California Farm Water Coalition

Californians face dwindling supplies of locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables and higher prices at the grocery store unless our elected leaders act NOW to fix our water supply system. Click HERE to find your legislator and tell them we need new reservoirs and canals for California’s future.

Governor Schwarzenegger held a press conference with Latino leaders on August 18 to tell legislators he wants a comprehensive water supply package of legislative bills to fix the state’s

water supply system. View highlights in the video at right.

pdf Find out more (77.71 Kb PDF)

Irony?

Chinese carrots being distributed to unemployed farmworkers at a food line in California's Central Valley where they once worked to produce food for the world.

Legislators approve $11 billion water bond

The Legislature adjourned its special water session this morning by 6 a.m. (11-4-09) following a 2/3 vote in each house to approve an $11.139 billion general obligation bond (SBX7 2 by Cogdill) and four of five policy bills. The following analysis is provided by Bob Reeb of Reeb Government Relations, LLC---

SBX7 1 (Simitian and Steinberg), relating to Delta governance and the Delta Plan, including changes to Delta Protection Commission statutory provisions, creation of a Delta Conservancy, creation of a Delta Stewardship Council, creation of a Delta Watermaster with limited authority and authorization for a Delta Plan. This bill also sets forth the role of the Council and Department of Fish and Game relating to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

Valley Reps call for biological opinion reconsultation

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Dennis Cardoza introduced bipartisan legislation today (11-3-09) that calls for a review of the federal biological opinions that have significantly reduced the amount of water flowing to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Congressmen Costa (D-Fresno) and Radanovich (R-Mariposa) joined as original cosponsors.

Specifically, the legislation calls for a “re-consultation” of the biological opinions on Salmon and Delta Smelt that have resulted in curtailments of water deliveries to the Valley. The biological opinions place unfair blame on Valley farmers and the pumps that deliver their water as the cause for declines in the Delta fish populations. Congressman Cardoza’s legislation would require a review of all factors affecting the survival of endangered species in the Delta, rather than simply focusing on cutting back water deliveries to the Valley.