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Eastside vs westside: The Central Valley water crisis

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 14, 2009 at 7:25 am

From KMPH:

“Nervous growers face big decisions in the months ahead. The biggest being, whether to plant, or not to plant. It’s being called a case of Eastside versus Westside.

What’s the comparison when it comes to irrigation water?

KMPH spoke with two veteran farmers, one from Chowchilla in the east, another from Firebaugh in the west to compare their issues, and found that in many ways their water problems are quite similar.

Kole Upton farms near Chowchilla in Madera County. The eastside grower gets his water from the Friant Water Authority, which services the Chowchilla Water District.

But a recently enacted court settlement takes away Eastside irrigation water and increases the volume in the San Joaquin River. The decision was meant to revive the salmon population in the San Joaquin.

Upton claims the settlement is being applied inequitably to the Friant District. “Some districts will only lose five percent in given years,”Upton explains. “Other districts like mine are gonna last 33%. So it’s gonna be very much a function where you are on how much the settlement is gonna be detrimental to you.” …”

Read more from KMPH by clicking here.

November 14, 2009 · Filed Under San Joaquin Valley

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