To the editor: California’s Sustainable Groundwater Administration Act was enacted in 2014. Ten years later, wells within the San Joaquin Valley are nonetheless going dry, water high quality is poor, and land subsidence remains to be occurring. (“California cracks down on another Central Valley farm area for groundwater depletion,” Sept. 21)
Water use within the Central Valley is an advanced subject. Nevertheless, there are two identifiable explanation why a sustainable groundwater administration system has not been adopted.
First, in multi-party negotiations over water use, if one occasion is glad with the established order, there can be no significant, enforceable and verifiable agreements. Massive-scale agriculture is greater than glad with the established order, as a result of it may pump water quicker and from deeper wells than smaller farms and communities. Massive-scale agriculture can nonetheless pump water lengthy after different wells have gone dry.
Second, there’s a generational distinction in attitudes between the previous farmers and new ones.
The older era operates in accordance with the previous adage, “You’ve received to make hay when the solar shines.” The rising era, alternatively, understands it ought to plan for generations after it. Its members need folks sooner or later to have the ability to farm simply as their mother and father did.
Sadly, to this point, energy and affect nonetheless relaxation with the older era. Subsequently, it’s laborious to get significant, enforceable and verifiable agreements on groundwater use.
Jim Holloway, San Clemente
Greg Collins, Visalia
The writers are retired longtime metropolis planners and co-authors of a e-book on water use within the San Joaquin Valley.
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To the editor: A farmer is quoted as saying that the groundwater regulation is bringing adjustments “at a breakneck tempo.”
California’s groundwater administration regulation went into impact in 2014. Water companies have had 10 years to give you acceptable plans. They don’t have to be absolutely carried out till 2040.
How is {that a} “breakneck tempo”?
In the meantime, a number of giant agribusiness farms have sunk wells 2,500 ft beneath floor stage and deeper. It will appear to be the plan is to pump out the entire groundwater and stroll away with the earnings from the pistachios and almonds, leaving any person else to take care of the catastrophe created.
The state Water Board should vigorously implement the groundwater regulation, assuming that it’s not hamstrung by the courts.
Noel Park, Rancho Palos Verdes
