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Tuesday’s top of scroll: Bill aims to stop farmers from selling water pacts

Posted by: Maven on March 2, 2010 at 8:04 am

From the Fresno Bee:

“How can Valley farmers ask for more water if they are making money selling what they already have to cities outside the region? It has happened only a few times in the last couple of decades. But one time is too many for a Valley lawmaker who has introduced legislation to stop the practice for state water contractors.

Assembly Member Juan Arambula, I-Fresno, said the ag-to-city transfers make it harder to build sympathy for the Valley’s farm water plight.

“What am I going to tell folks when farmers sell their water and put farmworkers out of a job — and they make millions at the public’s expense?” said Arambula, who has long pushed for state water investments in the Valley.

Arambula’s bill likely will face opposition from Valley water officials who say the drought and pumping cutbacks leave some growers with no choice but to cash in on their water allocations from the State Water Project.

“Very few of these sales are voluntary,” said Don Mills, chairman of the Kings County Water Commission, which advises that county on water issues. “The economics are forcing the farmers to sell the water.” … “

Continue reading this story from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.

March 2, 2010 · Filed Under Legislation - State & Federal

Comments

One Response to “Tuesday’s top of scroll: Bill aims to stop farmers from selling water pacts”

  1. Wes Rolley on March 2nd, 2010 10:28 am

    If the tax payers take the financial risk inherent in subsidizing water deliveries to ag user, then the tax payers of CA should have the financial reward when any of that water is transferred to an urban use. I would think that the Libertarian leaning Republican politicians of the San Joaquin Valley would understand that. They use the argument for other things.

    I guess it all depends on whose ox is getting gored.

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