An article in USA Today yesterday pinned 30 percent of the blame for California's drought on the federal government. The other 70 percent is assigned to Mother Nature.
Court and regulatory rulings protecting endangered fish have cut water allocations to irrigated agriculture, compounding a natural dry spell, the story said."This is a regulatory drought, is what it is," the story quoted Firebaugh farmer Todd Alen. "It just doesn't seem fair."
UC Davis ag economist Richard Howitt told the reporter that federal regulations hit particularly hard in the Valley because complicated water-rights laws put farmers at the end of the line in water distribution.
"Howitt says his studies suggest that the restrictions could put as much as 45 percent of irrigated acreage in the Fresno area out of production — jacking up prices for melons, broccoli, tomatoes and other produce. The area also is a big producer of almonds, pistachios, lettuce and wheat," wrote reporter William Welch.
Potential solutions - such as more dams or a canal to bypass the delta and bring water to users - are being smothered by the state's budget woes.
Editor's note: I'll be away on vacation for a few days, but will bring you up to date on ANR News when I return next Tuesday.