Important Public Water Meeting: Mon., April 13, Chico Elks Lodge

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WHAT: The California Water Commission is holding a series of Public Meetings to provide information on the Water Storage Investment Program.The first public meeting will be held in at the Chico Elks Lodge. Monday, April 13, 2015. Public comments are scheduled for 7:15 pm. Click here for agenda.

WHO: California Water Commission

WHERE: Chico Elks Lodge, 1705 Manzanita Place

WHEN: Monday, April 13, 2014 – 5:30-8:30pm

In November 2014, California voters passed Proposition 1: a $7.5 billion water bond that funnels money into the State’s water supply systems. AquAlliance was opposed to Prop 1 because of provisions that were likely to fund “groundwater storage” via groundwater substitution water transfers. Our North Valley farms will have to compete for water as it flows out of the Sacramento Valley through the Delta and onto the desert farms served by Westlands Water District. Integrating Sacramento Valley aquifers into the state water supply would replace existing groundwater user rights with District ownership. Intentionally dropping aquifer levels to create “groundwater storage space” would dewater streams, strand existing wells and kill heritage valley oak trees.AquAlliance encourages you to attend this meeting to let the California Water Commission know there is overwhelming opposition to groundwater substitution water sales out of the North State.Talking points:

  1. Using Groundwater Substitution Transfers from senior water right holders to sell river water to junior contractors is an unacceptable groundwater storage strategy.
  1. Long term California drought as revealed in UC Berkeley studies conducted by Drs. Ingram, Malamud-Roam, and others cast doubt on the benefits of building large reservoir infrastructure that may remain depleted for years or decades. Is the Commission taking paleo-climate data into consideration?
  1. Scott Stine, a professor of geography and environmental studies at Cal State East Bay said, “We continue to run California as if the longest drought we are ever going to encounter is about seven years. We’re living in a dream world.” A 240 year drought occurred between 850AD-1090. After a 50 year wet respite a 180 year drought occurred between 1140AD-1320. Expanding surface storage makes no sense during extended dry periods.
  1. Groundwater interaction with streams provides flow for rivers, the Delta, and salmon. Intentional overuse of groundwater in the Sacramento Valley to meet statewide demand depletes future stream flow.
  1. Valley oaks are dependent on groundwater tables higher than 80’. Groundwater mismanagement in the southern Central Valley has extirpated natural oak groves that once thrived. River diverters participating in groundwater substitution transfers are shifting to groundwater in the Sacramento Valley during dry periods. The dropping aquifer levels threaten heritage valley oak groves.
  1. Groundwater storage projects are appropriate in the urban areas of southern California where depleted aquifer levels already exist.
  1. Groundwater storage projects in the Sacramento Valley should not include intentional aquifer overdraft meant to create storage space.
  1. The Commission must address the over-appropriation of streams in the Central Valley Watershed by awarding funds to projects that need no additional water rights permits that involve new diversions, new or changes in places of use and new purposes of use.
  1. Storage projects must define health and safety uses of public water storage in drought periods.