According to a California Farm Bureau news release, actions in a widened drought emergency order issued by Governor Gavin Newsom will provide some short-term benefit through voluntary water transfers and exchanges in parts of drought-stricken California.
The California Farm Bureau also says, while the organization expressed concern about emergency powers granted to the state water board, this action re-emphasized the need for significant, long-term investments to secure future food production in the state.
“The pandemic has reinforced that farming is an essential business and the drought has reinforced that water is essential to farming,” California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said.
“We appreciate any effort the state can make to provide more water in the short term to farmers who need it.
At the same time, we must not lose sight of existing water-rights priorities and the need to balance supplies for food production, fisheries and cities.
“By widening the drought emergency, the governor has recognized the reality facing much of rural California: Our future is not guaranteed,” Johansson said.
“By proposing to invest in canal repairs and other projects, he has shown a willingness to address part of that longer-term problem, but where are the projects the voters invested in when they approved a water bond seven years ago?
