Washington huddles on California water crisis

Eureka Times Standard

The Obama administration on Wednesday urged California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to call state lawmakers into a special session to deal with the state's water crisis.

Meanwhile, the administration will ask the National Academies of Sciences to look at alternatives to protecting endangered species in California that would allow more water delivery from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the state's farm belt.

The administration took the two steps as it summoned state officials and interest groups to an often acrimonious hearing at the Interior Department. After the hearing, which focused on how to deal with a water shortage causing high unemployment and economic distress in the state's San Joaquin Valley, North Coast Congressman Mike Thompson voiced his support for a balanced solution palatable to both fishermen and farmers, urging California to rely on science in making the decision.

Precipitation rates over the past three years in California have ranged from 63 percent to 78 percent of the state's average. Compounding the problem, restrictions on water delivery were put in place to protect a native fish. The two factors have led farmers to idle more than a quarter-million acres and put thousands out of work.
Lawmakers from the San Joaquin Valley focused on the latter as the primary cause of their constituents' problems. They asked federal officials to waive enforcement of the Endangered Species Act for a year or two until more long-term solutions could be found to bring more water to the region. Some likened the problems in their districts to a raging fire.

”Instead of red lights and fire trucks, I see too much business as usual,” said Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Calif.

Others said they appreciated longer-term steps being taken to improve the region's water supply, but that it's not enough.

”If you don't act now on agriculture, it's going to be thrown under the bus. That's why there's a lot of angst out there,” said Republican Rep. George Radanovich.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told lawmakers that California's water woes were the result of decades of inaction as demand for the resource soared.

”Labeling this as a man-made disaster, a regulatory drought, ignores the real issues,” Salazar said.
Salazar also took exception to the criticism about the lack of federal action. He said the federal government has invested more than $400 million to upgrade the state's water infrastructure “after eight years of neglect.”

”This is not about lip service,” Salazar said.

The Interior Department says the drought is responsible for roughly three-quarters of the lower water delivery to the farm belt. Still, some lawmakers from the region are placing much of the blame on efforts to save the delta smelt, salmon and other fish, which has involved lower water exports from the delta to many farms in their congressional districts.

Thompson said Wednesday's hearing allowed all sides to air their feelings.

”The salmon fishermen, farmers and sportsmen all drive our Northern California economy, and all must have a seat at the table when water decisions are made,” Thompson said in a statement. “We must rely on the best available science, and figure out an overarching governance structure before we overhaul the Delta's plumbing. Today's meeting with Secretary Salazar gave everyone a chance to speak their mind, and I'm hopeful that we can work together to balance the needs of everyone in California as we resolve this crucial issue.”