Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Image Source: U.S.G.S
BY JIM FLINK
ANCHOR CANDICE AVILES
Water, water, nowhere … and not a drop to drink.
That’s the problem plaguing Southern California. The solution, tap the area surrounding the
San Joaquin Delta in NoCal. That suggestion has triggered a water war. Here’s PBS with
part of the plan.
“To build two wide 35-mile-long tunnels so that much of the water from the Sacramento
River, would bypass the Delta, and would flow by gravity to massive pumps.”
And then, the water would be sent south, to SoCal.
California Governor Jerry Brown, with support from the U.S. Department of Interior, is proposing
the $14 billion tunnels. In an op-ed piece, the San Francisco Chronicle says, this idea
is poorly conceived, which could set off a chain reaction of negative events.
“And once it goes wrong, it's going to be hard to stop. It's hubris over common sense,
an attempt to build our way out of a problem we can't escape: too many people, too little
water. That's a problem now; that'll be a problem if this multibillion-dollar boondoggle
is ever finished.”
The San Jose Mercury News agrees, noting Governor Brown tried to do the same thing as governor
three decades ago. It says, i was bad policy then and now for the Delta and the state of
California.
“ … any plan that further damages the compromised ecosystem will have ramifications
far beyond the ability to water Hollywood lawns. That's the main thing this plan will
do, just about everyone agrees: make it easier to transport water from Northern California
to the thirsty South.”
But an op-ed in the Los Angeles Daily News -- owned by the same newspaper chain as the
Mercury News – says this is an age-old fight waged for centuries between the water haves,
and have-nots. Each needs the other.
“... once again, we Southern Californians ... are the villains. This has been a frequent
refrain from the top half of the state -- the less-deserty half -- for centuries, mostly
because it is true. We don't have much water - but great weather for living and growing
things; they have plenty of water, but less-desirable weather.”
Bay Nature blames not government nor greed, but nature, and says an increase in global
warming means this fight will only get more intense.
“Heat waves, severe fires, strains on the electrical grid, and, yes, water shortages
are in our future. Less snow in the Sierras means less water during the year. And fresh
drinking water and ag water from the Delta are in jeopardy because of rising seas.”
According to the Tracy Press, environmental impact documents about the plan are being
drawn up for public review within a few months. If approved the project would be ready to
export water in 10 to 15 years.