Repuke congress plans a raid on California's Delta water

[KamaAina]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/17/MNM81N8JQQ.DTL

Representatives from the Central Valley pushed legislation through a House committee Thursday that would upend the state's system of water rights, deploying the federal government to extract water from Northern California farms, fisheries and cities to send to farmers in the valley.

The action by the House Natural Resources Committee came the same day that the House voted to require the federal government to usurp California's governance of its coastline by requiring offshore leasing for oil and gas drilling....

Among other things, the legislation would halt restoration of the San Joaquin River, leaving as much as 40 miles of the river dry, restore irrigation contracts and override fish and wildlife protections in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

"Plain and simple, it's a water raid on the delta," said Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove (Sacramento County), who waged trench warfare in the committee by offering more than 20 amendments. All were defeated, but Garamendi said he was "laying down a track of information that will be useful later."

Big Agriculture is by far the largest user of water in the state. If it would conserve even a relatively small amount, that would leave lots more water left over for everyone else, including the fish.

[opihimoimoi]

1. KnR 'd The Aspect of Water usage and priorities comes into focus...lets hope it can be worked out

for the best case scenario....

[XemaSab]

2. "extract water from Northern California farms, fisheries and cities to send to farmers in the valley

Um, which valley are they talking about?

'Cause depending on how one defines "Northern California" either half of the Central Valley or ALL of the Central Valley is in NorCal.

[KamaAina]

3. They're talking about the San Joaquin Valley

look who the sponsors are -- even a Dem:

Sponsored by Republican Reps. Devin Nunes of Tulare County, Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Jeff Denham of Merced, with support from Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Elk Grove (Sacramento County) and Democrat Costa, the legislation cleared the House committee on a 27-17 vote.

By "Northen California" they presumably mean the Sacramento Valley, up your way (I think).

[XemaSab]

4. Here's the Fresno Bee's article about it:

http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/16/2724722/house-committee-hearing-on-california.html