Bruce R. Frohman: All that water needed to flush out the Delta

Re “Why isn’t more water flowing into reservoirs?” (Our View, March 12): Your editorial asks “Why isn’t more water flowing into reservoirs?” The editorial advocates sending more water south. You assumed the answer to your question is “to save Delta Smelt.” A better reason to flush the Delta is to restore water quality. After four years of drought, salt water intrusion from San Francisco Bay has reached the Delta. The area is in serious need of flushing in order to move salty brackish water back out toward the sea.

A better way to save precious rain water is to divert local flood water into numerous valley catch basins. Restore natural ponds that were drained for agriculture. This would reduce flood damage while allowing Delta flushing. The basins would reduce the need for more mega-dams in the mountains, causing less environmental disruption. Wildlife would thrive.

Citizens should have faith in the decisions of the Bureau of Reclamation and less trust in those who only see the rains as a means to make money for themselves. Only after the health of the Delta has been secured and local needs met should water be sent south.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Bruce R. Frohman: All that water needed to flush out the Delta."