Amid Drought, Feds Cut Off Water To Farms

With Reservoirs At Multi-Decade Lows, California Cuts Back, Stinging Key Industry

(AP)  Federal water managers said Friday that they plan to cut off water, at least temporarily, to thousands of California farms as a result of the deepening drought gripping the state.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials said parched reservoirs and patchy rainfall this year were forcing them to completely stop surface water deliveries for at least a two-week period beginning March 1. Authorities said they haven't had to take such a drastic move for more than 15 years.

The situation could improve slightly if more rain falls over the next few weeks, and officials will know by mid-March if they can release more irrigation supplies to growers.

Farmers in the nation's No. 1 agriculture state predicted it would cause consumers to pay more for their fruits and vegetables, which would have to be grown using expensive well water.

"Water is our life - it's our jobs and it's our food," said Ryan Jacobsen, executive director of the farm bureau in Fresno County. "Without a reliable water supply, Fresno County's No. 1 employer - agriculture - is at great risk."

The drought would cause an estimated $1.15 billion dollar loss in agriculture-related wages and eliminate as many as 40,000 jobs in farm-related industries in the San Joaquin Valley alone, where most of the nation's produce and nut crops are grown, said Lester Snow, director of the Department of Water Resources.

California's agricultural industry typically receives 80 percent of all the water supplies managed by the federal government - everything from far-off mountain streams and suburban reservoirs. The state supplies drinking water to 23 million residents and 755,000 acres of irrigated farmland.

Farms supplied by flows from the state's system of pumps and canals would also see cutbacks but still get 15 percent of their normal deliveries, Snow said.

This year, both the state and federal reservoirs have reached their lowest level since 1992.

Dwindling supplies would have to be routed to cities to ensure residents, hospitals and fire crews have enough to meet minimum health and safety needs, said Don Glaser, the federal reclamation bureau's Mid-Pacific Region director.

The water shortages are so severe most cities will have to start mandatory ration programs by summertime, and residents will be asked to reduce their usage by 20 percent, Snow said.

"You've got to think about water as a precious resource," he said. "It may seem a stretch to conserve 20 percent of your water, but that's nothing in comparison to the consequences of the drought and job loss in agriculture."

[al2008-2009]

I*m appalled at the governor%u2019s lack of response to the global warming heat waves, fires, and droughts. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate the effects of these droughts, and mother earth continues to suffer while the governor refuses to go forward and do what*s right for mother earth.
.
How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put progressive regulations into effect? How long must we wait until we beef up our corn ethanol production? At least President Obama%u2019s plan calls for cutting c02 pollution by 80% and eliminating greenhouse gases from our cars; he is definitely our best hope at solving our climate crisis.

We the people call upon our governor to implement a comprehensive antiglobal warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these heatwaves and droughts continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these disasterous calamities cease. We need action now.

[matrixrx2003]

People in LA need to conserve if they want food and vegies on the table.

Shower every other day !

[popstom124]

cut the water off to LA.

[biblethumpar]

Produce will just be imported, supply and demand..

[ubrew12]

I don't believe urban areas can do much to increase farmer water supplies. Farms use WAY more water than could come from populated areas.

[barbaram99]

I bought a used computer. I don't have a swimming pool, Live in an apt. They need to built plants that use the sea water and remove the salt from. They do it on ships like the aircraft carriers so the hands have drinkable water. I read about it.

[eddom949]

We get plenty here in Orange County. The rivers flow in abundance, out to the ocean where the halibut play. And I fish!

[drivelphobe]

greeneyes...

You may not want your pool, but I want mine. Besides, you have to leave a certain amount of water in a pool so it won't pop up out of the ground if it rains or the ground water rises.

If you cut off the filling of pools, you'll end up with mosquitoes, bugs and filth, plus drowning hazards.

People are fully capable of spending a little more on their produce if more expensive water is needed by farmers. You can't put a price on the family time, party atmosphere and health benefits of having a pool. It also acts as a reservoir for water in the event of an emergency.

Let the farmers use their well water until the snow pack develops and melts.

[libsbloww]

Thats the libs for you, cut you off and watch you shrink...lol then no more libs in CA! LOL!

[thechooch1]

The real solution is not to farm in an arid near desert region.