Contra Costa Times
Editor,
Monumental efforts must still be conducted to reach a solution to the state’s water crisis and heightened emphasis recently displayed in the Legislature exemplifies the work that remains to be done. 

The image below shows huge swaths of fallowed farmland in Westlands Water District as a result of water supply cuts.  Unemployment in parts of the Valley reached 41 percent in August, according to the Fresno County Employment Development Department.  NASA images published recently show similar conditions as far south as Bakersfield.  It is estimated that 400,000 acres of farmland lie unplanted this year with the resulting economic impacts on the Valley's rural communities.   High resolution version: (4 MB) click HERE.

 By Lance Johnson, Madera Irrigation District 

Given three years of drought when every acre-foot of water has to be beneficially used every Californian should be mad as hell about the waste and unreasonable use of water that is occurring under the guise of protecting fish. Consider first that the California Water Code, Division 1, Chapter 1, Section 100, requires that waters of the State be beneficially used for the benefit of the people of California. That waste or unreasonable use, or unreasonable method of use, shall be prevented. And  that “the use or flow of water in or from any natural stream or water course … shall be limited to the water that shall be reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served”. In other words if a use of water is not providing a demonstrable benefit its use is unreasonable and illegal under State law.