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Parting the Waters: No Ag Miracles

November 8, 2016 By Eric Caine 7 Comments

No ag miracles
No ag miracles

They’re still planting trees. Look anywhere around the northern San Joaquin Valley and you’ll see saplings—mostly almonds—being hurled into the ground like spears. This during the worst drought in memory.

Most of the new orchards will have few or no surface water rights. They will be strictly groundwater-dependent.

And that’s just one reason opposition to the state’s proposals for increased flows along Valley rivers rings so false.

“If you increase flows, we’ll have to pump more groundwater,” say Valley farmers.

Pump more? Too many Valley farmers are already pumping groundwater far beyond a sustainable rate. They’re pumping so much that government has imposed groundwater regulation throughout the state.

But regulation isn’t going to stop the wanton abuse of water resources, at least not in the short term. It’s been very clear from the beginning that the state’s goal for sustainable groundwater use was set too far into the future. By the time real standards kick in, especially considering the certainty of litigation, Valley groundwater levels will be for the most part beyond recovery.

Meanwhile, the once-mighty San Joaquin continues to trickle, awaiting more water only after decades of litigation. The majestic Tuolumne River is increasingly clogged with the non-native water hyacinths that thrive in the warm, slow-moving water that has resulted from diverting over eighty percent of natural flows. And holders of water rights along the Stanislaus River keep finding increasingly devious ways to sell what they say is “surplus water” outside the region.

Given the necessity of flows to farming, recreation, fish, and ecosystems in the San Joaquin Delta and San Francisco Bay, how can Valley farmers justify their outcries against increased flows?

As always, the answer is, “For economic reasons.” And there’s no question that agriculture drives the Valley economy. But even during the greatest boom in a booming history, agriculture has left too many Valley citizens out in the cold.

Variously know as, “The Valley of the Poor,” and “The Appalachia of the West,” the San Joaquin Valley is one of the poorest regions in the United States. Most informed observers have long agreed the Valley economy needs to diversify before it can provide better jobs, but a diverse economy could be a long way off.

Meanwhile, opponents to what they call a “water grab” have tried to frame their arguments against increased flows as a “fish versus people” conflict, as though delta farmers, fishermen, boaters, nature lovers, resort owners and residents are not people.

There was a time when farmers could proudly defend themselves as providers for the nation’s “bread basket.” Slogans like, “No farms, no food,” and, “We farm, you eat,” easily justified agriculture’s demand for water.

The almond boom changed everything. It revealed what should have been apparent all along: Farmers are businessmen. When they can make more money from an export crop than from other crops, they’ll produce the export crop.

And while there are plenty of good reasons why business should be encouraged, there are fewer good reasons to give one business more favorable access to public resources than another.

Too many local farmers have been reluctant to pay even the cost of operation and maintenance for their water. They’ve been too eager to pump groundwater at unsustainable rates, and too reluctant to regulate themselves when regulation is called for.

Most of all, too many farmers have been perfectly willing to monetize a public resource and monopolize the profits. Expecting the state, which must act in the public interest, to ignore these facts is like expecting a miracle. It’s not going to happen.

 

Filed Under: Environment, Featured Tagged With: Almond orchards Stanislaus County, Eastern Stanislaus County groundwater, San Joaquin Valley aquifer

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chris Gulick says

    November 10, 2016 at 2:32 am

    No Comments ?
    I thought Mike Wade or at the very least Tom Orvis would take a stab at it.

    Reply
  2. Eric Caine says

    November 10, 2016 at 3:36 am

    Mike and Tom have decided to pretend I don’t exist. Ok by me. I like Tom and don’t blame him a bit for carrying water for Westlands Water District despite working for our local farm bureau. With Mike as an income and prestige model, who wouldn’t try to emulate him?

    Reply
  3. West_Sider says

    November 10, 2016 at 8:37 pm

    The state in its document is assuming farmers are going to pump more groundwater to the tune of over 100,000 acre feet a year all the while another state agency is pushing for groundwater management, pure lunacy at the state level.

    Reply
    • Eric Caine says

      November 10, 2016 at 11:50 pm

      Agree about the lunacy WestSider. And don’t forget how many Valley cities are dependent on groundwater. Just consider Fresno alone: highly dependent on groundwater and growing problems with subsidence. All those cities dependent on groundwater will be needing more and more surface water, and Valley leaders are still pushing hard on urban growth.

      Reply
  4. Tom Orvis says

    November 15, 2016 at 2:28 am

    Did someone call my name? I don’t carry any water for Westlands Eric – you know that. Haven’t seen you around the meetings in ages – hope you’re doing OK. And Chris – what happened on the Bee? I go to certain articles and expect to see you there but NO! Starting to wonder if you ditched them like all the rest of their subscribers are. As for this article of Eric’s, there’s no use engaging because it’s your blog and you will always have the last word. See you at the next meeting. The state knows their document has plenty of achilles heals and so we shall see what happens at the hearings. Fun Fun Fun at the holidays with the SWRCB.

    Reply
    • Eric Caine says

      November 15, 2016 at 2:37 am

      Hi Tom. Was referring to your defense of OID water sales, which is a defense of Westlands. Yes, I know that. Anyway, you are a great guy and I miss seeing you. Doing ok. May be wrong, but do not see much future for groundwater coming from the meetings. State will be too slow to act; we are one or two plantings away from depletion for hundreds of thousands of acres and that’s the plan. There is plenty of point in engaging as the purpose is to enlighten. We all have Achilles’s heels. Anyway, I always wish you the best and enjoy hearing from you.

      Reply
  5. West Sider says

    November 16, 2016 at 6:38 pm

    Another great post regarding the folly of the state’s plan

    http://www.mantecabulletin.com/m/section/38/article/139295/

    Reply

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