce a compromise on building reservoirs and reconfiguring the plumbing system for the delta. A plan could be placed on the Feb. 5 presidential primary ballot.
Don Perata, D-Oakland, the Senate president pro tempore and a skeptic of more above-ground water storage, said the federal judge's “alarming and threatening” ruling has forced him to rethink the state's approach to its water crisis.
“We understand storage and conveyance are sides to a coin,” he said. “We're not saying 'hell no' to anything.”
The Senate is expected to begin deliberations on a nearly $6 billion bond measure this week.
Last week, the Association of California Water Agencies launched a media campaign to warn residents that serious problems loom. The group hopes to raise up to $9 million for the effort.
Polls show that few people realize what
Before reaching
In his Aug. 31 ruling, Judge Oliver Wanger ordered state and federal water managers to significantly reduce pumping from the Sacramento Delta to protect the 3-inch delta smelt.
Wanger's decision threatens to reduce deliveries by as much as 2 million acre-feet – enough for 4 million households a year – to keep the delta smelt from being drawn into the pumps near
Subsequently, water districts across the state have drawn up rationing proposals that could cause serious economic pain.
The drought and court-ordered safeguards for delta smelt should make it abundantly clear that the state must move quickly so full deliveries can flow south, according to Roger Patterson, who tracks delta issues for the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Aggressive water-saving strategies have been launched but are not the final answer, he said.
“You can't conserve what you don't have,” Patterson said. “You can't recycle water you don't use in the first place.”
The court decision has frustrated water managers, who are unsure whether they will be able to count on extra water from the north to tide them over this time.
“The window of opportunity to do transfers has been severely closed,” Patterson said.
Timing will be everything. The pumps can begin to ramp up in the summer once the smelt migrate past. But supplies already spoken for will have first priority as more pumping is permitted, leaving little time to move any extra.
“Getting water south of the delta is the bottleneck,” said Ryan Broddrick, manager of a coalition of north state farm water agencies. “Folks are going to have to look long and hard at it.”
Barry Nelson of the Natural Resources Defense Council said it's too early for water managers to cast dire warnings. The judge's ruling is expected to be clarified in the next 45 days, and this winter could bring welcome snows that would ease the crisis, he said.
“Does this mean the end of transfers? No, of course not,” Nelson said.
Nelson figures water managers can find alternatives as they have previously. “Mother Nature has always thrown curves at water users,” he said.
Not all transfers must navigate the delta. For example, Metropolitan will spend nearly $15 million to buy about 100,000 acre-feet from
“It's a big chunk of money,” Patterson said. “But for us, it's absolutely worth it.”
Under the agreement, the Palo Verde Irrigation District will keep about 28,000 acres of land idle. Water-intense crops, primarily alfalfa, most likely won't be planted.
“It's been a positive for the valley,” said Bart Fisher, a grower and member of the Palo Verde board. “That payment is money that goes right into the bank.”
Fisher said it is unlikely there will be repercussions for farm laborers. There is a shortage of workers already, and labor-intensive produce will be planted because those harvests bring the best profits, he said.
Metropolitan struck the 35-year deal with Palo Verde growers a few years ago, agreeing to pay farmers $3,170 per acre just to sign up. That payment is on top of the $650 for every acre of land that farmers later leave unplanted at Metropolitan's request.
“It's probably the cheapest source of new water Metropolitan could find at the time,” Fisher said of the arrangement.
Metropolitan has little choice. Despite healthy reserves, the wholesaler is staring at supply challenges, Patterson said.
Metropolitan has lost 600,000 acre-feet of
Meanwhile, the population of Metropolitan's service area will grow by 220,000 people a year.
Despite looming obstacles, Metropolitan still plans to shop for water in the north. The pumping restrictions could ease, the weather could turn favorable and newly purchased water may be stored north of the delta for later delivery.
Steve Dana, who represents dozens of agricultural districts as chairman of the Northern California Water Association, said the court decision will complicate negotiations with urban suppliers.
“We're always interested in talking and trying. Whether or not there will be the possibility to do that is the question,” Dana said.
“The game has definitely changed.” #
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20070917-9999-1n17water.html
####
No comments:
Post a Comment