from the Endangered Species Coalition

Is the Drought really a ‘Fish vs. People’ Issue?

by Mark Rockwell, Endangered Species Coalition California Representative
-- April 2, 2009 -- We are all aware that California is facing its third consecutive low water year, and that it will impact all of us in some way.  Certainly, reduced deliveries of water to farms in the San Joaquin Valley will cause loss of jobs and hardships to those most vulnerable – farm workers.  However, it must be noted that the communities on the west side San Joaquin Valley historically experience some of the highest unemployment in the state even in normal years – 20+%.  These are some of the poorest communities anywhere, and their residents do not share much of the wealth generated by the big farming interests. 

It is important to put the “water shortage” in some perspective, especially for those in the Westlands Water District, near Los Banos.  The San Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project and the Westlands Water District are the newest customers of the Bureau of Reclamation, and have the most junior water rights.  What that means is they are the last in line to get water, and first to get cut off in times of drought.  It also means they seldom receive full water deliveries. They were well aware of this fact back in the 1950s-60s when they negotiated a water service contract with the Bureau.  In the beginning, they managed the farms with this in mind, and planted annual crops, so if drought happened they simply fallowed the land and waited for better times.

In more recent years, many of the farms on the west side have moved to planting more permanent crops like fruit and nut trees.  These crops require consistent water to survive, and cannot handle dry years.  It was the choice of the farm owners to plant these crops, not their employees, nor the state and federal taxpayers.  They did this knowing full well they would not get the consistent flow of water needed each year.  Now, they are blaming the problem an endangered fish – Delta Smelt.

Delta Smelt are not the only casualty.  The salmon fishing season is about to experience its second consecutive year of closure.  First time in California history!  Federal and state biologists recommend consistent water for fish and wildlife recovery and survival. The crash of the fisheries has its impacts too.  Aren’t commercial fishing families suffering?  How about the fishing equipment stores and manufacturers and their families?  How about all the recreational fishing businesses, boat dealers, tackle stores, motels and restaurants?  How many thousands have already suffered due to excessive water being pumped from the Delta?

Don’t we owe something to the many fish and wildlife that need water and habitat to live?  The Endangered Species Act was enacted into law exactly for this reason – to protect them in times of stress.  Wildlife need protection in hard times, as do the valley residents.  Listening to the big farm owners on the west side San Joaquin complain about no water is like listening to those in the big Wall Street firms complaining about the economy.  They knew they were not going to get water every year, yet they are now asking for special compensation.   It isn’t the fault of the fish that the farm community is suffering.  Drought affects us all.