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Representatives of some of California’s leading agricultural bodies have highlighted a “litany of positives” in the state’s recently introduced drought legislation for its “short term and long term solutions to California’s needs”.

In a statement, California Citrus Mutual president Joel Nelsen, California Fresh Fruit Association president George Radanovich and California Cotton Ginners & Growers Association and Western Agricultural Processors Association president Roger Isom, echoed the words of Senator Dianne Feinstein – “this bill isn’t perfect but I do believe it will help California”.

 

The House on Thursday overwhelmingly approved the biggest federal reset of California water use in a generation, setting the stage for easier dam-building, more recycling and potentially happier Central Valley farmers. By a 360 to 61 vote that divided California representatives, the House approved the drought-inspired California provisions as part of a broader water projects bill that now heads to the Senate. Disappointing environmentalists and some Northern California Democrats, the White House declined to issue a potentially lethal veto threat. “It is a bill that helps deliver water to our communities,” said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield.

Central to the ongoing tug of war about how best to balance California water uses is a plan by the State Water Resources Control Board to leave more water in the main tributaries of the San Joaquin River during periods it considers key for at-risk native species.

A protracted conflict over whether and how to protect fish from dying at desalination plants is clouding prospects for what would be California’s second large plant of this type – and for the future of desalination along the entire California coastline. For years, a proposed Poseidon Resources desalination plant in Huntington Beach in Orange County has been kept in limbo.

Barbara Boxer has torpedoed more legislation than she’s helped pass during her four terms in the Senate. Before retiring for good (literally), the Bay Area Democrat is trying to sink a water bill that could provide modest relief to farmers in California’s parched Central Valley. Congress plans to vote this week on bipartisan legislation that would authorize a variety of water projects including port dredging, reservoirs, fish hatcheries, lake recreation and wetlands restoration. The package also includes $120 million to fix Flint, Michigan’s corroded pipes and other aging municipal water systems.