SACRAMENTO (KMJ) — Busloads of valley farmers have descended on Sacramento today – to protest a decision not to send us more water.
In late January – both the state and federal agencies which control water supplies across the state asked for permission to pump more water from the Delta to us here in the Central Valley.
The decision came down to the Executive Director of the State Water Resources Control Board Tom Howard.
"He went ahead and made the decision to say 'no'", explained Aubrey Bettencourt – Executive Director of the California Water Alliance.
"[He said] we're not going to take your advice which was approved by two environmental government agencies at the state and federal level – and increase storage capacities for February and March".
At the meeting of the state water resources control board this morning – state officials faced a room-full of angry farmers eager to hear why the decision had been made.
"Many fish species in the estuary are already at historically low levels and are stressed from multiple years of drought" said executive director Tom Howard. "As I said earlier – Delta Smelt are at their lowest levels".
However, it was announced that discussions will be held to determine if a hearing is necessary to look again at that decision.
