Farms, activists spar over San Joaquin drainage
Mark Grossi
Fresno Bee
07/20/2010
An intense fight is emerging on the Valley�s west side between farmers and activists who seem to have the same goal � protecting the San Joaquin River.
Activists say toxic irrigation drainage from the farms could undermine river restoration by poisoning newly restored salmon in 2013, when federal authorities are scheduled begin the fish runs.
Farmers, who have been voluntarily cleaning up the drainage since 1995, say the fish will be fine, because high restoration flows will dilute possible contaminants.
An emotional debate is expected before the State Water Resources Control Board, which will decide how much more time farmers have left to completely eliminate the bad water. No date has been set, but the board probably will consider it before the end of the year.
At issue for farmers is a 97,000-acre swath of land between Interstate 5 and Firebaugh. Farmers came up with the drainage cleanup � called the Grassland Bypass Project � because they knew authorities would eventually require them to protect the river or face some form of land retirement.
Drainage problems
The river restoration will enter its second year this fall, as officials continue sending test flows down the river from Friant Dam. Two long dry stretches of the river have been refilled, and the San Joaquin now connects with the Pacific Ocean again.
That sets the stage for the next step in the project � reintroduction of salmon runs.
Selenium, a natural element in the west-side soil, is a big concern for the restored salmon runs, say activists. Selenium is essential for life, but in high concentrations, it will kill or cause deformities in animals.
Irrigation drainage collects selenium in high concentrations. The river also gets big doses of selenium during storms when uncontrolled runoff drains into the San Joaquin.
Before the mid-1990s, the irrigation drainage passed through sensitive wetlands on its way to the river, damaging the ecosystem. For the last 15 years, farmers have protected the wetlands by capturing the drainage and sending it to the river through a concrete canal and a slough.
In the process, farmers have cut down on the amount of drainage water by installing stingy drip irrigation and recycling drain water. They�ve spent $100 million, about half of which was government funding, and much of the selenium and salt contamination has been wiped out.
But activists say the cleanup has not progressed far enough to protect salmon. They found a federal research biologist who agrees, and they will cite his opinion in their arguments.
The statewide activist groups trying to protect the restoration from the farm drainage include the California Sport Fishing Alliance and the California Water Impact Network.
�The drainage contaminants accumulate in the system,� said Tom Stokely of the impact network. �They don�t break down into something harmless.�
