An agreement between farmers on the west and east sides of the San Joaquin Valley ending the conflict that has existed between these two groups has been applauded by Bennett Raley, Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Raley will join a number of Valley water users and others at a ceremony at Friant Dam today at 2 p.m. to formalize the accord.
"This is the kind of cooperation needed to move California water issues ahead instead of arguing about them," said Raley. "It is also a great example of Secretary Norton's 4 C's philosophy, which calls for conservation through consultation, cooperation, and communication."
The agreement between the farmers sets aside a contentious water rights application to provide one group additional water at the expense of the other.
The agreement is made possible because of the balanced administration and operation of State and Federal water resources. Farmers now look to the Central Valley Project to consider the impacts on farms and communities when water deliveries are curtailed or re-allocated for environmental and other purposes.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
