Valley Headlines

DWR’s flawed decisions

Cal Matters. CA officials plan for a dry 2025 with grim water supply guesswork.
Synopsis: Dan Walters looks at the Dept of Water Resource’s “initial allocation” of only 5% of the water requested by districts that provide supplies to cities, farms and wildlife areas. Noting that this opening bid is often revised, Dan pointed to 2023 when the state started at 5% in anticipation of drought then ended up offering nearly 100%. In other years, the initial allocation estimate has barely budged as rains failed. The state explains that its low number is out of concern over last summer’s heat wave that created “extremely dry soils.” That why DWR wants to keep its reservoirs functionally full.
MAD Take: Yes, the state eventually fulfilled 100% of water requests after 2023’s atmospheric rivers inundated the state. But farmers make planting choices in December, and many of those swamped fields had no crops. This year, the state worries about dry soils but doesn’t say how keeping water locked behind a dam solves that condition. The state’s decision-making process is flawed. That was the point of Adam Gray’s demand that DWR be audited three years ago. The LAO found that DWR often makes decisions based on terribly flawed information and notoriously inaccurate weather modeling. DWR’s process is the problem, not a single decision in a specific year. You can’t harvest crops that are never planted.

A more robust water policy

Californians for Energy & Water Abundance. Finding water for the San Joaquin Valley.
Synopsis: Edward Ring writes that the San Joaquin Valley uses about 15-million-acre feet of water each year to grow half of the state’s food. Some of that comes from reservoirs and more of it from underground. The key to abundance, writes Ring, is to broaden our resources. We must get as much water into underground storage as possible whenever possible. State regulations and restrictions shouldn’t get in the way. Ring’s bottom line: Voluntary agreements, reduced red tape, Sites Reservoir, fish-friendlier diversion techniques all are required to get this right.

Gray moves up, Duarte moves on

KSEE / CBS47. ‘It’s a great honor’: Gray reacts to win, what it means for House balance of power.
Synopsis: Adam Gray says he’s grateful for the support of voters and recognizes that this isn’t about him, but about the people who are sending him to Washington. They want “independent, accountable leadership,” and it’s his mission to provide it from the first day on the job.

Modesto Bee. ‘Life goes on’: Republican John Duarte accepts losing his CA seat to Adam Gray.
Synopsis: Reporter David Lightman paints a sympathetic portrait of John Duarte as he prepares for his next steps. To what does John attribute his narrow loss? “We were outspent.”

What’s next for ambulance?

Westside Connect. West Side Community Ambulance shifts focus to healthcare district’s future.
Synopsis: With the loss of Measure A, the board members who control the West Side Community Ambulance discussed how to proceed after the failure to get 66% of voters to approve a parcel tax to create more funding for the only medical transport in Gustine and Newman. The nearest hospital to the West Side is at least 15 minutes away even with sirens blaring. The only options are to make debilitating staff cutbacks, ask Merced and Stanislaus counties for help or declare bankruptcy.

Milk money boosts ag income

Farms.com.  Milk price surge helps farm income despite crop price decline.
Synopsis: The USDA’s final 2024 forecast says overall agriculture income will suffer only a 4% decline this year, not the 25% originally predicted. That keeps farm income “well above the 20-year average.” The cost of feed and fertilizer, expected to go up, actually went down or held steady. Meanwhile, farmgate prices for dairy (+12%), beef (+8%) and eggs (+40%) were far ahead of forecasts. Those depending on commodity crops saw a 9% drop in overall income.

Just drink your (raw) milk

SF Chronicle. CA raw milk advocate could become health adviser to Trump administration.
Synopsis: Raw Milk CEO and founder Mark McAfee said he’s been in contact with Robert Kennedy Jr. and has been asked to consider a role at the US Food & Drug Administration. The FDA prohibits the interstate sale of raw dairy because of the risks associated with food-borne illnesses such as salmonella, listeria and E. coli. McAfee says RFK Jr. is a customer who understands “the value of raw milk. He wants that for Americans.”  
MAD Take: RFK Jr. “wants that for Americans” … whether they like it or not.

Successful Farming. Raw Farm recalls all unpasteurized whole-milk and cream products.
Synopsis: More products from unrepentant raw-milk producer Raw Milk have been recalled a week after Santa Clara County found H5N1 virus in the company’s products. Earlier this week, the Raw Farm was quarantined. No human cases have been linked to the products. Meanwhile, a 32^nd Californian was confirmed to have contracted the illness Wednesday.  

Patterson’s new city manager

Patterson Irrigator. Council appoints Ulloa to be city manager.
Synopsis: Jessica Wilkinson reports that Fernando Ulloa will lose the word “interim” from his title this week. He has worked for the city as director of engineering services and assistant city manager before taking over for the retired Ken Irwin. Ulloa’s base pay will be $244K. The council also discussed an ordinance to make camping in city parks illegal.

Straight to the chair

Modesto Bee. Death sentence recommended by Stanislaus jury in triple-murder case.
Synopsis: Richard Garcia was convicted Tuesday for ordering two of his gang members to kill an 18-year-old woman and everyone she lived with. They got the second part done, killing three men, but not the first. She survived. While incarcerated and awaiting trial, Garcia tried to get a cellmate murdered. The last time anyone in Stanislaus got the death penalty was 2006 when Huber Mendoza was convicted of murdering 3 people. While the state has a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty, the jury is apparently content to wait.

More Fresno-to-Mexico flights

Fresno Bee. Alaska Airlines adds flights from Fresno to Guadalajara.
Synopsis: The flights are nonstop and started this week. There are now six airlines leaving Fresno for non-stop flights to Mexico – Alaska, Aero Mexico, United, American, Delta and Volaris. Fresno ranks No. 4 in the number of passengers who depart for Guad.

Not putting up with this

Stanislaus County Sheriff. Sheriff Dirkse issues statement regarding racial epithets.
Synopsis: The graffiti sprayed in South Modesto and Grayson is “absolutely unacceptable” and “goes against he values we stand for,” says Stanislaus Sheriff Jeff Dirkse. He wants any such graffiti reported to his department immediately. “Do not wait for a community meeting to make the initial report of these incidents. This can delay the investigative process.”