Valley Headlines

State wants much more water

Ag Alert. State water board seeks comments on Bay Delta plan.
Synopsis: Christina Souza reports on the just-released water-quality control plan proffered by the staff at the State Water Resources Control Board. This is the first draft order compiled under executive director Eric Oppenheimer and supersedes the 2018 plan. It would set “flow objectives for the protection of fish in the lower San Joaquin River tributaries – the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers.” The update calls for up to 65% unimpaired flows – a higher figure than ever before seen in any discussions on flows. The lowest figure is 45%, up from 35% in years past. Groups like Northern CA Water Assn insist voluntary agreements are the best path. But it’s not clear the board is listening. The board’s proposal “would undermine every one of the administration’s priorities that the governor has talked about over the last two or three years.” The board is also serving notice on the Sacramento River and its agreements. “They’ve kind of painted us into a corner,” says Thad Bettner, of the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors.
MAD Take: 65% unimpaired flows, except in the most extreme flow years such as 2023, would negate any possibility of groundwater recharge, accelerate pumping, require the fallowing of at least a third of all the farmland (based on water volume) in the Northern San Joaquin Valley and literally destroy thousands of jobs from the fields to the barns to the packing sheds. Even the Tuolumne River Trust – which has eschewed any accommodation for farming -- has always said that “50% of flows is about right.” If these staff recommendations are not withdrawn, the state will see significant resistance from the farming community in Stanislaus, Merced, San Joaquin and San Francisco counties.

Rivers group hires an exec

Turlock Journal. San Joaquin Tributaries Authority names its first executive director.
Synopsis: Andree Lee of EKI Environment & Water Inc. has been working 16 years building collaborative approaches to water problems mostly in the Bay Area. She is the chair of the Urban Water Institute and formerly worked for the Water Education Foundation. The SJTA is made up of Modesto, Turlock, South San Joaquin irrigation districts and the SF PUC.
MAD Note: From the preceding story, it appears Ms. Lee will have her work cut out for her.

Many races to close to call

Merced Focus. 13^th Congressional District too close to call – again.
Synopsis: It’s 2022 all over again in the 13^th Congressional District. After the early results, Duarte has a small but significant lead over his challenger. “Every vote matters. I’m grateful for the hardworking folks counting ballots throughout the state tonight,” said Adam Gray.  … In other election news: Josh Harder is in an equally tight race with Kevin Lincoln in San Joaquin County. … Esmeralda Soria and Juan Alanis appear to be well on their way to keeping their Assembly seats. Rebecka Monez is holding off Milt Trieweiler in Turlock. … The two recalled Los Banos city council members are being crushed, Mike Amabile is ahead for mayor in Los Banos. … In Ceres, Gary M. Condit leads Javi Lopez “by a whisker” (60 votes) for mayor. … In Fresno, Garry Bredefeld knocked out Steve Brandau and former councilmember Luis Chavez is poised to beat Sal Quintero.  … The counting will continue for several weeks before certification.

‘Secret’ meetings over water?

SJV Water. Lawsuit accuses Friant Water Authority of holding secret meetings.
Synopsis: In the latest twist in this legal water war involving South Valley farmers, three small irrigation districts say the Friant Water Authority engaged in illegal meetings that resulted in “massive fees” being pinned on their Tulare County agencies. Terra Bella, Saucelito and Porterville are crying foul and asking the $295 million in fees be set aside. It wasn’t just one meeting, says the lawsuit, but a series of them all in violation of the Brown Act. Meanwhile, the newly repaired Friant-Kern Canal continues to sink.

Farm relief is unrealistic

Successful Farming. Farm bailout bill would cost $21 billion, say analysts.
Synopsis: A plan to pay farmers who are suffering from lower commodity prices was drafted by Mississippi Rep. Mike Kelly, and even House Republicans are choking on its size. It would pay 60% of the “shortfall” from crop sales compared to “expected returns” to every farmer in the South and Midwest. It would mean up to $350,000 per farmer compared to current programs that pay up to $125,000 for unanticipated losses.  

Tiny worm kills 65 tree species

Western Farm Press. Bay scientists take aim at shothole borers.
Synopsis: The shothole borer arrived in SoCal back in 2003, but now has been found near San Jose. Fortunately, the UC Cooperative Extension Service anticipated the arrival and has already mounted a robust response. The shothole borer can infest 65 different species of trees, spreading fungus that is harmful to humans and deadly to trees. Forestry officials removed 500 trees in one regional park, just to be certain. UCCE experts are working with officials from Santa Cruz to Marin County to address the threat, which so far has been confined to the area around Coyote Creek. BTW, it’s hard to find these little worms and they can infest a tree without being seen.

Turning a mess into washrooms

Modesto Bee. State fines Modesto for sewer spills; city to spend money on worthy cause.
Synopsis: The city dumped partially treated sewage into the Dry Creek (which eventually reached the nearby Tuolumne River) twice in 2021. The city agreed to pay $325,000, and got to pick how the money will be spent. It will go to building showers, laundry facilities and restrooms at Dignity Village Interim Housing at the Ninth and D streets shelter. The entire project will cost $3 million, with other partners chipping in. The first spill came through a corroded pipe and took 25 hours to repair. The second spill was due to clogged pipes and needed only 75 minutes to be discovered and fixed. The city had been fined $4.4 million but settled for less.

Organics need to expand beyond CA

Ag Alert. Organic targets may require new markets.
Synopsis: In Caleb Hampton’s story, UC Davis Prof Ryan Galt says the CA organic market has reached a saturation point and that the state is actually losing organic acreage. The story says organic farmers need to help develop export markets for fresh and dried fruits, herbs, flowers, etc. Also quoted is Cathryn Couch of the Ceres Community Project, who wants state food spending (schools, child supplemental meals, etc.) aligned with climate objectives. The USDA has been buying more organics, but that could change.  

Burned-out building coming down

Merced Golden Wire. Demolition of former Minerva’s Furniture Gallery has begun.
Synopsis: The shell of a building at Martin Luther King Jr. and West 16^th streets in Merced is being demolished. It was destroyed in a fire on Sept. 23.

Thieves target big ag equipment

Ag Daily. 7 arrests made in $2.5 million CA farm-equipment smuggling ring.
Synopsis: “Operation Tractor Pull” busted open a crew of thieves who were stealing farm equipment from several Valley counties then shipping it down to Mexico. The Tulare County SO recovered 24 pieces of equipment, from backhoes to tractors. Arrests were made in Merced, San Benito, Fresno and Tulare counties. Law enforcement from Madera, San Benito, Merced, San Joaquin, Tulare, Fresno, Kings, and San Luis Obispo all were involved. A flat-bed full of processed weed was also confiscated. “Not only have the cartels been human trafficking, narcotics and guns, it has now hit our agriculture community,” said Merced Sheriff Vern Warnke. One more thing to watch for.