Brown, Newsom send State Water Board letter requesting to delay Wednesday’s vote
November 06, 2018 - - Those who depend on the
Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers for agriculture and drinking
water may have received a reprieve Tuesday night.
The State Water Resources Control Board was set to adopt a proposal to
double the amount of water allowed to flow unimpeded down the rivers and
out to the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta on Wednesday. Instead, the
board received a written request from Gov. Jerry Brown's office and
Governor-elect Gavin Newsom to postpone the vote until Dec. 12.
Assuming they grant that request, that 35-day delay will give the five
irrigation districts that hold century-old rights to use the water for
growing food additional time to work out a settlement to improve
conditions for salmon without harming farmers. Modesto and cities like
Manteca in southern San Joaquin County that receive treated water for
customers from the Tuolumne and Stanislaus would face dry-year water
supply cuts under the state plan.
"We are grateful that the governor has heard our community’s cry for
help," said Michael Frantz, a Turlock Irrigation Board director who is
among those deeply involved in trying to find a voluntary settlement
agreement. "In the 35-day time period between now and then, the governor
has committed to personally getting involved in the settlement
negotiations process."
In a letter to water board Chairwoman Felicia Marcus,
Gov. Brown and Newsom wrote that a short extension will allow the
negotiations to progress and "could result in a faster, less contentious
and more durable outcome. Voluntary agreements are preferable to a
lengthy administrative process and the inevitable ensuing lawsuits."
Under the plan that was to be considered, farmers in the region would
lose on average 25 percent of their irrigation water each year. The
local districts, including Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts,
said it would have severe economic effects, requiring the fallowing of
100,000 acres.
If no settlement is reached, the next step will be for the board to
implement its plan — which it has been developing since 2009. That would
result in immediate lawsuits by the districts.
Others were cautiously optimistic that at least some movement has been shown.
"I'm putting my faith in our representatives who have been involved in the process," said a board member of another district who preferred not to be quoted by name. "Do I believe the 35 days is going to yield fruit? It hasn't in two years, so I'm skeptical. But I'm willing to try it if the governor is reaching out himself."
Read more here: https://www.modbee.com/news/article221264045.html#storylink=cpy