Federal & state bills aim to fix CA water infrastructure [KMPH TV, Fresno]
… The bills, led by U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein, Congressman Jim Costa and State Senator Melissa Hurtado, could mean big improvements for the Central Valley’s water supply. “This has shaped up to be one of the driest years on record,” said Ryan Jacobsen, CEO of the Fresno County Farm Bureau … State and federal representatives have introduced the bipartisan Canal Conveyance Capacity Restoration Act, which aims to tackle California’s drought issues by updating its outdated infrastructure. … The bill would authorize more than $653 million to restore the capacity of three major San Joaquin Valley canals.
https://kmph.com/news/local/federal-state-bills-aim-to-fix-ca-water-infrastructure
Drought conditions already impacting Valley farmers [KFSN TV, Fresno]
Drought conditions are already forcing Valley farmers to make difficult decisions when it comes to their crops as many are facing severe water restrictions. “There’s districts throughout California that have experienced up to 95% reductions in water,” says Fresno County Farm Bureau CEO Ryan Jacobsen. Jacobsen says the lack of wet weather means the water farmers do have will have to be reallocated to permanent crops, while others, like garlic, tomatoes, onions, melons, and rice will be reduced.
https://abc30.com/central-valley-farmers-drought-conditions-california-water/10518690/
Never mind: OID and SSJID cancel large water sale to West Side because of drought [Modesto Bee]
The worsening drought has canceled a large water sale to West Side farmers by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts. They announced Wednesday that their own customers will need the water, which had been declared surplus in early March. … The water would have been delivered down the Stanislaus to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, then pumped to buyers as far south as Kern County. The higher flow would have been timed to help young salmon get out to the Pacific Ocean. That “pulse” will still happen in late April and early May, but at a much lower volume.
https://www.modbee.com/news/business/agriculture/article250683704.html
Editorial: Another drought, another threat to California farming. Gov. Newsom, are you listening? [Fresno Bee]
… The crisis Valley farmers face is real, as is the threat to the farm-based economy of California’s heartland. Newsom can help by declaring an emergency exists. By doing so, he could mandate conservation, relax environmental requirements for water projects and make transfers of supplies from one area to another more feasible. … He should issue the emergency declaration to help farmers. And, like it or not, he needs to get the attention of all Californians that, indeed, here we go again.
https://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/editorials/article250678554.html
‘I’ve never seen it this bad’: Marin ranchers brace for drought [Marin Independent Journal]
Marin County ranchers say this year’s drought and record low rainfall is the worst they can remember. And it’s only expected to worsen in the coming months. … “I’ve been in the business for 50 years and I’ve never seen it this bad,” said Jerry Corda, who runs the Lester Corda and Sons Dairy north of Novato near the county line with his brother Tom. “This drought is absolutely and without a doubt the worst I have ever experienced and the worst I’ve ever heard about,” said Sam Dolcini, who runs a beef cattle ranch near the Marin-Sonoma border. … “It’s unprecedented to see this at this time of year,” said Corda, who is also a member of the Marin County Farm Bureau board of directors.
Japan wants U.S. back in the TPP. It will likely have to wait [Wall Street Journal]
… The U.S. and Japan are at odds over the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, a regional trade bloc to fend off Chinese competition that the U.S. has abandoned and Japan now champions. … Biden administration officials have made clear the U.S. wouldn’t return to the pact anytime soon as they undertake a comprehensive review of the trade policies they inherited from Mr. Trump and focus on strengthening the domestic economy. Japan, a loyal ally of the U.S. on security issues, has been pushing for the U.S. to rejoin the TPP.
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