Jerry Couchman: San Joaquin River alone can’t save the Delta from salt
The San Joaquin River is unable to flush the Delta. The river only has 5,000 cubic feet per second of water flowing into the Delta. The Sacramento River has 25,000 cubic feet per second but much of the water from the Sacramento River will be sent to Los Angeles. The Delta cannot be flushed with the flow of the San Joaquin alone.
To hold back saltwater incursion, it will take water from those who have built the dams and reservoirs for irrigation and power. The State Water Resources Control Board has been filled by Jerry Brown to serve him and the fish that will not be restored by theories. All five on the board members were appointed from 2012 to 2015. None of them represents all affected by their decisions. They are environmentalists and we have no farming representative on that board. Five people should not be passing rules that affect everyone in the state.
Jerry Couchman, Modesto
Editor’s note: Dorene D’Adamo of Stanislaus County was appointed to the five-member state water board in 2013; she has been connected to farming most of her life.
This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 12:08 PM with the headline "Jerry Couchman: San Joaquin River alone can’t save the Delta from salt."