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<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/01/14/18669206.php">http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/01/14/18669206.php</a><br>
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<div class="headers">
<div class="heading"><strong class="heading">New Report Targets
Unreasonable Water Use in California</strong></div>
<div class="author">by Dan Bacher
<br>
<em>Friday Jan 14th, 2011 6:04 PM </em></div>
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<blockquote class="summary">The Reasonable Use Doctrine is the
cornerstone of California’s complex water rights laws.</blockquote>
New Report Targets Unreasonable Water Use in California <br>
<br>
by Dan Bacher <br>
<br>
Craig Wilson, the Delta Watermaster, will present a
highly-anticipated report to the State Water Resources Control Board
on January 19 suggesting that a "particularly contentious area" of
California’s water law be applied more broadly, according to the
Planning and Conservation League (PCL) Insider. <br>
<br>
In his report, Wilson recommends that the State Board employ the
California Constitution’s "Reasonable and Beneficial Use Doctrine"
to promote agricultural water use efficiency. The doctrine states a
water right does not include the right to waste water and mandates
that "the water resources of the state be put to beneficial use.'" <br>
<br>
In California, a small percentage of increased agricultural water
use efficiency adds up to significant water savings, according to
Wilson. Specifically, the report recommends the State Board convene
a Reasonable Use Summit to develop specific actions to improve
efficiency, and the creation of a "Reasonable Use Unit" within the
Division of Water Rights. <br>
<br>
"The Reasonable and Beneficial Use Doctrine (Reasonable Use
Doctrine) is the cornerstone of California’s complex water rights
laws," says Wilson. "All water use must be reasonable and beneficial
regardless of the type of underlying water right. No one has an
enforceable property interest in the unreasonable use of water." <br>
<br>
"Maximizing the efficient use of water by projects that reduce
consumptive water use is particularly important for the
Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta," Wilson stated. "More efficient use of
water upstream of the Delta can increase water flows into the Delta.
More efficient water use within the Delta can increase Delta
outflows. Reducing the amount of agricultural return Delta flow,
both upstream of and in the Delta, has important water quality
benefits." <br>
<br>
For many years, environmentalists, fishermen and Indian Tribes have
pointed to the irrigation of drainage impaired land, laced with
selenium and other toxic salts and heavy metals, by Westlands Water
District and other water contractors on the west side of the San
Joaquin Valley as a prime example of "unreasonable use" of water. <br>
<br>
Imperiled Sacramento River chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead,
Delta smelt, longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish are
confronted with a double whammy because of these unsustainable
agribusiness practices. <br>
<br>
First, water is exported from the estuary, resulting in less water
for fish and the killing of millions of fish in the state and
federal Delta pumps. Second, selenium and other salts and minerals
go back into the San Joaquin River drainage after the land is
irrigated, resulting in declining water quality on the Delta. <br>
<br>
Wilson will present his report, entitled "The Reasonable Use
Doctrine and Agricultural Water Use Efficiency," at the next State
Board Meeting Session on Wednesday, January 19. The meeting will
begin at 9:00 a.m. in the Coastal Hearing Room, Second Floor, Joe
Serna Jr./Cal/EPA Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento. <br>
<br>
For more information, go to: <a
href="http://waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2011/jan/011911_12.pdf">http://waterboards.ca.gov/board_info/agendas/2011/jan/011911_12.pdf</a>
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