California Farm Water Coalition

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Thursday, 13 November 2008

California’s State Water Project (SWP) received funding authorization in 1959 and its plan for construction received voter approval. The SWP is the nation’s largest state-built water and power development and conveyance system. It provides water supplies for 25 million Californians and 755,000 acres of irrigated farmland.

Times have changed since the construction of the SWP and it can no longer keep up with an increasing demand for a reliable water supply. Our population has more than doubled since the SWP was constructed and it is expected to keep climbing. Construction of the federal Central Valley Project began in 1937 to entice farmers to bring life to the arid land by providing a dependable water supply. That water supply is no longer reliable because of court decisions and the increased demand for a water supply that was envisioned 70 years ago. Water not only grows the food we need but also provides jobs.

California needs a more reliable water supply.
More storage facilities are needed to increase our water supply.
An improved conveyance system is necessary to deliver water to its point of use and protect endangered fish in the Delta.
Legislative action is needed now to move California into the future with a water supply that is reliable for all its citizens.

For more information, click below:

State Population

Water Supply Availability

Food Production

Central Valley Project

State Water Project

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

Reducing fish conflicts in the delta - 2 Gates

California Water Facts Handout

Thursday, 03 April 2008

What percentage of the state's developed water supply is used by farmers? That question has resulted in multiple answers most frequently printed in the news media. The most damaging answer to farmers is 80 percent. Unfortunately, that is an incorrect answer. The correct answer is farmers use only 43 percent of the state's developed water supply. The largest user of this water is the environment at 46 percent while homes/businesses use the remaining 11 percent. This full-color brochure was produced by several organizations, including the California Farm Water Coalition. Meanwhile, click below for your free dowload of the newest California Water Facts Handout. Copies available at 30-cents per page plus postage.

pdf Download the Water Facts PDF Handout

Newsflash

January 19, 2010 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Senator Feinstein:

I am writing to you as the most senior members of the California delegation in the House of Representatives and the Senate, respectively, to urge that you introduce without delay legislation to restore water supplies to areas served by the federal Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project. It has now become apparent that the only way in which these water supplies will be restored in a manner so as to avoid further human and economic catastrophe is to enact legislation that would provide operational flexibility, which is unavailable under existing constraints imposed under the Endangered Species Act.

Videos

We've posted some videos in our Video area. Learn about California water and California Farmers. Don't miss the Alfalfa and Pizza Video.

California Water Facts Handout

Learn more about California Water through our Water Facts Handout. This easy to read PDF helps you understand just how much water California farmers are saving each month!