California could face $500 billion in water spending [Associated Press]
California's
growing population and dwindling water require up to $500 billion in additional
investment in water in coming decades, and new state fees for water users could
be one way pay for it, a water plan released Thursday by the state's top water
officials said….The plan looks as far ahead as 2050, spanning a period when
California will be dealing with everything from shrinking snowpack, rising seas
and encroaching salinity in waterways to more frequent droughts under climate
change. The plan envisions growing cities increasingly taking more water,
farmers using less, and water costing more in general….Broadly, the plan calls
for greater coordination among state, federal and local agencies that make
decisions affecting water supplies, for streamlining government decision-making
on water issues, and for greater investment, including conservation and
storage.
Proposition
1 Aims to Revitalize California Water System [NBC Bay Area]
The
mid-afternoon sun raked an orange glow across Craig McNamara’s walnut orchards
- the sound of a leaf blower peppering the otherwise muted sounds of the rural
town of Winters, in Yolo County….With the skies offering little hope of a quick
end to the drought - McNamara and other farmers in the state have pinned their
hopes to Proposition 1, the state ballot measure that would dump $7.5 billion
into water system improvements in California, including the addition of several
new dams and reservoirs….The opposition to Prop 1 contends California’s water
woes are the result of sending too much water to large agricultural interests -
at the peril of smaller farmers and rivers. They say the only ones who stand to
benefit from the proposition’s billions are dam builders and other construction
interests.
Resignation
in rural California as election nears [Sacramento Bee]
LIKELY
- Rain fell over the hay barns and pine forests in the far northeastern corner
of the state, and with Tuesday’s election presaging four more years of
Democratic rule in Sacramento, an air of resignation filled the Flournoy family
ranch. “It gets a little depressing,” said John Flournoy, who at 70 can recall
a time when Democrats did not control every statewide office or hold such large
majorities in the Legislature….When Californians go to the polls Tuesday, vast
stretches of the state – thinly populated, inland and rural – will have little
to look forward to….Earlier this year, the local assemblyman, Brian Dahle, sent
an email to fellow lawmakers asking them to visit. Dahle, R-Bieber, said more
than 20 of his colleagues accepted the offer. He hopes to convince his guests,
after visiting a lumber mill or cattle ranch, that a regulation necessary for
septic tanks in Malibu, for example, might not be necessary in rural Lassen or
Modoc counties, or that banning lead bullets – a bill approved last year –
could be detrimental to farmers’ efforts to protect their crops from squirrels.
California
Drought Rice Harvest [Marysville Appeal-Democrat]
The
rice harvest is nearly complete and improved yields and increased prices have
eased the pain of a 25 percent decrease in the amount of acreage planted due to
the drought. Consistently hot, but not scorching, summer temperatures
contributed to a healthy growing season, said Jon Munger, manager of operations
for Montna Farms. "Overall, we're happy with the way harvest turned out,"
Munger said. "The quality appears good and the yields are up
slightly." Sacramento Valley farmers are seeing yields around 8,900 pounds
per acre. A normal year has yields around 8,500 pounds per acre, said Kirk
Meswick, senior vice president for the Farmers' Rice Cooperative in West
Sacramento.
Opinion: Richard Waycott:
Almonds help make California strong [Modesto Bee]
To
understand how the changing agricultural landscape is impacting California, you
must first understand the reasons behind the shift….You can visit Florida and
find thriving fields of tomatoes or head up to Oregon for fresh strawberries.
California is, however, almost the only place in the country to grow the
majority of tree nuts – and it is the only place you can effectively grow
almonds. That fact creates a big competitive advantage for California – and a
competitive advantage means a better return on investment on both the capital
invested and the natural resources employed, not just for farmers but for the
state as a whole….Californian almond farmers want nothing more than to raise
America’s favorite nut in a sustainable way for generations to come, and we
should be proud of their accomplishments and their contributions to this great
state.
Opinion: The warped world of
parallel science [Wall Street Journal]
Western
civilization is based in part on the Enlightenment principle of the scientific
method. Yet even as we enjoy spectacular advances in health, technology and
agriculture, the central tenets of scientific inquiry are under attack by
environmentalists….Over the past decade, the European Commission has spent more
than €200 million ($254 million) on research into the potential risks of GM
crops. This massive effort concluded that the food poses no greater risk to
animal or human health, or to the environment, than conventionally bred crops.
The peddlers of parallel science ignore these results. In evidence to the
British parliament this month, Greenpeace U.K.’s chief scientist, Doug Parr,
flatly denied the world-wide consensus on GM safety. Since no convincing
evidence has ever emerged suggesting GM crops present a risk, Greenpeace
asserts that the matter requires further study.
Ag
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