Posted on Tue, Mar. 10, 2009

Droughts, like most disasters, can be nearly invisible. The day after the Tuolumne River flooded in 1997, most of Modesto was sparkling under a blue sky and bright sunshine. But in neighborhoods west of Highway 99 and near where Dry Creek empties into the Tuolumne, living rooms were filled with water. Most were oblivious to the disaster, but others were living it.

The same is true of this drought. Those living in areas served by the Turlock and Modesto irrigation districts aren't really suffering. The districts' Don Pedro Reservoir contains 1.3 million acre-feet, with more flowing in every second. Rights to use this water are guaranteed under rules dating to the 1880s. Farmers in the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts draw water from the Stanislaus River, and their rights are almost as secure.

But only 20 miles to the west, along Interstate 5, about 300 Stanislaus and Merced county farmers depend on the Del Puerto Water District for irrigation -- and they're nearly frantic over the drought's impacts. They and farmers farther south are at ground zero of this disaster. They all depend on water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Because of drought, court orders and regulations, they've been told not to expect any this year.

Even last week's dark clouds held only the faintest glimmer of silver. If we get a lot more rain, there's a chance the Bureau of Reclamation will release a fraction of their allocations. If not, those growers will have to rely on wells and water remaining from last year -- which might not be enough even to "save our permanent crops," said Del Puerto general manager Bill Harrison.

Water managers and farmers across the Central Valley are facing dire conditions and desperate choices. That explains why so many go red when state agencies and judges make rules that favor fish over their crops.

Last week's decision to protect the delta longfin smelt was particularly vexing. Within hours, the State Water Contractors had sued to reverse this latest decision.

But there's another side. The delta's deteriorating ecology is blamed, in part, for the collapse of salmon populations, which, in turn, have cost fishermen billions. Many scientists and most environmentalists blame increased pumping, starting in the 1990s, for that deterioration. At a conference last weekend, one scientist said that without changes California salmon could go extinct.

More than a century ago, the concept of publicly owned irrigation districts emerged from Stanislaus County. Only three generations ago, state policy-makers provided millions to help provide a reliable water supply. Those who should have continued that legacy have long since dropped the ball. Instead of building more storage to meet the state's growing population and demands, little has been done in the past 30 years.

Perhaps today's legislators are finally getting serious. Five bills have been introduced that would provide billions for new water projects. Sen. Dave Cogdill's bill is an excellent start, but others, including Sen. Lois Wolk, have good ideas. Sadly, it will be too late to help farmers or fish this year.

When faced with disaster, we often turn to providence for help. This crisis is no different. But we should also turn to our legislators and demand that this time something gets done.