Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asked in a letter President Obama’s cabinet to reverse federal government restrictions that have slashed water usage for California cities and farms in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
A recent change in federal policy diverted more water to rivers to protect fish habitats, but the water is also much needed by 23 three million Californians, now suffering through a third year of drought.
“Three years of drought continue at serious cost to our farms, our people and our economy,” Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote in a Tuesday letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. “As reservoirs remain low and water deliveries unreliable, those costs increase daily.”
As the state faces a plethora of water problems, Gov. Schwarzenegger demanded that the two cabinet members dialogue with him in the battle over the state’s water hub in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
Farmers and environmentalists have long clashed over the Delta’s ecosystem protection. Residents from the north, which is the home to most of the state’s water, fear the increased water consumption by the southern cities and San Joaquin Valley farms that also rely on water from the delta.
Once abundant with sturgeon and salmon, California rivers now feed a massive system of canals that divert water to farms and cities. The draught and water shortage prompted water-pumping cutbacks to protect fish.
“I am concerned that the catastrophic impacts of the current crisis on our economy and environment could take decades to reverse and significantly hamper any long-term solutions,” Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote.
Meanwhile, a panel of state legislators began meeting in search of solutions to the California’s water problems. Consensus on water legislation, however, has been hard to find because of political and regional conflicts.
For instance, tensions underscored over a dozen issues during a panel discussion by California lawmakers this week on how to tackle the water shortage. The lawmakers are considering a delta bill package, which includes how to pay for water upgrades and a possible approval of a “peripheral canal".
Environmentalists wanted stronger ecosystem protection, while some farm groups have sought relief from Delta pumping restrictions. Jeff Miller, conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, stated in a letter this week that the delta legislation enabling construction of “peripheral canal” spells disaster for region’s fisheries.
“Given crashing fish populations and water shortages, any discussions, planning, or spending on new infrastructure to divert Sacramento River and Delta water simply don’t make sense,” said Miller.
A recent change in federal policy diverted more water to rivers to protect fish habitats, but the water is also much needed by 23 three million Californians, now suffering through a third year of drought.
“Three years of drought continue at serious cost to our farms, our people and our economy,” Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote in a Tuesday letter to U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. “As reservoirs remain low and water deliveries unreliable, those costs increase daily.”
As the state faces a plethora of water problems, Gov. Schwarzenegger demanded that the two cabinet members dialogue with him in the battle over the state’s water hub in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
Farmers and environmentalists have long clashed over the Delta’s ecosystem protection. Residents from the north, which is the home to most of the state’s water, fear the increased water consumption by the southern cities and San Joaquin Valley farms that also rely on water from the delta.
Once abundant with sturgeon and salmon, California rivers now feed a massive system of canals that divert water to farms and cities. The draught and water shortage prompted water-pumping cutbacks to protect fish.
“I am concerned that the catastrophic impacts of the current crisis on our economy and environment could take decades to reverse and significantly hamper any long-term solutions,” Gov. Schwarzenegger wrote.
Meanwhile, a panel of state legislators began meeting in search of solutions to the California’s water problems. Consensus on water legislation, however, has been hard to find because of political and regional conflicts.
For instance, tensions underscored over a dozen issues during a panel discussion by California lawmakers this week on how to tackle the water shortage. The lawmakers are considering a delta bill package, which includes how to pay for water upgrades and a possible approval of a “peripheral canal".
Environmentalists wanted stronger ecosystem protection, while some farm groups have sought relief from Delta pumping restrictions. Jeff Miller, conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity, stated in a letter this week that the delta legislation enabling construction of “peripheral canal” spells disaster for region’s fisheries.
“Given crashing fish populations and water shortages, any discussions, planning, or spending on new infrastructure to divert Sacramento River and Delta water simply don’t make sense,” said Miller.
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