10-Year Water Grab Moves Forward

SCOPING REPORT RELEASED

The 10-year, 600,000 acre-feet per year, Sacramento Valley Water Transfer Program continues to move forward. The scoping report was released May 13^thdespite the fact that eight water sellers stated publicly that they won’t participate (click for report). AquAlliance submitted comments during the scoping phase and posted other public comments that were sent to us (see below). The next step will be the Bureau of Reclamation’s release of the Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/EIR) in the late summer or fall of 2011.

The scoping report perpetuates misinformation that was presented at the January 2011 public meeting in Chico: “Commenters were concerned that transfers may include up to 600,000 acre-feet of water annually; however, this EIS/EIR will include a much smaller transfer volume (approximately 100,000 to 150,000 acre-feet).” The report’s response is disingenuous. The public’s concerns about the 600,000 acre-feet figure comes right out of the Bureau’s Federal Register notice for this project (click for notice). The larger figure would not have appeared in the Federal Register unless it was the number that will direct the environmental analysis – and remain possible for water transfers from the Sacramento Valley.

As many of you know, wealthy, politically connected water districts south of the Delta have wanted north-state ground water for decades. They already destroyed the abundant natural bounty of south-state watersheds by irrigating marginal lands, transferring massive amounts of water, and excessive ground water pumping. If you follow the money behind this project, you will find desert agriculture south of the Delta with junior water rights pressing to steal more north-state water for private profit.