Fed grant funds to ease Calif. water shortages
FRESNO, Calif. — Federal agencies have pledged to send nearly $60 million in grants to help California communities, farms and dairies suffering from ongoing water shortages.
It’s welcome news for farmers on the west side of Fresno County, the most productive agricultural county in the nation. Farms in the area are receiving only 10 percent of their federal water allocation this year.
The funding announced Thursday includes $40 million in stimulus money aimed at drought-relief projects, the bulk of which will go to the agriculturally rich San Joaquin Valley, where three years of dry weather and irrigation cutbacks have crippled production and caused severe unemployment.
Most of the Department of Interior’s stimulus funds are intended to help growers dig new wells and install temporary pipelines and pumps to move water to farms that need it most, Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes said.
“The farming communities in the San Joaquin are central to our bread basket, to our prosperity and to our agricultural strength as a nation,” he said.
The grants, plus other federal funding announced earlier this year, should help put rural communities back to work by freeing up water supplies to keep crops and fruit trees growing, Hayes said.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture also announced that it would direct an additional $18 million in grants to help California farmers, dairy operators and resource conservation districts use water more efficiently and tackle environmental problems.
“Regulations for air quality and water quality keep getting tougher, so this will be a huge help,” said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen.
The biggest winner was the sprawling Westlands Water District, which received a total of $9.5 million in grants from both agencies.
The district, which produces about $1 billion in crops annually and is one of Fresno County’s biggest employers, says the water shortages have meant hundreds of thousands of acres used to grow lettuce, tomatoes and other crops have been fallowed this year.
The USDA grants will help Westlands farmers save enough water to irrigate 1,000 more acres and put about 800 people to work, said Tom Birmingham, the district’s general manager.
More than $2.2 million will be spent so U.S. Geological Survey scientists can monitor how increased pumping affects California’s central aquifer, which some state scientists fear could sink enough to slow delivery of water to Southern California.
The California Aqueduct, a major canal that delivers drinking water to more than 20 million people, is among many structures threatened by the sinking.
A study released by the USGS earlier this month revealed that groundwater pumping is causing the valley floor to sink.
Related News
Congress to consider bill that would ease Calif. water transfers, aid drought-stricken farmsOctober 7th, 2009 Congress to consider water bill for Calif. farmersWASHINGTON — Democratic lawmakers from California have introduced legislation intended to increase the flow of water to the state's parched San Joaquin Valley, where farmers have idled thousands of acres.
Clarification: Overhill Farms contract storyOctober 1st, 2009 Clarification: Overhill Farms contract storyLOS ANGELES — In some versions of a story Sept. 30, The Associated Press reported that Overhill Farms Inc.
Frozen foods maker Overhill Farms signs distribution agreement with J.R. SimplotSeptember 30th, 2009 Overhill Farms inks distribution agreementLOS ANGELES — Private-label frozen foods maker Overhill Farms Inc. on Wednesday said it inked a sales and distribution agreement with food producer J.R.
Calif. lawmakers race to get deals on key priorities on final day of legislative sessionSeptember 11th, 2009 Calif. lawmakers race to get deals on key billsSACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers have left it to the final day of their regular legislative session to grapple with key issues facing the state.
Feds say Calif. water crisis isn't their fault, pledge to review science behind water cutbacksSeptember 3rd, 2009 Feds: Calif. water crisis isn't Washington's faultFRESNO, Calif.
Schwarzenegger demands response from Obama administration on California's water crisisSeptember 2nd, 2009 Schwarzenegger demands response to water crisisFRESNO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called on the Obama administration Wednesday to intervene immediately in California's water crisis, saying environmental restrictions that have slashed water deliveries to farms and cities were having "catastrophic impacts."
The Republican governor sent a letter demanding a federal response to the state's prior requests to hold talks about reduced supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the delicate ecosystem that serves as the main conduit moving water from north to south.
Report: Drought in China's north leaves 5 million people short of drinking waterAugust 23rd, 2009 China drought leaves 5 million short of waterBEIJING — A drought in China's north has left nearly 5 million people short of drinking water and damaged crops, while dry weather in the south could cause more shortages, a state news agency reported Sunday. The drought has caused water shortages for 4.6 million people and 4.1 million head of livestock, the Xinhua News Agency said, citing an announcement by the national anti-drought administration.
PM gives a new slogan: 'Pani Bachao'August 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Faced with increasing water shortages that is affecting millions, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday coined a new slogan for the nation: Pani Bachao (Save Water). In his Independence Day address from the Red Fort, Manmohan Singh underlined the urgent need to preserve the country's depleting water and other natural resources.
Low milk prices make hard times harder for Vermont dairies; many are closing downAugust 4th, 2009 With milk prices low, more Vermont dairies closeALBURGH, Vt. — Milk prices are down.
Feds accuse SC poultry plant of knowing managers hired hundreds of illegal immigrantsJuly 16th, 2009 Feds accuse SC poultry plant of illegal hiringCOLUMBIA, S.C. — Federal authorities say the company that runs a South Carolina poultry plant knew its managers were hiring illegal immigrants at a facility raided in October.
Power-water woes: Dikshit warns of tough days aheadJune 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Thursday warned people in the national capital of possible water and power shortages in the coming days, following delay in monsoon. "We are asking people to conserve water and power.
Irish company buys 3 Illinois wind farms, encouraged by Obama push for clean energyJune 15th, 2009 Irish company buys Ill. wind farmsCHICAGO — An Irish company hoping to benefit from the Obama administration's emphasis on renewable energy purchased three Illinois wind farms near Chicago.
Feds charge 2 Calif. men of running $85 million Ponzi scheme targeting Korean-AmericansJune 10th, 2009 Feds accuse 2 Calif. men of conducting $85M schemeSAN FRANCISCO — Federal regulators have accused two Northern California men of conducting an $85 million Ponzi scheme that targeted Korean-Americans, pledging to deliver spectacular returns from foreign currency trading.
Kerala to set up modern dairy farms to meet milk shortageApril 28th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government is working towards self-sufficiency in milk production by setting up four state-of-the-art dairy farms in the state on an outlay of Rs.20 crore. Work on the first farm has begun at Kulathupuzha in Pathanamthitta district, Animal Husbandry Minister C.
Federal government to release meager water supplies to California farms in time for summerApril 23rd, 2009 California farmers to get slight drought reliefFRESNO, Calif. — Farmers in California's drought-stricken agricultural basin finally will get a meager supply of federal water to nurture their crops this summer.
Loading ...