When Stanislaus County Supervisor Jim DeMartini made a surprise appearance at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Stanislaus Water Advisory Committee (WAC), people expected fireworks. DeMartini has been an outspoken critic of the WAC since its formation early this year. In theory, the WAC is supposed to advise county supervisors on water policy. In fact, it has seemed dedicated to avoiding action of any kind. DeMartini’s recent attempts to establish a […]
Stanislaus County groundwater
Stanislaus County’s Water Committee on Borrowed Time?
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 […]
Supervisor Dodges Hot (Ground)Water
Two things were crystal clear after Stanislaus County Supervisor Bill O’Brien met with members of the Stanislaus Water Coalition last Wednesday in Oakdale. One, Supervisor O’Brien wants no part in regulating water use in Stanislaus County. And two, members of the Stanislaus Water Coalition agree that the state’s 2040 deadline to achieve groundwater sustainability is far too distant to prevent serious and lasting harm from ongoing overdrafting of groundwater. A […]
California Fails on Groundwater
It didn’t take long for elation to turn to dismay after state legislators approved regulations on groundwater. If Governor Brown signs off, California will become the last state to enact groundwater rules. Sort of. In fact, all the fuss about groundwater has done is establish more firmly Big Ag’s unshakeable grip on water policy. The tell is in the state’s requirement that counties achieve groundwater “sustainability” by 2040. From today, […]
The Last Windmill?
With a history dating back over 2,000 years, the windmill represents one of man’s most enduring mechanical contrivances. There are few images more representative of the arid American west. It’s a clean-energy, labor-saving device older than the terms that describe it. Given 15-to-20 mile an hour winds, an 8-foot diameter windmill can pump around 150 gallons an hour. An average family of four might use 200 to 300 gallons of […]
Foothills Farming: Every Developer’s Dream
When advocates for farmland preservation argue that urban sprawl is destroying prime farmland, their critics have a ready response: “Now that we can rip soil and grow crops anywhere, what’s the need to preserve farmland around cities?” Developers and their allies also cite impressive increases in acreage for irrigated farmland, and they’re right. In Stanislaus County alone, tens of thousands of acres of irrigated farmland have been added in just […]
Valley Citizens Unite Against Mining Water
It’s only fitting that some of the speakers during Tuesday’s public comment portion of the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors meeting had names like “Smith” and “Jones.” It was one of those rare moments when ordinary citizens speak in unison and form a truly “public” opinion. The keynote was sounded by John Booker, a retired architect from Oakdale, who represented over one-hundred members of the Stanislaus Water Coalition: “It is […]
Why Should Tax Payers Subsidize Water Miners?
“So maybe this is not the time to start a new orchard,” said Stanislaus County’s Geologist, August 5, 2014. In California, water has been “for fighting” since the founding of the state. That’s why it’s noteworthy when people agree on anything about it. But recently, there’s unanimity on one water fact statewide: Without surface water, nut farming in the foothills of the eastern San Joaquin Valley is not sustainable. Why […]
County Geologist on Foothills Groundwater: Part II
Dr. Horacio Ferriz is Stanislaus County’s geologist. Here is Part II of his interview with The Valley Citizen. Valley Citizen: Could you explain “mass balance” in layman’s terms? Dr. Ferriz: Mass balance is a fancy word to say that what comes in has to be the same as what goes out, plus/minus changes in storage. Imagine that the groundwater basin is like two stacked warehouses. Each warehouse is half full […]
County Geologist on Foothills Groundwater: Part I
The Valley Citizen is committed to bringing as much science as possible to the ongoing dialogue about water in the San Joaquin Valley. Stanislaus County’s resident geologist is an internationally acclaimed consultant on geohydrology and geology. Dr. Horacio Ferriz also teaches a wide range of courses at California State University, Stanislaus. He has an earned PhD from Stanford University. Dr. Ferriz generously offered the following interview via email. Valley Citizen: […]