• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Valley Citizen

Nature, Environment, History & Politics

The Valley Citizen

  • Arts
  • Education
  • Environment
  • History
  • Nature
  • Politics
  • Wit
  • About
  • RSS Icon

Stanislaus County’s Water Committee on Borrowed Time?

October 7, 2014 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Newly Planted Orchard, Eastern Stanislaus County, August 2014
Newly Planted Orchard, Eastern Stanislaus County, August 2014

After months of dithering and ducking, the Stanislaus Water Advisory Committee (WAC) may have finally lost its lease. It’s becoming ever more apparent the WAC’s purpose is exactly what Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini said it was when he resigned as chair.

DeMartini said almost immediately after its formation that the purpose of the committee was to provide “political cover” for supervisors unwilling to take action on the groundwater pumping crisis caused by thousands of acres of new orchards on the county’s east side.

It now appears as though at least three supervisors may be willing to support a moratorium on new well permits. As mild a measure as it is, the prospect of a moratorium has thrown the WAC into a panic.

Though the committee was supposed to report to the supervisors last week, it asked for additional time to consider the moratorium. If we compare pumping on the east side to an out of control fire, all a moratorium would do is set up a temporary fire break. Nonetheless, even that measure seems beyond the committee’s capacity to act.

From the beginning committee members have recited two themes: “We need information,” they say, and, “We don’t know.”

In fact, a great deal is known about pumping groundwater on Stanislaus County’s east side. For one thing, over thirty thousand acres of new almond orchards require around a hundred thousand acre feet of water a year—enough water to serve the City of Modesto for a year and a half. For another, the county geologist has said pumping that amount of water will most likely lower the aquifer thirty feet a year.

These are rounded numbers, but given we also know the maximum recharge of the east side aquifer from rainfall is less than a foot a year, it’s clear that after the twenty-five year life cycle of one almond orchard, the east side aquifer is going to be useless for almost any purpose. That’s because the water level will be too far down for economic utility—it’s very expensive to pump water from over six-hundred feet below the surface.

Nonetheless, the WAC insists it needs more time to study the situation. This is like saying we need to study xylem, phloem, and the transpiration process before fighting a forest fire.

Probably the most penetrating comment about the WAC’s inability to act came from a member of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). An outgrowth of the WAC, the TAC is supposedly composed of members with more specific knowledge of water issues than that possessed by members of the WAC.

At the most recent TAC meeting, Supervisor Terry Withrow asked TAC members for advice. “You’re the experts,” he said. “Tell us what to do.”

In one of those rare moments when the truth burbles to the surface at meetings designed to avoid it, a TAC member replied, “How can we give you technical advice when you’re a political committee?”

With a few more such moments of truth and the willingness of Stanislaus County Supervisors to actually supervise, there won’t be a need for the Stanislaus Water Advisory Committee. Jim DeMartini knew that months ago.

Filed Under: Environment, Featured Tagged With: Almond Orchards eastern Stanislaus County, Stanislaus County groundwater

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Note: Some comments may be held for moderation.

Primary Sidebar

Off The Wire

Could a homegrown coronavirus strain be partly to blame for California's surge?
Could a homegrown coronavirus strain be partly to blame for California’s surge?
California scientists have discovered a new coronavirus strain that appears to be propagating faster than any other variant in the Golden State.
www.latimes.com
The Worst President in History
The Worst President in History
Three particular failures secure Trump’s status as the worst chief executive ever to hold the office.
www.theatlantic.com
Trump forces seek primary revenge on GOP impeachment backers
Trump forces seek primary revenge on GOP impeachment backers
Candidates, donors and local party officials are already organizing against the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump.
www.politico.com
McCarthy Falsely Denies Voting To Overturn Election Results
McCarthy Falsely Denies Voting To Overturn Election Results
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on Thursday denied that he, in fact, voted to overturn the election results as…
talkingpointsmemo.com
Audubon Files Lawsuit to Protect Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Audubon Files Lawsuit to Protect Migratory Bird Treaty Act
A coalition of conservation groups is going to court to overturn Trump Administration’s weakening of the landmark bird protection law.
www.audubon.org
Californians scramble for shots amid slow vaccine rollout | CalMatters
Californians scramble for shots amid slow vaccine rollout | CalMatters
Gov. Newsom said the feds failed to deliver promised vaccine supplies, but he expects Californians with their first shots to be able to secure their second.
calmatters.org
David Brooks column: Trump ignites a war within the church
David Brooks column: Trump ignites a war within the church
“Over the last 72 hours, I have received multiple death threats and thousands upon thousands of emails from Christians saying the nastiest and most vulgar things I have ever heard toward my family and ministry. I have been labeled a coward, sellout, a traitor to the Holy Spirit, and cussed out at least 500 times.”
www.courant.com
Here are the companies suspending political contributions following the Capitol riots
Here are the companies suspending political contributions following the Capitol riots
thehill.com
How the Capitol Riot Thrust Big American Companies Deeper Into Politics
How the Capitol Riot Thrust Big American Companies Deeper Into Politics
“Words alone are not enough.” Corporate moves to halt political funding and decry the forces behind the Jan. 6 riot have accelerated a broader movement in business to address social and political issues.
www.wsj.com
I've hesitated to call Donald Trump a fascist. Until now | Opinion
I’ve hesitated to call Donald Trump a fascist. Until now | Opinion
After last week the label seems not just acceptable, but necessary.
www.newsweek.com
The Cheney-McCarthy rift busts open
The Cheney-McCarthy rift busts open
The Republican leaders’ split on impeachment presages a bigger battle over Trump and the GOP.
www.politico.com
Beaten, sprayed with mace and hit with stun guns: police describe injuries to dozens of officers during assault on U.S. Capitol
Beaten, sprayed with mace and hit with stun guns: police describe injuries to dozens of officers during assault on U.S. Capitol
Authorities say many officers face long recovery following riot
www.washingtonpost.com
Trump Authoritarianism Denial Is Over Now
Trump Authoritarianism Denial Is Over Now
Just weeks, ago, conservatives insisted Trump would concede if he lost the election.
nymag.com

Find us on Facebook

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Footer

The Valley Citizen
PO Box 156
Downtown Bear Postal
1509 K Street
Modesto, CA 95354

Email us at:
thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Subscribe for Free

* indicates required

Search

• Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 The Valley Citizen

Dedicated to the memory of John Michael Flint. Contact us at thevalleycitizen@sbcglobal.net

Editor and publisher: Eric Caine

Website customization and maintenance by Susan Henley Design