Water supply improvements in the San Joaquin Valley
June 8, 2009 | Posted by Spreck Rosekrans in Water Supply
Spreck Rosekrans is an Economic Analyst at EDF.
Anybody reading newspapers or watching television news over the last two months has heard frightening stories of water shortages that threaten the viability of agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley. But information compiled by the California Department of Water Resources reveals that in 2009 water supply in most parts of the valley will be in excess of 80% of average.
Central Valley Project deliveries to Westlands Water District, for example, were forecast to be zero as recently as March. Westlands now projects they expect to use 86% of average annual supplies this year. Their total supply is a combination of deliveries from the Delta, water banked last year, groundwater pumping and purchases.
The data, compiled last month by the Department of Water Resources and based on a series of interviews with staff from each of the districts, was attached to a letter from DWR Director Lester Snow to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein on May 15 . As the table notes, the information is subject to change.
The information paints a very different picture for agriculture this year than we have seen reported this spring. The water shortages are much lower than previously reported. This year's supplies do, of course, rely on levels of groundwater pumping that would not be possible every year. Still, one can only conclude that the water supply situation is not as dire as previously reported and that San Joaquin Valley farms will still be able to grow food for our kitchen tables this year.
4 Responses
Pingback from Two percent for Some; Insane for Others | 1800blogger
June 12th, 2009 at 6:42 am
[...] a different perspective, read this post from Spreck @ EDF. He quotes Lester Snow at DWR, who told DiFi that supplies in the San Joaquin [...]
Pingback from Two percent for Some; Insane for Others | Conservation Blog
June 12th, 2009 at 6:46 am
[...] a different perspective, read this post from Spreck @ EDF. He quotes Lester Snow at DWR, who told DiFi that supplies in the San Joaquin [...]
Comment from kawigirl
September 17th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I am all for protecting the environment, in fact I manage the environmental program at my employer. However, that statements above cause me grave concern; " information compiled by the California Department of Water Resources reveals that in 2009 water supply in most parts of the valley will be in excess of 80% of average" and "
Still, one can only conclude that the water supply situation is not as dire as previously reported and that San Joaquin Valley farms will still be able to grow food for our kitchen tables this year." Granted this was published in June yet there is certainly a very different picture today! 40% Unemployment, 38 million people affected. Millions of acres left fallow. This is affecting the food supply of our entire country and the world.
GIVE THEM WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment from Spreck Rosekrans
September 18th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Kawigirl:
It is fair to question the ESA ruling to protect Delta smelt. But the numbers you point to are exaggerations – e.g. San Joaquin Valley unemployment has been a problem for decades and has little to do with water diversions. See today's Blog (9/18/09) where I respond to Fox News Host Sean Hannity on a number of these issues.
-Spreck
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