It's Us or Fish

Basically, it boils down to us, humans versus fish. According to the Tribune today, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch has given the California Department of Water Resources 60 days to comply with environmental laws protecting the fish or stop pumping water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into the California Aqueduct. The fish being threatened include chinook salmon and delta smelt. Both are protected by the California Endangered Species Act. A decision should be made in early May, '07.

How does this impact the Central Coast? Eleven agencies in San Luis Obispo County receive water from the
State. The following two agencies that receive the largest allocations may be the ones most affected:-

The other agencies' allocations are outlined in the attached Allotment Schedule.

As 75% of Morro Bay's water comes from the State, the city stands to lose if the State's supply is cut this summer. The remaining percentage is tapped from groundwater wells. Last year, water from the community's groundwater wells has been found to contain level of nitrates that is not fit for drinking. The city is exploring to upgrade the desalination plant to increase the water supply. For the next 12-18 months, the city can fall back on its reserves of 2,290 acre-feet of water with the State. An acre-foot is sufficient to feed a family of five for a year.

Only 40% of Pismo Beach's water comes from the State. The city is less concerned as their probable loss could be supplemented by water from Lopez Lake reservoir and local wells. The city decided to be proactive by asking their residents to conserve water.

The issue of water has alwatys been of concern

to residents of San Luis Obispo County. A number of towns, for example, Cambria, Cayucos, Los Osos, etc. has a water moratorium in place. It's not too late for all of us to conserve water.