SACRAMENTO-

Four busloads of residents from the central valley hit hard by the drought made their case for more water during a meeting of the State Water Board today.

They want a temporary exception to water policy that provides water to the Delta to help fish populations. They say farm workers, growers and businesses are suffering.

“Everybody is going unemployed, there’s no work, there’s no water, the cities are all dry,” said Steve Hamm, a grower from Coalinga.

Many farm workers went to the podium to tell the board about the loss of work and the need to leave the state to find work and feed their families. One grower estimated that 75% of the fields in his area are fallow for lack of water and many are pulling out their orchards because there is no water to maintain them. Existing drinking water supplies are less than ideal.

“A lot of the people here today are drinking water with bottled water in their communities when we’re letting water go to the ocean and go to fish which is just insane,” said Manuel Cuhna, president of the Nesei Farmers League based in Fresno.

But environmental interests say central valley farmers are Johnny come-latelies that have to historical water rights. They say big corporate farms have been using water from publicly financed dams and water systems.

“They wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our subsidies. They’re becoming very wealthy at the taxpayers expense,” said Ron Forbes who is a member of several fishermen groups and a water advocate for Restore the Delta.

Forbes the environment has always been sacrificed for the needs of agricultural interests that are using more than their fair share of water while salmon, steelhead, and stripped bass suffer with declining populations.

The State Water Board is listening to all sides before it makes a decision on grower demands to send a little less water through the Delta
and store more in reservoirs for the growing season.