Irrigation districts pledged to keep up their fight against a state proposal to boost flows in the lower Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced rivers.
They said the proposal, aimed at improving conditions for salmon and other fish, would hit hard at the region’s agriculture and lead to an increase in well pumping.
“That’s water that’s lost,” said Herb Smart, water resources analyst for the Turlock Irrigation District. “It doesn’t go onto farms. It doesn’t go into storage.”
The discussion came at Monday’s monthly meeting of the Stanislaus County Agricultural Advisory Board, which makes recommendations on farm-related issues to the Board of Supervisors.
http://www.modbee.com/2014/07/08/3430558/valley-irrigation-leaders-warn.html?sp=/99/1571/&ihp=1