Chris Shively: It’s a drought, so why is Tuolumne running full?
The Tuolumne River is running roughly 10 feet higher than it was a few days ago. All of this during a period without significant rainfall for months.
It is estimated that 300,000 acre feet of water will be released as additional runoff on the Tuolumne and Stanislaus rivers this year. And this, in the middle of a historic drought, is an attempt at creating a more natural ecosystem for fish.
How natural is it that, without rainfall or snowpack, we still have increased river flows?
Increased fish flows must stop, period. We rely on reservoirs as a water savings account to help support the agricultural needs of the Central Valley as well as supply some of the drinking water for major metropolitan areas. The State Water Resources Control Board has wasted, and continues to waste, a precious resource. It is jeopardizing our future. As voters we need to take a strong stand on these issues and elect those into office who will protect peoples’ interests over the fish.
This state’s political regime continues to destroy property rights and grabs resources all in the name of environmentalism. I ask: What type of environment are you creating?
Chris Shively, Waterford
This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Chris Shively: It’s a drought, so why is Tuolumne running full?."