April 26, 2005

River Restoration Requires Economic Evaluation Valley Water Alliance Members Testify in Sacramento in Support of SB 21 (Florez)

(Fresno, California): The Valley Water Alliance (VWA), a coalition of business leaders, elected officials, labor interests and resource interests from the Central Valley will testify today in Sacramento about the devastating economic impacts any water losses on the San Joaquin River would have on the region at the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee hearing concerning SB21 by Senator Florez. The hearing is scheduled to begin in Room 112 of the State Capitol at 9:00 a.m. "We depend on San Joaquin River water for our survival - whether you are a farmer, business owner, homeowner or community you depend on water supplies from Friant Dam to support your livelihood. Numerous communities from Merced to Kern County will be impacted socially, culturally and economically if any water supplies are diverted from the San Joaquin River," said Joel Nelsen, president of the Valley Water Alliance.

"I am here today to make sure our elected officials know their actions impact real people who contribute everyday to California's economy," said Ed Murray, Mayor of Lindsay. "Lindsay residents have depended on San Joaquin River water for more than a half century and it cannot be taken away without considering the economic well being of every job, business and resident in my community." Re-establishing the San Joaquin River's historic salmon fishery could require annual releases ranging between 400,000 and 1.25 million acre feet in addition to the 117,000 acre-feet already being released to the river, flows supporting an existing trout fishery as well as other species. Depending on the type of water year, the Central Valley's east side water users could face water supply reductions ranging up to 100 percent of the entire Friant supply.

Victor Lopez, Mayor of Orange Cove and member of the VWA board of directors said, "I have come to Sacramento today to make sure Senator Florez knows how much we support his efforts to protect the residents of Orange Cove and the entire Central Valley through SB21. Without water from the San Joaquin River my community will not survive. The economic impacts to my community must be studied." "I've said it before and I will continue to say it until our elected officials in Sacramento hear my plea," said Randy Ghan, president of the Central Labor Council and VWA board member, "No water means no jobs and we cannot afford for unemployment to go any higher in the Central Valley. A 1997 economic study shows an annual water supply reduction of 500,000 acre-feet (almost 50 percent of Friant supplies in a normal water year) would ultimately reduce the region's employment by more than 17,000 jobs. That tells me we must continue to study the impacts of any decision which takes San Joaquin River water away from Central Valley businesses and communities."

The Alliance was organized in response to efforts to re-establish water flow in portions of the San Joaquin River benefiting once native fish habitat. The water required would come from the communities, businesses and farmers along the eastern portion of the San Joaquin Valley who have relied on this resource for more than a half-century. The economic impacts of taking significant water releases from these communities, businesses and farmers would be devastating to the entire region.

A non-profit organization, the VWA board of directors includes elected officials and business owners from Merced to Kern Counties who recognize our water is our future. A partial list of members of the board of directors include representatives from each county board of supervisors, Mayor of Fresno Alan Autry, Mayor of Lindsay Ed Murray, Mayor of Orange Cove Victor Lopez, Richard Kuckenbecker of Kuckenbecker Farm Equipment, Larry Mapes of Farm Credit West, Bob Keenan of Building Industry Assoc. of Tulare/Kings, Tim Razzari of Razzari Ford, Fred Ruiz of Ruiz Foods, Lionel Pires of TF Tires and Service and Robert Silva of Silva Ford.