Commentary: What you hear is a sprinkling of the truth

From the Morgan Hill Times, this commentary by Wes Rolley, Co-Chairman of the EcoAction Committee, Green Party:

“The more I learn about the water problems in California, the more convinced I am that there are many who would like to keep the public in just that state, feeling like we don’t know enough and so we just go along.

It is time that this attitude changes, because what you hear is rarely much more than a sprinkling of truth on a plate full of intellectual mush. Let me give you three examples.

n Man vs. Fish: Television coverage of California’s water crisis, when it does touch on agriculture, almost always poses this as the poor hard working farmers against the environmental lobby who would protect a little fish. Such a gross simplification of the issues is intended to lead you to make a quick, easy decision to support the farmers.

What they never mention is that there are only 600 farms in the area most affected by the drought and that these farms have the most junior of water rights. Still, the Westlands Water District is the largest district in the country with more than 600,000 acres cultivated in approximately 1,000 square miles. That is close to the size of Rhode Island.

The Westlands spokespersons are careful not to talk about the role of the delta smelt near the bottom of the aquatic food chain. They are food fish for larger species including salmon. …”

Read more of Wes’ commentary by clicking here.

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