Liz Writes Life
April 27, 2022
A new grassroots group has formed to give voice on major
water issues by local farmers and ranchers. The group explains the newest state
water regulations that will dry-up their businesses are misrepresenting Scott
Valley’s aquifer, fish and agricultural practices. The group is named “Scott
Valley Agriculture Water Alliance.”
A website has been established providing instant
understanding of the dire situation that began on August 30, 2021, when the
State Water Resources Control Board stopped all agricultural irrigation in
Scott Valley and erroneously based “new” flow requirements for the Scott River.
Farmers and ranchers foresee a catastrophe in struggling to meet the state’s
demands.
The website is named: Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance
and ends with -- .org.
On April 19, 2022, this grassroots group published a press
release written by Theodora Johnson. I wanted to get this information out. You
can read the entire press release below. For more info, call Theo at
530-598-3081.
From Scott Valley AWA: Etna and Fort Jones, CA—Family farmers
and ranchers in rural Scott Valley, far-northern California are banding
together as they face the potential loss of 100 percent of their irrigation
water this summer due to unprecedented new drought emergency regulations for the
Scott River by the State Water Resource Control Board (Board)—regulations
unlike any others in the state. This small mountain valley is home to a
tight-knit agriculture community that saw a need to tell their story—before
they lose everything. Their new communication group, Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance (AgWA), is
reaching out to government officials, local tribes, and the public with
information about Scott Valley’s agriculture, water and fish.
While other California farmers are also facing cutbacks on
water deliveries from reservoirs, those farmers are still able to resort to
groundwater pumping. But Scott Valley growers have no reservoirs and are being
told to halt all groundwater pumping—even though their aquifer is not
overdrafted. The neighboring valley, Shasta, is also being hit with precedent-setting
groundwater curtailments, triggering a recent legal challenge by an irrigation
district.
The regulations for Scott Valley halt all irrigating if the
Scott River’s flows dip below new monthly minimum levels, levels that are
purportedly designed to benefit coho salmon and save them from “extinction”.
“The river has not met the Board’s new flow requirements in 9
out of the past 11 summers,” says Sari Sommarstrom, Ph.D., a retired watershed
consultant and local tree nursery owner. “Yet the data shows that coho returns
have nonetheless increased over the past 20 years. We’re seeing population
levels that haven’t been seen since the 1960s. Sadly, it’s evident that these
curtailments are based on a false narrative.”
Sommarstrom, a founding member of AgWA, says flow levels in
the Scott are certain to fall short in this year’s severe drought—possibly as
early as May. To avoid the 100-percent shutoffs, she said the Board is
accepting “agreements” from producers to reduce their groundwater use by 30 percent.
But many producers in Scott Valley have annual operating
loans that can’t be repaid at 70-percent production, says Theodora Johnson, a
sixth-generation Scott Valley cattle rancher and spokesman for AgWA.
Johnson points to AgWA’s new website, www.scottvalleyagwa.org, which
offers science-based background information; a white-paper on the
status of the coho in the Scott River; “Myths Debunked;” and testimonials and photos that showcase the valley’s
multi-generational farms and ranches.
Lauren Sweezey, a Scott Valley hay grower and founding member
of AgWA, sums up the group’s purpose:
“We hold our family ranches and farms in trust for our future
generations. We have to act now to make sure that’s going to be possible,” she
says. “The facts are in our favor. We just need to get them to the right
people.”
Scott Valley Agriculture Water Alliance (AgWA) is a unified
voice communicating on behalf of local farmers and ranchers, spreading accurate
information about Scott Valley’s ag producers, the Scott River, and its fish.
I sure do hope Scott Valley AgWA is successful in turning
this man-made drought around.
May 1st Rodeo
in Etna
The 74th Annual Scott Valley Pleasure Park Rodeo will
be held this Sunday, May 1, 2022 at the rodeo grounds outside of Etna on Island
Road. Admission is $10 per person. Children age 10 and under and contestants
are free.
The rodeo begins at 1 p.m. with youth events of Mutton
Bustin’, Kids’ Calf Riding and Jr. Steer Riding. The Grand of Entry of cowboys
and cowgirls kicks-off the rodeo at 2 p.m. Events include: Ranch Bronc Riding,
Saddle Cow Riding, Bull Riding, Mixed Team Roping, Girls’ Barrel Race and
Girls’ Breakaway Roping.
High school
rodeo weekend
It is a weekend for rodeo as the California High School Rodeo
Association will hold its District 1 Finals on Friday and Saturday at the Etna
rodeo arena. This is a two-day event and begins at 4 p.m. on April 29, 2022. It
will continue on Saturday morning, April 30, 2022. An awards event will be held
in the afternoon. Admission to the CHSRA is free to the public.
May peace and calm be with you this week. Smile – just cuz it
makes you feel better!
Liz Bowen began writing ranch and farm news, published in
newspapers, in 1976. She is a native of Siskiyou County. Columns from the past
can be found at: lizwriteslife.blogspot.com. Call her at 530-467-3515.
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