• 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

Valley Citizens Unite Against Mining Water

August 13, 2014 By Eric Caine Leave a Comment

Valley Citizen John Booker
Valley Citizen John Booker

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 almost impossible to drive one mile in the eastern part of Stanislaus County today without seeing a newly planted orchard, or ground being prepared in anticipation of planting at the earliest opportunity, he said.

“This rush to cash in on unheard of profits is very reminiscent of the California gold rush of 150 years ago. Then, like now, little regard was given to the consequences of their actions, or the harm that might come to others. ‘Get rich quick’ was the only thing that mattered. Our precarious groundwater situation is analogous to a wildfire burning out of control and the issuance of hundreds of new industrial well drilling permits is like using gasoline to extinguish the flames.”

Booker cited studies by the Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) that showed groundwater levels dropping from May 2005 through November 2013.

“The really scary part is that these steady declines were occurring before the county issued hundreds of new well drilling permits for new orchards,” he said.

Calling the situation a “perfect storm,” Booker called for a moratorium on “all new industrial-size agricultural well-drilling permits.” He then asked that Stanislaus County fund an Environmental Impact Report to determine the impact new wells “may have on the long-term sustainability of our groundwater table.”

After Booker’s presentation, a long line of Valley citizens spoke again and again about the ongoing harm brought about by mining groundwater in the foothills. Two themes dominated: speculation and sustainability.

“Outside speculators…have put our community in crisis,” said Frank Clark.

“It’s so unfair,” said Kathy Smith. “Those speculators are planting on rangeland that has no chance of getting [surface] water.”

“I’m in the process of losing my well,” said Mabel Jones.

The citizen outcry came directly after a glowing report about Stanislaus County’s record farm income. Almonds replaced dairy products as the number one farm product and produced over a billion dollars in gross income. The report also noted that over the last seven years there was 61,000 acre increase in almond orchards.

If it weren’t for a historic drought, the proliferation of almond acreage might go unnoticed. But today, almost everyone knows almonds require lots of water. In fact, 61,000 acres require over 180,000 acre feet of water a year, just about the same amount needed to serve the entire city of Modesto.

The farm income report didn’t say how many acres of those new orchards rely solely on groundwater, but Valley citizens are learning the hard way that it’s far too many. Absent quick action by Stanislaus County Supervisors, only the state can prevent an epic catastrophe.

Filed Under: Environment, Featured Tagged With: eastern Stanislaus County almond orchards, 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

Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Warren: Voters Must Elect Dems In Midterms Who Would Nix Filibuster To Codify Roe
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Sunday said she views the midterm elections…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
A Farmer’s Quest to Beat California’s Waves of Drought and Deluge
Don Cameron went all in on a trickle-down survival tactic. It could help save America’s agricultural heartland—even if he doesn’t survive the new water war.
www.wired.com
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
Ten Ways Billionaires Avoid Taxes On An Epic Scale
This article first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative…
talkingpointsmemo.com
A South Texan?s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
A South Texan’s Wild, Life-affirming Quest to Break a National Birding Record
When she began her year-long bird-spotting adventure, Tiffany Kersten was lost and lonely. She ended up achieving a major milestone and finding her way.
www.texasmonthly.com
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
Ron Johnson tried to hand fake elector info to Mike Pence on Jan. 6, panel reveals
A top aide said the Wisconsin Republican senator wanted to give Pence the list of pro-Trump electors as he prepared to certify the 2020 election.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
Raffensperger says he wishes Fox News carried every Jan. 6 hearing
“I think it would have helped our party heal, given [people] more facts.”
www.axios.com
'Not safe anymore': Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
‘Not safe anymore’: Portland confronts the limits of its support for homeless services
Homeless encampments now spill well beyond Portland’s downtown core, dividing a city that has invested liberally in support services.
www.latimes.com
Republicans Will Do It Again
Republicans Will Do It Again
They have not been chastened by the revelations of the January 6 committee.
nymag.com
Birdman
Birdman
Bird Brother: A Falconer’s Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife
www.earthisland.org
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Potato Roll Empire Bankrolling Christian Nationalist Doug Mastriano
The Martins were bit players in politics, until they put Doug Mastriano one step away from becoming Pennsylvania’s next governor.
nymag.com
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Roger Stone and Michael Flynn under fire over rallies ‘distorting Christianity’
Prominent Christian leaders accuse Trump allies of spreading misinformation about election and Covid, while distorting Christian teachings at ReAwaken America events
www.theguardian.com
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears 'moment of reckoning'
Major water cutbacks loom as shrinking Colorado River nears ‘moment of reckoning’
As the Colorado River water shortage worsens, major cutbacks are needed to reduce most perilous risks, a federal official tells senators.
www.latimes.com
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Trump Scammed Supporters Out of $250 Million for Nonexistent Fraud Fund
Supporters who thought they were donating to “election integrity” instead saw some of their money funneled to Trump hotels
www.rollingstone.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 © 2022 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