Family Farm Alliance - News Articles

At a time when Western water supplies are already inadequate to meet the demands of agriculture, future energy needs, urban growth and environmental enhancement, climate change is expected to further reduce those supplies, according to a new report by the Family Farm Alliance (Alliance). Water experts recommend that, with dire long-term hydrologic forecasts predicted for the West, maintaining the status quo simply isn’t sustainable. To meet the needs of cities and the environment without sacrificing Western irrigated agriculture, there must be more water stored and made available to farms and cities. Click here to read the 9/4/07 press release and a PDF version of the report.

Alliance President Patrick O’Toole told a Senate Committee on June 6, 2007 that Western irrigated agriculture and U.S. food security should not be sacrificed in order to avert critical water supply shortages resulting from rapid urban growth, drought and global climate change. In testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the potential effects of climate change on Western water supplies, Alliance President Pat O’Toole said that population growth alone is already creating a water supply crisis in the West. He told Senators that many cities are fueling their growth by buying up agricultural land and water.

After the June 6 hearing, Senators Cantwell (WA) and Salazar (CO) posed questions to O'Toole about the Alliance's efforts to advocate for new water storage projects and the challenges associated with developing environmentally-sensitive water supply enhancement projects. Click here to see the Alliance response to these questions.

Farmers Lose Water to Fish

A federal judge on August 31 ordered a dramatic curtailment of pumping water to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California – an unprecedented decision aimed at protecting the tiny Delta smelt, but one that will have widespread economic and political repercussions across the state. San Joaquin Valley farmers receiving water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta will see their 2008 supplies cut by as much as 50 percent or a reduction in deliveries by as much as 500,000 acre-feet, one of the largest single court-ordered reductions in California water history. Every farmer in the 3 million acres receiving water through the Delta pumps and 25 million residents in the San Francisco Bay area and Los Angeles are at immediate risk resulting from less water flowing to their farms, homes and businesses next year.

A media release issued by the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority provides a useful preliminary overview of this recent development. The judge’s decision is disappointing because scientists say that the pumps relied upon by Central Valley irrigators only account for 5-15 percent of the causes that are affecting the smelt population. Other factors representing a greater effect on the smelt numbers are loss of food supplies and the introduction of foreign plant and fish species that have dramatically altered the environment.

RWEP Included in House-Passed Farm Bill Conservation Title

The House of Representatives in August passed a new farm bill that preserves the existing system of subsidies and adds billions of dollars for conservation, nutrition and new agricultural sectors. The 741-page bill – with a price tag of almost $286 billion - passed by a vote of 231 to 191, along party lines. The Family Farm Alliance has worked closely with a broad coalition of interests in developing language to support the Administration’s Regional Water Enhancement Program (RWEP). That program – now called the Regional Ground and Surface Water Enhancement Program – is included in the House conservation title. Click here to read the Alliance's letter to Chairman Harkin on this matter, and click here to see the coalition letter sent to Mr. Harkin by the Alliance and other interests. The Alliance continues to work with the coalition to advocate for RWEP in the Senate.

Sign Up Now for the WGA / WSWC Conference in Salt Lake!

The Western Governors Association and Western States Water Council (WSWC) are hosting an important conference in Salt Lake City in early October. Alliance President Patrick O’Toole will represent irrigation interests on the opening panel of the conference on "Water Policies and Planning in the West: Ensuring a Sustainable Future." Space is limited, so if you have not done so yet, please register now to ensure your spot at the conference. Visit the website at http://www.westgov.org, where an updated agenda is also posted. Most all of the speakers are confirmed, including Governor Huntsman of Utah. High level officials from the Administration are also expected to participate. The cut-off date for room reservations for rooms reserved at the Sheraton City Centre in Salt Lake City has been extended to September 16, 2007. To reserve a room, call the hotel’s reservations department at 801-401-2000, and be sure to request the Western States Water Council room block for the special rate.

Idaho Water Leader Testifies on Clean Water Act

A Western water leader told a Congressional subcommittee in the nation’s capital that proposed legislation revising the Clean Water Act (CWA) will create more problems rather than solving a wide range of problems with the Act that already exist.

Norm Semanko, executive director of the Idaho Water Users Association (IWUA), testified on behalf of the National Water Resources Association (NWRA) and the Family Farm Alliance (Alliance). He told members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that passage of the proposed Clean Water Restoration Act of 2007 (CWRA) would seriously erode the well-established and long-respected right of the states to manage their water resources and protect water quality.

Semanko’s testimony puts the NWRA and the Alliance squarely on the Congressional record as opposing the legislation. The Alliance sent a formal opposition letter to Rep. Oberstar that outlines the concerns Western irrigators have with CWARA.

“Significant problems are already being encountered by water providers with the existing Act and these challenges are expected to continue,” said Semanko.

Read the NWRA-Alliance July 18, 2007 news release.

Check out the August 2007 Edition of the Montana Water News

Montana Water News comes your every month with fresh news about meetings and water topics in Big Sky Country. In this edition, read about drought, research grants, riparian / wetland training, the upcoming River Center meeting, the Large Lakes conference, and more. View the newsletter online in the newsletter archives.

Alliance Supports Thompson Bill

Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CALIFORNIA) and Don Young (R-ALASKA) have introduced the Endangered Species Recovery Act, which would provide landowners with tax incentives if they agree to implement species recovery plans. Senators Max Baucus (MONTANA) and Mike Crapo (IDAHO) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate. The Family Farm Alliance formally endorsed this legislation, which is currently supported by dozens of wildlife conservation and sporting organizations, the National Endangered Species Act eform Coalition, and the American Farm Bureau. Read the Alliance's letter to Rep. Thompson.

ESA Hearing: Science or Politics?

Joe Raeder, the Family Farm Alliance’s Washington, D.C. representative, reported on the following summary of the May 9, 2007 House Natural Resources Committee hearing on "Endangered Species Act Implementation: Science or Politics?" The hearing was originally conceived to examine charges that Julie MacDonald, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior, had overridden science-based ESA decisions for political reasons and that she had improperly released Department documents to private interests. However, with MacDonald's resignation the prior week, the focus of the hearing shifted to the Bush Administration's efforts to revise regulations for implementing the ESA.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dale Hall sent a letter to Committee Chairman Rahall (WV) explaining the Administration's efforts to revise ESA regulations. Hall refused to give the committee a copy of the draft regulations, saying that they were still a work-in-progress. He said that the Administration plans to move forward on the rewrite. Copies of testimony and statements are available at the Committee's website: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=7

Monthly Briefing Released by Upper Missouri Water Association

The Upper Missouri Water Association's "Monthly Briefing" is dedicated to protect, manage and develop Upper Missouri River water. Click here for the June 2007 "Briefing".

Commissioner Clarifies NY Times Comments with Alliance

On April 6, 2007, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Robert Johnson contacted the Family Farm Alliance to clarify comments he made in a recent New York Times article.

Read the memo that the Alliance prepared to summarize this discussion and the critical water issues addressed by the Times article and in other recent media coverage.

Summary of Albuquerque M4E Meeting

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in late February 2007 in Albuquerque, New Mexico conducted a two-day workshop on its “Managing for Excellence” program. This was the fourth in a series of public meetings hosted by Reclamation since last summer. Dan Keppen (Alliance executive director) participated in this meeting, as did several members of the Alliance. Read the Alliance's summary of key developments discussed at this meeting.