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Smelt ruling concerns Kings County farmers

LEMOORE -- Already coping with the effects of this year's drought, Lemoore farmer Bob Wilson felt his stress level go up a notch on Aug. 31.

A federal court judge had just issued an order to reduce pumping of water out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to preserve a tiny endangered fish.

The ruling came despite the dangerously low reservoir water levels and heat wave that continued to parch California. San Joaquin Valley farmers are already forced to pump groundwater to irrigate their crops at the cost of overdraft or don't irrigate at all.

"It's very bad for us," Wilson said. "We're coming out of a very dry year, and we don't know the prospect of next year's rainfall. We're worried about how we are going to plan the crop next year. People are nervous about the job security for the coming year."

Wilson, also president of the Kings County Farm Bureau, attended the entire court proceeding in Fresno before U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger, who ruled to protect the delta smelt, a creature biologists say is facing extinction because of increased pumping from the delta.



Lemoore farmer Bob Wilson looks over the California Aqueduct. He is one of many growers who depend on the water delivered through the water channel. A recent federal court ruling to protect endangered fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta could cut into the state water supply. (Ralph Berrett/The Sentinel)


The decision came in a lawsuit filed by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice against the Department of Interior and water agencies, among others.

Local officials say the decision in an environmental lawsuit could cut Northern California water exports to the Valley and Southern California through the California Aqueduct by one-third or more and warn of a severe economic impact on Kings County.

But environmental groups question the officials' numbers.

"Those numbers are not really consistent with the sworn testimony provided to the court," said Kate Poole, senior attorney for NRDC. "What the judge wanted was close to the remedy proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for the next 12 to 16 months to prevent the extinction of the smelt."

Poole said the decrease in pumping -- as estimated by the state Department of Water Resources -- is estimated to be 3 to 13 percent in a dry year.

She stressed that the reduction is not permanent.

A new biological study is under way by court order.

Wanger ordered water flows be maintained at enough levels to keep endangered fish away from the pumps from the end of December, when they spawn, to the end of spring, when young fish move into the delta. Environmentalists say the fish tend to get sucked up to the pumps and killed.

The impact may go far beyond the farming industry, says Kings County Administrative Officer Larry Spikes.

"It affects millions of people who rely on the water on a daily basis, from the state water project from Sacramento to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California," Spikes said.

"Consequences are severe for everybody. We're already in an overdraft situation. If surface water is lost, we have to rely more on groundwater. Continuous pumping of groundwater, which is exacerbated by the lawsuit, is not good for our region."

With Hanford and Corcoran dependent on groundwater, the impact for Kings County is expected to be mostly ag-related. But some communities may face a more direct threat to their water supply.

Concerns of the ruling's effect also reverberated in Avenal, whose 16,000 residents depend solely on the aqueduct water.

Melissa Whitten, Avenal city manager, this week said the city is closely monitoring the situation.

"We don't know if or when it's going to impact our city," Whitten said. "Certainly, we're concerned, but we really won't know until we discuss this with the Bureau of Reclamation officials."

The impact of the court ruling is still being assessed by 29 water agencies contracted with the state -- including San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

But Brent Graham, general manager of the Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District in Corcoran, estimates local farmers could expect a 35 percent cutback in state water supplies.

Kings County is contracted to obtain 9,300 acre feet of water each year from the aqueduct, which snakes along the Westside. The possible cut equates to more than 3,000 acre feet of water.

"If we have another dry year, it's going to really raise havoc in this Valley," Graham said.

Graham said farmers in Kings County probably would be forced to leave fields unplanted and groundwater pumping would be increased to offset deficits in water supplies. Even if next winter yields average rainfall and snowpack, he said, users will have to tap into water reserves, making the state even more vulnerable to a drought.

In late June, Kings County got its first emergency designation by the governor. Kings County has since been renewing its local emergency status every two weeks.

In mid-August, the Kings County agricultural commissioner's office estimated $22 million in countywide crop damage caused by drought this year.

Officials say federal court intervention in the California Aqueduct operation has been exacerbating the drought situation. County supervisors renewed the local emergency status this week.

By court order, reduction in water diversion from the delta will continue until a new biological study is done in the coming year to determine the effect of water pumping at the delta on the smelt.

In 2005, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded in its biological opinion that water operations in the delta did not endanger the fish. The findings led to a lawsuit by environmentalists.

This May, Wanger invalidated the federal agency's biological opinion. In June, water pumping was suspended for nine days after large numbers of smelt died.

Subsequent urgent pleas by environmentalists led to the Aug. 31 ruling by Wanger, according to media reports.

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3059.

(Sept. 15, 2007)

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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Hanford Sentinel

The Oracle says.... wrote on Sep 15, 2007 4:10 PM:

" well if it saves a fish or two, great stuff. Im sure we can all go without food as long as we know in the back of our minds that we are saving the whales, errr I mean the smelt. Maybe it will have a secondary effect and help the snowy plovers too. I know, maybe we can shut down ALL oil production in the U.S. as well. That may save some kangaroo rats and kit fox, and keep farmers out of jail for plowing their own lands. I will say it again, and again..These nut case environmentalists are shoving us down a path that we don't want to go. There will come a day that people, when they get hungry and are out of gas, etc etc..are going to rebel against this crap. Lets hear from the "greens" about your views. Im interested in how you defend these policies that have us IMPORTING oil when we have our own we can't access due to "your" policies. Now we hurt food production to save a fish? How about we eat the fish instead? "

Wearing of the green wrote on Sep 16, 2007 12:21 AM:

" Wanger is no tree hugger, believe me. Laws protect those species that are endangered and threatened. I don't feel the need to answer for the "greens". I am a green underwear kinda person, I support many things on both sides of environmental issues. Your statement you make with a wide stroke "shoving us down a path that we don't want to go" is not exactly my belief. I don't support large farmers and fat cats along the Tulare Lake Basin and on the West side of the county that sell our water and the rights to use our dirt for So. CA trash and poop sludge. That too is a path I do not want to go but have been forced to for far too long. It's time a little smelt cause a slow down in the collection of water that gets stockpiled and sold, like real estate or oil. It's that valuable. No more letting huge commercial farming corporations/opertations take our resources that have value and turn them into a pile of, as you say "crap". So, here's wishing the snowy plover of happiness relieves itself on you. "

Scott Tucker wrote on Sep 16, 2007 4:53 AM:

" Dear Oracle, Your pseudonym suggests that you possess divine knowledge, and yet you are so willing to destroy "God's" creatures, including ourselves. All of these nutcase ANTI-environmentalists are shoving us down a terrible path destruction and waste, and that is definitely a path that the flora and fauna, including mankind, of this earth do not want to take. I think if a divine power were truly speaking to you, it would tell you to get out and ride your bike once in a while. "

Robin Mattos wrote on Sep 16, 2007 1:24 PM:

" The water flows continue to be diverted from the Sacramento Delta for urban uses in S. CA. These diversions have caused increasing salinity in the soils and wetlands of the Delta which are not being flushed out by fresh water as nature intended, (a la Kesterson Widelife Refuge). As a result, agricultural production is being reduced due to degraded water/soil quality. It's not just about a smelt. The comments from Scott Tucker are correct in that an oracle should have a vision for the future, not to just support a position for the status quo. Working with new technology and acomodating sensitive environmental issues can be difficult but IS possible. It's time we see our possibilities can co-exist. Finding common ground for all in this issue is most important. We all benefit from protecting flora and fauna. It is our future. "

Question wrote on Sep 17, 2007 1:30 PM:

" I will conceed that there is a possiblity that this ruling will help save fish, now I would like to know if you Scott Tucker and Mrs. Mattos would be supportive our a Temperance Flat initiative to increase our storage capacity in the Central Valley. By increasing the storage capacity on the San Joaquin River the farmers, residents, fish, wildlife and any other group would have access to water that is captured in wet years. Where is the support for this much needed solution???? There are also undertones in many of these posts that corporation farming is evil. It may not be the epoitome of a small farming community, but they employ hundres of workers and support an even bigger picture when you take into consideration their eqipment and supply purchases. If you shut down a few major companies, you may shut down an entire community. "

To Mrs Mattos wrote on Sep 17, 2007 5:20 PM:

" I understand your concept of using technology to our advantage. People in the water industry are already implementing as many mitigation efforts as they can. Farmers and water users are implementing Best Management Practices, installing fish ladders, putting water down the San Joaquin for Salmon, etc. The one thing I don't hear is HEAT offering any ideas how we can solve any problems. Other groups have offered solutions, but all I really hear is you want EIR's and studies, but HEAT offers no solutions. Where are your solutions? If you don't like something or want something construction, you should at least offer some sort of sultion. "

Robin Mattos wrote on Sep 17, 2007 11:25 PM:

" To "Question". In regard to Temperance Flat dam, I was personally disappointed when the state legislature was not able to get support needed for the dam. I hope the governor will continue to support ways to secure water for uses here in the valley and for all of California. It's hoped the San Joaquin River may be restored to its former splendor if the dam is built. If we seek out the latest technology to collect & store water and work to conserve wildlife, we may be able to resolve the soil salinity problem that a lack of fresh water has caused as well as protection of wildlife, among other things. I believe our levees and reservoirs need attention before the next major flood. We need to encourage our leaders to sponsor bills that support new reservoirs as well as repair our current levee system. BTW, corporate farming was not mentioned in my post, I can't speak to others' opinions. To the poster, "To Mrs. Mattos", I'll engage in meaningful dialog as it pertains to the subject matter. I do not purport to be a water expert, therefore I'll leave solutions up to the courts, litigants & experts. "

Mrs Mattos wrote on Sep 18, 2007 12:08 PM:

" Just for the concerned public and those who read these blogs, what is your expertise in wildlife and ecological issues (or enviromental)? Not trying to attack you, but if you were able to state these, then the doubters out there can look to you with open ears. "

To: Mrs Mattos wrote on Sep 19, 2007 10:51 AM:

" With all due respect, this is Robin Mattos. I presume there is a question being directed toward me, I may be wrong. In case it is directed toward me, you write, "Just for the concerned public and those who read these blogs, what is your expertise in wildlife and ecological issues (or enviromental)? Not trying to attack you, but if you were able to state these, then the doubters out there can look to you with open ears. ". Answer: I am stating my opinion. That is the purpose for this forum. Question: Do you have some expertise in one of the fields that you list? I would be interested in hearing your views or opinions about the article and its effect on our local water quality, quantity and economy, or state, national and global. This forum is your opportunity to state your opinion. It is an opportunity to exchange meaningful dialog as it pertains to the subject matter of this article. Have a great day, Mrs. Mattos :-) ! "

To Mrs Mattos wrote on Sep 19, 2007 11:32 AM:

" I was not trying to offend you, nor speak to any of my knowledge of the subject. Although I am an engineer with ties to both the State Water Project and the Friant System, along with previous dealings with the Metropolitan Water District, I simply was asking if you had any background in any of these subjects. Not only in regards to the smelt issue, but in general environmental conservation or engineering. Even though I deal with water related issues, I have a hard time offering opinions when I lack the full amount of information, as with this case. But in other blogs and stories you are very opinionated about environmental issues and I just thought it would help lend credibility if you could state your background. The comment was only to help those doubters think before they challenge you. "

CONFUSED wrote on Sep 19, 2007 3:57 PM:

" Which blogger here is the real 'Robin Mattos?' I thought it was established that she always used 'Robin Mattos' typed into the NAME box of this blog comment. Who is 'Mrs. Mattos?' "

Sorry wrote on Sep 19, 2007 4:21 PM:

" Sorry about that when I typed in Mrs. Mattos I left out the To....so it should have read To Mrs. Mattos "

Robin Mattos wrote on Sep 19, 2007 9:48 PM:

" No offense taken. Healthy debate is expected in a forum. I appreciate you providing background information. I was raised in a farming family, water, commodities and soil were matters discussed at the dinnertable. Farmers have historically been the best guardians of the environment. Whether they want to call themselves environmentalists is a matter for them to decide. Since farmers make their living from the land, availability of water and good soil quality is important to make a living. The world (inhabitants) and the environment are a symbionic relationship, in my opinion. We cannot survive in the world if our environment is not capable of sustaining us. Farmers create that which sustains us. So, did growing up on a farm make me an expert on the environment or resources of our world? Maybe in a very small way. I do try to stay abreast of current legislation regarding resources that farmers depend on. Although my Dad has been gone a very long time, he would want me to stay current, I remember we’d sit and listen to his trees grow... and talk about the environment, it’s always been a part of my life. Thank you for your interest:-) ! "

Robin Mattos wrote on Sep 20, 2007 12:59 AM:

" Regardless of spell check, my sentence should read: 'The world (inhabitants) and the environment are a symbiotic relationship, in my opinion.' Symbiotic meaning, a close ecological relationship between the individuals of two (or more) different species. Symbionic gets through my spell check, had to look up its meaning and I'm still not certain what it is... ? My appologizes for the oversight. "

THE TEACHER wrote on Sep 20, 2007 5:02 PM:

" I do believe that the word is spelled S-Y-M-B-I-O-T-I-C. If you look up 'symbionic' [sic] on the internet you get "No results found for symbionic. Did you mean sym bionic (in dictionary) or Symbiotic (in encyclopedia)? Then you also get "There are no dictionary entries for sym bionic, but sym, bionic are (separately) spelled correctly." Using Ms. Mattos definition, she really means SYMBIOTIC (from the word SYMBIOSIS). "

KILL 2 BIRDS...? wrote on Sep 22, 2007 11:03 PM:

" Where I grew up on Long Island, as per local indian history, the local native Americans used whole or chopped fish as a fertilizer. They placed a seed of a particular crop, say corn, into the fish or part fish and buried the whole thing. When the fish decayed you has a great supply of plant food to nourish the budding seed well into young planthood stage. So, if we take that smelt and it gets chopped up in the pump rotors...well you get the idea. And I didn't even go to Agricultural school (obviously)! "




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