Essay: Rites of spring
Posted by: Maven on March 20, 2012 at 8:01 amFrom the California Authors series at the Sacramento Bee, this essay by David Mas Masumoto:
“Spring arrives with the first warm breezes and fogless mornings in our Valley. On our 80-acre organic farm south of Fresno, I disk our soil, breaking winter’s crust. The peaches and nectarines awaken with blossoms, initially revealing their pink buds, then blooming into a glorious canopy. Millions of pink dots blanket the landscape. A new year has begun.
But harsh memories of a cold, bitter winter linger because it rarely rained. Welcome to a new climate age; massive swings in weather have become the rule.
Every spring, I plow the earth and something is plowed into me. Usually it’s the spirit of the land, a sense of renewal, a bonding of family with the earth : and now it includes our daughter who has come back home to work the farm.
But this year that something is a new realization: Change, especially with the weather, is the new normal. … “
Continue reading this essay at the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Central Coast: Farmers face new water runoff rules
Posted by: Maven on March 20, 2012 at 7:31 amFrom the Morgan Hill Times:
“Despite a tremendous appearance of farmers and members of the public in opposition to new rules regarding water runoff, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board voted unanimously to pass the proposal that will require farmers to closely monitor their water runoff.
In a meeting in San Luis Obispo that lasted nearly 15 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, and was packed with 400 people on both sides of the issue, the board voted 7-0 to pass the ordinance, according to Gilroy farmer Pete Aiello, who attended the event. … “
Continue reading from the Morgan Hill Times by clicking here.
CalRice blog: High tech water efficiency
Posted by: Maven on March 19, 2012 at 8:07 amFrom the CalRice blog:
“Family rice farmer Tom Butler describes how the latest land leveling equipment helps save water and maximize efficiency on the farm.”
Friday’s top of the scroll: Water quality board approves new ag rules: Contentious issue likely to face a higher court
Posted by: Maven on March 16, 2012 at 6:06 amFrom the Mercury News:
“Regional water quality officials rejected a growers’ plan to protect wells and waterways from agricultural pollution, but left the door open for reconsideration if revisions are made.
The Central Coast Regional Water Control Board on a 6-0 vote Thursday approved a plan developed and recommended by its staff with last-minute changes that give growers more time and flexibility to comply with rules and relax requirements for control of nitrates – the toxic residue of nitrogen fertilizer.
The rules, debated by agricultural, environmental and public health interests for more than three years, are conditions of a waiver that allows farmers to discharge wastewater from their fields without individual permits. … “
Continue reading from the Mercury News by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: At SLO hearing, water board and farmers seek pollution solutions, from the San Luis Obispo Tribune
Solar debate heats up as California farmland is targeted
Posted by: Maven on March 16, 2012 at 5:57 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“In the debate pitting photovoltaic power stations against agriculture, all eyes have been on Fresno County, where the abundance of sunshine that make it the No. 1 agriculture-producing county in the nation also make it ideal for solar arrays.
This week Fresno County, with 29 projects on 11,000 acres in the pipeline, approved its plan to balance food security with green energy with a decision that falls short of what both sides wanted.
Under the new regulations, authorities will consider the prior agricultural productivity of farmland in deciding whether to issue conditional use permits for projects on that land, but they will not automatically direct development to marginal and retired land lacking adequate water supplies, as farm organizations had wanted. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
San Benito district to transfer extra water
Posted by: Maven on March 16, 2012 at 2:50 amFrom the Morgan Hill Times:
‘With a surplus of water at its disposal, the San Benito County Water District has agreed to transfer up to 12,000 acre feet of its Central Valley Project supply to the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
“Last year was a very good water year and I had more water than I had customers for, so I had extra water available,\” said Jeff Cattaneo, manager of the local water district. “I took as much of the water as I could and put it in all the places that I have to store water and I still had 12,000 acre feet left over.
Any water that the district couldn't use or carry over to the next year would end up going back to the Bureau of Reclamation, which sells Sacramento Delta water to agencies in Central and Northern California, and the district would have been reimbursed. … “
Continue reading from the San Benito Times by clicking here.
California farms get testy over water quality
Posted by: Maven on March 15, 2012 at 5:40 amFrom Miller McCune:
“The world's most pervasive groundwater pollution problem : nitrate in drinking water : is under scrutiny in the richest farming region of the United States.
This week, a report for the California Legislature revealed that 250,000 people living in Central California, including four of the top five agricultural counties in the U.S., are currently at risk for nitrate contamination in their drinking water. Many of them are among the poorest Californians.
Nitrate, in this instance, is a byproduct of nitrogen fertilizer. In drinking water, high concentrations of it can interfere with the oxygen-carrying capacity of infants younger than six months, and, if left untreated, may lead to death from “blue baby\” syndrome. Some studies suggest that long-term consumption of nitrate in drinking water may increase the risk of Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. … “
Continue reading from Miller-McCune by clicking here.
Central Coast: Crowd to weigh in on ag water quality rules
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 11:59 pmFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“A standing room only crowd of about 200 people turned out Wednesday to express their support or opposition to proposed rules aimed at scrubbing agricultural pollutants from Central Coast water.
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board has been working on the rules that govern agricultural water discharge for nearly four years and is scheduled to make a decision today.
Growers oppose the rules developed by staff during a process that has included dozens of informal stakeholder meetings and several formal hearings, and have developed a plan of their own. Environmentalists and public health advocates say the grower plan doesn’t do enough to protect water supplies and the time has come to approve regulations. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Nitrates in California’s water, study finds
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 5:26 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Polluted drinking water in some of California’s most productive agricultural areas is putting hundreds of thousands of people at risk for disease and cancer, according to a study released Tuesday by UC Davis.
The report, commissioned by the State Water Resources Control Board, found that 10 percent of the 2.6 million people in the Tulare Lake Basin and Salinas Valley drink groundwater that may contain high levels of nitrates from fertilizers.
The problem is likely to worsen over the next few decades as excess nitrogen applied to crops continues to slowly percolate through the soil into the groundwater, the study said. … “
Continue reading from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE:
- Study: Drinking water at risk from California ag pollution, from the Mercury News
- Report: Nitrate pollution beginning to affect Salinas Valley water quality, from the Monterey County Herald
- Groundwater nitrate contamination grows in California farm areas, from the Los Angeles Times
- Nitrates affect Fresno and other larger cities, too, from the Fresno Bee News Blog
- Farming communities facing crisis over nitrate pollution, study says, from California Watch
Project assesses management of nitrates on farms
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 5:20 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation:
“Ahead of a new report assessing nitrate levels in groundwater, experts briefed the State Board of Food and Agriculture last week on efforts to address the issue.
The board heard from Tom Tomich, University of California Agricultural Sustainability Institute director, about the three-year California Nitrogen Assessment project. Called for in 2008 legislation, the assessment studies the nitrogen cycle and the impact of current farming practices on the movement of nitrogen-based compounds into water.
The assessment was conducted in tandem with research into nitrate levels in groundwater in the Tulare Lake Basin and the Salinas Valley. A UC report on the groundwater in these two areas was to be released March 13.
Tomich said the overall assessment provides the first comprehensive look at nitrogen flows throughout the state, particularly nitrogen converted to fertilizer to help increase crop yields.
He told the board that better nitrogen management may continue to provide strong yields in food production while at the same time protecting the environment, but that new policy approaches will be needed. … “
Continue reading from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
UC Cooperative Extension: Working for healthy crops and safe water in California
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 5:17 amFrom the Western Farm Press:
“University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources is working to ensure that all Californians have access to safe drinking water and that the state’s farmers can grow enough food to help meet the world’s increasing demand. Research has shown that nitrogen fertilizer used in agricultural production can over many years move from a plant’s root zone into groundwater.
UC Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Experiment Station researchers are working with growers on fertilizer management, irrigation efficiency and other farming practices to provide options for protecting groundwater, which serves as a primary drinking water source for many rural communities. The following are some examples of ANR research and extension projects under way. … “
Continue reading from the Western Farm Press by clicking here.
Facing the food and water challenges of the future
Posted by: Maven on March 14, 2012 at 1:07 amFrom the Earth Institute’s State of the Planet blog:
“Texas rice farmers recently had their irrigation water cut off to ensure that there will be enough water for urban and industry needs, as the state suffers from the most serious one-year drought in its history. Mexico's worst drought in 71 years has lowered food production by 40 percent and left two million Mexicans without adequate food. And in India, climate change is making monsoon rainfall less frequent and more intense, leading to lower yields of many crops.
Extreme weather due to climate change is already affecting agricultural yields and food security around the world. In 2010, wheat prices soared in response to the shrinking of Russia's wheat harvest after a drought and the country's subsequent ban on wheat exports.
By December 2010, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.'s Food Price Index had surpassed its 2008 peak; 2011's food prices were the highest ever recorded. The rising price of food is one reason why there are one billion hungry people in the world. … “
Continue reading from State of the Planet blog by clicking here.
Climate change and regulations worry California farmers
Posted by: Maven on March 13, 2012 at 6:58 amFrom KVNO News:
“No matter your personal opinion on the subject, talk of climate change usually conjures up images of warming, floods and rising sea levels. Those are the ecological changes predicted from coast to coast.
In the Midwest, the few degrees of warming has actually benefited agriculture, on average. But in California : where they grow more than 200 crops, including perennials such as walnuts and apricots : some crops could be adversely affected. Plus, California farmers also have new climate change regulations to contend with, which worry many growers more than the weather. … “
Continue reading from KVNO News by clicking here.
Central Coast: Farmers say no to water runoff rules
Posted by: Maven on March 12, 2012 at 10:46 pmFrom the Gilroy Dispatch:
“The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Board will vote Wednesday on a controversial proposal for new rules dealing with water runoff from farms to improve the quality of public water supply.
Farmers and growers are asking that the board delay passing the rules, saying the proposal at its current state is ineffective in improving water supply and will place unnecessary burdens on growers. But they aren't particularly hopeful.
“I don't think there will be anything presented by the agricultural community that will change their minds on Wednesday,\” said Pete Aiello, bell pepper farmer and owner of Uesugi Farms in Gilroy. “We're going to keep fighting until the last second no matter what,\” he said. … “
Continue reading from the Gilroy Dispatch by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Water board meets on ag runoff rules for Central Coast, from the Salinas Californian
Salinas Californian editorial: Inclusion is key to Salinas Valley water health
Posted by: Maven on March 10, 2012 at 6:51 amFrom the Salinas Californian:
“One of the most contentious issues facing the Salinas Valley will come to a head this week when water quality regulators meet in San Luis Obispo to decide on an update of rules governing pollution runoff from agriculture.
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board regulation update called a conditional discharge waiver is long overdue. Originally established in 2004, the waiver was to be updated in 2009. The delays are particularly frustrating when considered in context with the fact that Salinas Valley water is some of the most contaminated in the state. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Salinas Californian by clicking here.
Safety efforts hinge on chlorination
Posted by: Maven on March 9, 2012 at 7:46 amFrom the Capital Press:
“Using chlorine to kill pathogens in irrigation water may be just the tip of the iceberg in terms of new food safety requirements, experts say.
“The food safety pressure is consistent at this point,” said Tom Peerbolt, research coordinator for the Oregon Raspberry and Blackberry Commission.
The potential for market disruption from disease outbreaks has produce packers looking to ratchet up food safety practices, said Paul Walther, irrigation system designer and salesman at Stettler Supply in Salem.
“They’re trying to get food safety back to the farm,” he said, noting that packers are requiring that growers chlorinate water as part of the USDA’s Good Agricultural Practices program. … “
Continue reading from the Capital Press by clicking here.
USGS: Atrazine not likely to exceed drinking water standard in agricultural groundwater
Posted by: Maven on March 9, 2012 at 7:17 amFrom the USGS:
“A new model predicts that atrazine, plus its breakdown product deethylatrazine, has less than a 10 percent chance of exceeding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's standard for public drinking-water supplies in shallow groundwater in about 95 percent of the nation's agricultural areas. Atrazine is a commonly used herbicide for weed control in corn and sorghum production.
“With the intensive, widespread use of the herbicide atrazine in agricultural production, some communities will need to carefully monitor the risk to groundwater and human health from this contaminant and its residues,\” said USGS director Marcia McNutt. “The advantage of this new research is that it reveals the spatial variability of risk for atrazine contamination in groundwater across the United States, allowing communities to make wise decisions on allocating scarce financial resources for water-quality testing. … “
Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.
NRDC Switchboard: Atrazine: Still in surface waters and still a problem
Posted by: Maven on March 9, 2012 at 7:15 amFrom the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Sygenta, a Swiss-based multinational corporation, is really feeling the heat over their pesticide atrazine these days. And for good reason, the scientific evidence of atrazine's wide-spread health effects continues to mount and the Environmental Protection Agency is currently reviewing atrazine status under federal law.
So don’t be surprised if you see Syngenta seize upon a technical report by the U.S. Geological Survey, which the agency published today in a release titled “Technical Announcement: Atrazine Not Likely to Exceed Drinking Water Standard in Agricultural Groundwater.” The actual title of the report, “Regression Models for Estimating Concentrations of Atrazine plus Deethylatrazine in Shallow Groundwater in Agricultural Areas of the United States,” is considerably less flashy.
Before you get too reassured by these results, however, it's best to keep a couple of things in mind … “
Continue reading from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Western ag groups form new coalition
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 9:42 pmFrom the Daily Democrat:
“Representatives from agricultural and conservation groups have formed a coalition to advocate for balanced management of resources in the Western United States.
Known as the Western Agriculture and Conservation Coalition, the new group will focus initially on advocating for measures in the federal farm bill conservation title.
Steering committee members include the California Farm Bureau Federation, Trout Unlimited, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, The Nature Conservancy, Arizona Public Lands Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Family Farm Alliance, Public Lands Council and the Irrigation Association. … “
Continue reading from the Daily Democrat by clicking here.
New water quality rules for ag land? Regional Control Board readies for long-awaited vote on controversial policy tweak
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 9:13 pmFrom the Santa Barbara Independent:
“Environmentalists have been waiting for this day for nearly four years, but farmers and ranchers on the Central Coast are anything but excited. At a meeting next week in San Luis Obispo, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is scheduled to give a thumbs-up,°,,°or -down,°,,°to a long-simmering plan to overhaul the agency's Agricultural Waiver. The regulatory tool allows irrigated ag land to be exempt from certain mandates of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act in exchange for promises of, among other things, on-site monitoring of discharge and reporting. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Barbara Independent by clicking here.
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Dry winter forces farmers to revise crop plans
Posted by: Maven on March 7, 2012 at 8:16 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation:
“Last week’s rains were too little, too late to save Joe Bacchetti’s newly planted alfalfa fields. The Tracy farmer said he usually doesn’t irrigate in February because winter rains typically provide enough moisture to get the crop going.
Not this year.
The beginning of the 2012 crop year is one of the driest on record, which means little soil moisture and drastic reductions in water deliveries for Bacchetti and farmers throughout the state. The concern now is how to manage meager supplies through the long, hot summer months to harvest a crop. … “
Continue reading from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
Gustine: Ag water supplies curtailed
Posted by: Maven on March 6, 2012 at 7:25 amFrom West Side Connect:
“A doggedly dry winter means less irrigation water will be flowing to the fields and orchards of the San Joaquin Valley this summer.
Local irrigation districts have received their initial water allocation forecasts, which signal that reductions in supply are in the works for West Side farmers unless Mother Nature delivers the proverbial “March Miracle,\” : enough rain to ease the cuts.
The Central California Irrigation District is bracing for the possibility of its first “critical\” water year since 1994, meaning that CCID will receive only 75 percent of its normal water allocation. … “
Continue reading from Westside Connect by clicking here.
Farr, Alejo pitch growers’ water quality plan: Regional board set to vote on rules aimed at curbing agricultural pollution
Posted by: Maven on March 3, 2012 at 6:12 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“With a scheduled vote on controversial new rules aimed at keeping agricultural pollutants from flowing into waterways and drinking water supplies less than two weeks away, two of the Central Coast’s top political leaders made a last-ditch plea on behalf of farmers Friday.
Agricultural interests and environmentalists have been sparring over the regulations under consideration by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for more than three years.
Noting the billions of dollars and thousands of jobs at stake, Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, and Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, urged the board to adopt the industry-backed plan. … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
California farmers find crop flexibility key
Posted by: Maven on March 2, 2012 at 7:55 amFrom Harvest:
“While winter in the Midwest’s breadbasket often means snow, cold rains and blustering winds, over in California's “salad bowl” region it’s sunny, and this year it’s particularly dry.
I recently traveled to California’s Central Valley to do some reporting on how climate change may affect agriculture there. Having traipsed about farms in the Midwest for nearly two years now, it was striking to see just how different agriculture is in sunny California. For one, seeing blossoms in February, alive with bees and soaking up the balmy, 70-degree weather, confused my four-seasons brain. … “
Continue reading from Harvest by clicking here.
USGS: Phosphorus and Groundwater: Scientists establish links between agricultural use and transport to streams
Posted by: Maven on March 2, 2012 at 7:43 amFrom the USGS:
“Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey have, for the first time, demonstrated how aquifer composition can affect how excessive levels of phosphorous (an essential nutrient contained in fertilizers) can be carried from fertilized agricultural fields via groundwater to streams and waterways. This finding will allow for more informed management of agriculture, ecosystem, and human water needs.
Nutrient transport from agricultural fields, including nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, is one of the most serious environmental problems throughout the world because it can cause adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and/or drinking water supplies. Excess phosphorus can stimulate algal growth in streams and lakes, which can lead to decreased levels of dissolved oxygen resulting in the death of sensitive organisms including fish, or can cause changes in the types of algae that are present. Some forms of algae can also release toxins that can negatively impact human health. … “
Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.
Irrigation districts face dry conditions
Posted by: Maven on March 2, 2012 at 7:15 amFrom the Patterson Irrigator:
“Wet weather this week may have given thirsty crops a cool drink, but it might not be enough to convince state and federal regulators to increase deliveries to West Side water users.
About a quarter-inch of rain was expected to fall over the greater Modesto area both Wednesday, Feb. 29, and today, according to the National Weather Service, leaving the area at about one-third of its normal rainfall.
More importantly, the snow pack in the Sierra Nevada range, which melts off and feeds into state and federal water conveyance systems, is about one-third of normal. … “
Continue reading from the Patterson Irrigator by clicking here.
Cannella’s hearing on ag hears from those affected by state regulations
Posted by: Maven on February 27, 2012 at 7:26 amFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) held an informational hearing of the California Senate Committee on Agriculture, which he chairs. The hearing covered the impact the state's regulations have on the agriculture industry.
“Today's hearing was a great opportunity for me to hear directly from those involved in the agriculture community exactly how they are impacted by state regulation,\” Cannella said in a news release. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
State officials say plan for metered farm water still needs some work
Posted by: Maven on February 26, 2012 at 7:35 amFrom the Merced Sun-Star:
“California needs to tighten its plan to require metering and pricing based on use for farm-water users, according to state officials.
At stake, according to environmental advocacy groups, is the effectiveness of an ambitious plan to improve farm-water conservation on California farms. On the other hand, agricultural industry advocates fear ever-tighter regulations could mean higher water prices for farmers and ranchers.
The Office of Administrative Law rejected proposed regulations for agricultural water submitted by the Department of Water Resources — interpreting the far-reaching Water Conservation Act of 2009. … “
Continue reading from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Humanity’s growing impact on the world’s freshwater
Posted by: Maven on February 18, 2012 at 6:44 amFrom Sandra Postel at National Geographic’s News Watch:
“As the human population has climbed past seven billion, and the consumption per person of everything from burgers to blue jeans has risen inexorably, the finiteness of Earth's freshwater is becoming ever more apparent.
It takes water to make everything, and the explosion of demand for all manner of products is draining rivers, shrinking lakes, and depleting aquifers.
Consider this: on average it takes 2,700 liters (713 gallons) to make a cotton shirt and 9,800 liters (2600 gallons) to make a pair of blue jeans. The cotton crops growing in farmers' fields consume most of that water; a smaller share is used in the factories that churn out the clothes. … “
Continue reading from National Geographic’s Water Currents by clicking here.
Irrigation execs: Industry saves water
Posted by: Maven on February 17, 2012 at 7:54 amFrom Omaha.com:
“If a projected shortage of water and food is to be averted, world leaders need to encourage higher food prices, not suppress them, two irrigation industry executives told a University of Nebraska-Lincoln audience.
Cynics might say that’s the type of analysis to be expected from businessmen who make their living selling expensive equipment to farmers.
Mogens Bay is chairman and CEO of Omaha-based Valmont Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer of mechanized irrigation equipment. E. Robert Meaney is the company’s senior vice president.
Bay said Thursday that there’s nothing cynical about it.
“That’s how it works,” he said, explaining that farmers need to realize a profitable return before they can invest in the technology needed to make the Earth’s water go further “more crop for the drop,” as the slogan goes. … “
Continue reading from Omaha.com by clicking here.
Commentary: How California can nurture next generation of farmers
Posted by: Maven on February 12, 2012 at 6:53 am
From the Sacramento Bee, this commentary by Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture:
“California has long been known for its flourishing agricultural sector. From small, niche farms to large-scale operations, our state’s farms have been critical in creating jobs and safe, locally grown food for our tables.
But we cannot take for granted this rich history : or our farmers. While California farms provide more than half of America’s fresh food, the average age of Golden State farmers is approaching 60, with nearly 20 percent older than 70. Worrisomely, recent analysis indicates that relatively few heirs are willing to take over their relatives’ farms.
These trends help explain why California, together with other agricultural states, risks a major sell-off of farmland over the next few years. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Photo of combine harvester by Big Stock Photos.
Official: Public unaware of agriculture issues
Posted by: Maven on February 11, 2012 at 8:23 amFrom the Willows Journal:
“Sandra Schubert covered a lot of ground in her presentation at the 10th annual Farm Show breakfast this week in Colusa, but not much of it was traveled in the North State.
The undersecretary of the state Department of Food and Agriculture spoke on a variety of topics Tuesday budgets, politics, invasive pests and regulations and each certainly has a bearing on the farmers, ranchers and other Northern California ag interests who attended the event.
The breakfast is put on by the California State University, Chico, School of Agriculture, the California Agriculture Leadership Foundation and the Alpha Gamma Rho Alumni.
“Everybody loves a farmer and rancher, but are not so happy with agriculture,” said Schubert, referring to general opinions from the public. … “
Continue reading from the Willows Journal by clicking here.
Doug Obegi: California to strengthen measurement of agricultural water use to improve efficiency
Posted by: Maven on February 11, 2012 at 7:44 amFrom Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Earlier this week, California's Office of Administrative Law disapproved proposed agricultural water measurement regulations that would have exempted major water users in California from complying with requirements of the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (SB 7x 7). NRDC had repeatedly commented that these exemptions were unlawful and were bad public policy, and that all large agricultural water districts should have to implement the same basic practice of measuring the water they supply to farms. OAL largely agreed with several of NRDC’s arguments and rejected the draft regulation, requiring the Department of Water Resources to rewrite the regulation to ultimately close loopholes they had created.
By way of background, the Water Conservation Act of 2009 is best known for the requirement that all urban water suppliers increase their efficiency by 20% by 2020. Although the Act did not include a similar quantifiable requirement for improved efficiency from agricultural suppliers, the Act included several requirements for improving agricultural water use efficiency, including a requirement (Water Code section 10608.48(b)) that all large agricultural water suppliers measure the quantity of water delivered to the farm gate and adopt a pricing structure that is based in part of the volume of water that is delivered. … “
Continue reading from Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
A new tool for mapping water use and drought
Posted by: Maven on February 10, 2012 at 8:14 amFrom the USDA Agricultural Research Service:
“Farmers and water managers may soon have an online tool to help them assess drought and irrigation impacts on water use and crop development, thanks to the work of two U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists Martha Anderson and Bill Kustas have developed an evapotranspiration (ET) and drought modeling system at the ARS Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. The modeling system also will help forecasters monitor ET and drought conditions across the United States and overseas.
ARS is USDA’s principal intramural scientific research agency, and the research supports the USDA priorities of responding to climate change and promoting international food security. … “
Continue reading from the USDA by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: Westlands Water District suing feds for $1 billion
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 8:55 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Westlands Water District is suing the federal government for $1 billion, claiming the Interior Department failed to deliver a court-ordered cleanup of salty irrigation drainage.
About a dozen years after an appellate court upheld the cleanup order, bad water trapped below the ground surface still slowly poisons west Valley farmland. The swath of compromised land is two-thirds the size of Los Angeles.
“We’re tired of waiting,” said Westlands general manager Thomas Birmingham. “We’ve been paying for drainage service for decades. The land is sustaining irreparable harm.”
The suit was filed last month in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C. Interior officials declined comment on pending litigation. … “
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