New Melones may be drained

[Whoopbass]

I haven't seen this posted yet. Doubt it will happen but with the idiots running the state you never know.
http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/ ... rvoir.html

[jimmy87]

surprised its not posted here already myself.
Your right it probably wont happen and if it dose it will be a 5 years and still fighting over it.
As it is now they let the water out of New Melones nearly as fast as it comes in. Southern Ca needs to find a way to get their water from another source. Sure they can take more from the north but I bet the time is coming there simply will not be enough.

[Bill K]

With a whole ocean at their front door, why in the world can't S.C. start building DeSalt plants and produce their water as some Arab countrys do ? They have all the money and resourses down their and need water. Get off theit butts and get busy. Bill K

[Topwater Terry]

any particular reason ya'll don't build one in No Cal? Can't build one down here, ya'll would have to find another reason to bitch about us down here...

[sTony]

any particular reason ya'll don't build one in No Cal? Can't build one down here, ya'll would have to find another reason to bitch about us down here...

Seems every drain down there 'leads directly to the ocean'. Maybe THAT wasn't such a good plan.

sTony

[Topwater Terry]

Yeah, that idea, spawned back in the 30's, and the aquaduct, planned before that, were something I had nothing to do with ...they were built before most people down here were alive...keep on trying to save those delta smelt...

[Kelly Ripa]

Santa Barabara was pro active on the de sal plant. We tax payers asked that they build one. Passed a referendom.We paid for it.It was built. It never ran. Because it was never used it was not in running condition when it was sold to a middle eastern country for pennies on the dollar. Your tax dollars at work? You Bet! It's the walking F^&*%$$-ups called polititions that never fail to raise an eyebrow from average folks with no pork barrels to fill or agendas to meet. Doubtful the lake will be drained but the situation should make intresting reading for years to come....Imagine how much $ dinero will be spent on this boondoggle!

[sTony]

Yeah, that idea, spawned back in the 30's, and the aquaduct, planned before that, were something I had nothing to do with ...they were built before most people down here were alive...keep on trying to save those delta smelt...

Hey, I make my contribution to your water supply every time I'm on the water. Then I zip back up and get back to fishin'.

Have it 'your' way, hahaha,

sTony

[ACRon]

If we have all the water and we are mandated to have water meters shouldn't there be a big water meter on everything we send south? Just askin!

[Topwater Terry]

Ron-how exactly do "you" send it south? Do you drive on down and open the gates and send it? Tony, try unzipping on DVL, you will get banned for life lol...

[Bill K]

any particular reason ya'll don't build one in No Cal? Can't build one down here, ya'll would have to find another reason to bitch about us down here...

Main reason, we have no ocean in our front/back door. So far our underground aqua firs and springs are putting out good water. But the larger lakes and central valley rivers are being diverted south. L.A. area even (for years) has taken water from the Lone Pine/Mammoth area south also. Bill K

[CN]

With a whole ocean at their front door, why in the world can't S.C. start building DeSalt plants and produce their water as some Arab countrys do ? They have all the money and resourses down their and need water. Get off theit butts and get busy. Bill K

I agree Bill but the cost is very high to build these. They built one here in Sand City and I sold the pump system for it and the cost to the Contractor was 175 grand and thats just the Pump. This is a town of about 300 people can you imagine what the cost would be for LA? This will only work on a City by City basis. They are going to build one just north of Marina by the Sand Plant for the Monterey Peninsula Area. I cant remember the last time I saw either San Antonio or Nacimiento even close to full in the last 15 years. These Dams were built for Flood Control and to regenerate the Aquafure in the Salinas Valley and thats what they are doing.

So as another poster pointed out "Were going to run out to So. Cal" and the Central Coast does not get ANY water from Northen California.

Mike

[ACRon]

Terry if you are going to quote me get it right "we"!

[Robert F]

With a whole ocean at their front door, why in the world can't S.C. start building DeSalt plants and produce their water as some Arab countrys do ? They have all the money and resources down their and need water. Get off their butts and get busy. Bill K

Here we go again. It's all So. Cal's fault. Maybe you should live here under the shadow of your tree-hugging legislature and experience the difficulties of getting something built near the coast. Maybe 30 or 40 years ago when people would tell groups like the Sierra club to piss off. Not anymore. Very soon we are not going to be allowed to even FISH in the ocean. We certainly are not going to be allowed to build an environmental combat boot to trample our pristine desert like a DeSal plant.

If you want this fixed kick off your Birkenstocks and join in. Nor. Cal. didn't have a problem taking So. Cal's money to build all those reservoirs and levees back in the day. Quit hiring jokers like Jerry Brown and Nancy Pelosi that would rather spend our tax dollars on closing the ocean than fixing the water issue and get out your checkbook.

[jimmy87]

With a whole ocean at their front door, why in the world can't S.C. start building DeSalt plants and produce their water as some Arab countrys do ? They have all the money and resources down their and need water. Get off their butts and get busy. Bill K

Here we go again. It's all So. Cal's fault. Maybe you should live here under the shadow of your tree-hugging legislature and experience the difficulties of getting something built near the coast. Maybe 30 or 40 years ago when people would tell groups like the Sierra club to piss off. Not anymore. Very soon we are not going to be allowed to even FISH in the ocean. We certainly are not going to be allowed to build an environmental combat boot to trample our pristine desert like a DeSal plant.

If you want this fixed kick off your Birkenstocks and join in. Nor. Cal. didn't have a problem taking So. Cal's money to build all those reservoirs and levees back in the day. Quit hiring jokers like Jerry Brown and Nancy Pelosi that would rather spend our tax dollars on closing the ocean than fixing the water issue and get out your checkbook.

Quite the attidute for someone who wants more from the north.
Maybe living in a desert is not such a good idea if you really like water?
I do not know but just a thought.
Not sure growing crops in the desert is such the great idea either.

Way past time for the south to find their own source of water. Maybe we should look to our great friends south of the border.

[Robert F]

Quite the attidute for someone who wants more from the north.
Maybe living in a desert is not such a good idea if you really like water?
I do not know but just a thought.
Not sure growing crops in the desert is such the great idea either.

Way past time for the south to find their own source of water. Maybe we should look to our great friends south of the border.

Fact is I live on my own well water source down here. I also have a solar PV system that powers my home and sends excess back to the grid. Actually my whole community lives off of well water. Other cities around us primarily use Colorado river water so to make this a So. Cal. issue is a bunch of BS. Like I said before Nor. Cal. doesn't have an issue sucking off the So. Cal tax teat. Might want to give up the North versus South thing. Nor. Cal. loses that battle.

[ACRon]

With a whole ocean at their front door, why in the world can't S.C. start building DeSalt plants and produce their water as some Arab countrys do ? They have all the money and resources down their and need water. Get off their butts and get busy. Bill K

Here we go again. It's all So. Cal's fault. Maybe you should live here under the shadow of your tree-hugging legislature and experience the difficulties of getting something built near the coast. Maybe 30 or 40 years ago when people would tell groups like the Sierra club to piss off. Not anymore. Very soon we are not going to be allowed to even FISH in the ocean. We certainly are not going to be allowed to build an environmental combat boot to trample our pristine desert like a DeSal plant.

If you want this fixed kick off your Birkenstocks and join in. Nor. Cal. didn't have a problem taking So. Cal's money to build all those reservoirs and levees back in the day. Quit hiring jokers like Jerry Brown and Nancy Pelosi that would rather spend our tax dollars on closing the ocean than fixing the water issue and get out your checkbook.

We live under shows and the same regulations and I agree about kicking the legislaters out of office.
You made a key point you live in a desert.
We didn't take SoCal money to build the reservoirs and levees it was federal money!
Since the majority of the population is in the South you guys have the bulk of the votes that put the "jokers" in office.

Thanks for making my point.

[Greg_Cornish]

any particular reason ya'll don't build one in No Cal? Can't build one down here, ya'll would have to find another reason to bitch about us down here...

We would stop bitching about your three showers a days and people having to have lawns in a dessert.

[Robert F]

We didn't take SoCal money to build the reservoirs and levees it was federal money!
Since the majority of the population is in the South you guys have the bulk of the votes that put the "jokers" in office.

Thanks for making my point.

As So. Cal is part of the United States of America and has the majority of the population in the State of California it would seem that the reason the water is shipped to So. Cal. is because it was stored for the benefit of So. Cal. Thanks for making my point.
I can tell you we have no votes that put Nancy Pelosi in office.

[fish_food]

Nor. Cal. didn't have a problem taking So. Cal's money to build all those reservoirs and levees back in the day.

Most of the reservoirs and water conveyance infrastructure from back in the day weren't funded by Southern CA. It was to be paid for by Central Valley water/ag interests but the taxpayers are STILL owed on the overdue debt.

The farmers were to repay just over one billion dollars on the $3.6 billion total Project cost by 1997 (it was a 50 year long-term debt). 65 years after the water started being delivered, the ag interests benefitting most from this project paid only 20 percent of their obligation under the law. In 2008 Westlands still owed $367 million dollars to the taxpayers, which works out to 82% of their debt. Taxpayers are still holding the bag...

[fish_food]

As So. Cal is part of the United States of America and has the majority of the population in the State of California it would seem that the reason the water is shipped to So. Cal. is because it was stored for the benefit of So. Cal.

Actually, 80% of the water exported from Northern CA goes to the Central Valley ag interests, not Southern CA.

[Robert F]

Most of the reservoirs and water conveyance infrastructure from back in the day weren't funded by Southern CA. It was to be paid for by Central Valley water/ag interests but the taxpayers are STILL owed on the overdue debt.

The farmers were to repay just over one billion dollars on the $3.6 billion total Project cost by 1997 (it was a 50 year long-term debt). 65 years after the water started being delivered, the ag interests benefitting most from this project paid only 20 percent of their obligation under the law. In 2008 Westlands still owed $367 million dollars to the taxpayers, which works out to 82% of their debt. Taxpayers are still holding the bag...

Thanks for the reasonable, knowledgeable response. I agree that So. Cal. didn't pay for the water projects but So. Cal did pay more than Nor. Cal. Simple math as it was a taxpayer funded project and there are more people in the south. Pay back aside, the deal was made way before any of us were involved and we have to live with it. If the farmers pay back the money will it go to a good cause? Building more and better water projects? I think it will be spent on worthless social programs that subsidize the lives of few rather than food farming that helps us all. Yeah, farmers get rich but that is going to happen either way. At least we are not paying 20 bucks for a tomato. and it is safe to eat.

Bottom line, water is not for fishing. I wish it was as much as anybody else but it is not going to change. We will get swept up by kooky organizations that see our vulnerability if we are not careful. They will use us to push their environmental agendas then cast us aside when we want to use the resource. Just look at what is happening offshore right now with the MLPAs. Use common sense and give up the south is our enemy argument. It will get you nowhere.

[VJ]

Bottom Line is lets just Split this dam state in half and see who needs who. Im pretty sure us Nor Cal guys wouldnt have a problem with that.

[sTony]

Bottom line, water is not for fishing.

That's a revisionist statement at best. That's what the powers that be say all the time, NOW. It's not what was being said when they came looking for the votes required to build our watersheds.There's not a dam in this state that didn't get its funding put in place without selling the public on the 'recreational uses' that the resulting lake would make available. Water is for many things, including recreating on, and that certainly includes fishing.

Are you really saying that NorCal got Boxer and Pelosi et al elected? No way that's possible as, you yourself pointed out, SoCal has the vast majority of votes. Naw, we build 'em up here and you elect 'em down there. The state's pretty screwed up on both ends, if you ask me.

sTony

[some guy]

Yeah North vs South!!! South is the coolest.. no no... North is the coolest! So retarded.

And whats with this talk of ocean at our front door? Its california people. The whole left side of the state touches the pacific ocean. Grab a map people. In fact im pretty sure the Delta is connected to the ocean but I could be wrong. Un plug the keyboard and go fish people. I am sure if you guys argue enough you will totally convince each other to switch your stance!

[Kevin Evans - Kap]

I have to laugh as everyone gets so upset over this BS and starts arguing. That aint gonna help.

FARMERS FEED AMERICA..... well they used too.

Have a nice day....

Kap

[Robert F]

Bottom line, water is not for fishing.

That's a revisionist statement at best. That's what the powers that be say all the time, NOW. It's not what was being said when they came looking for the votes required to build our watersheds.

My point exactly Tony. Be certain any of those projects were sold as recreation waters. We are dealing with it big time down here. They build a reservoir, have big meetings about all the boat ramps and fish planting that is going to occur then close the water "for the public's safety" to keep the ever present terrorists and Quagga mussels from wiping us out. Let's not forget that we still have no proven relocation of a Quagga mussel by a recreation boat down here. Funny how they don't have a problem contaminating our water supply when they need to buy infested water at a good price for the public good. Just hope you guys are looking at the true enemy in this battle. It is not the guy taking a shower.

BTW we do not get to vote for Boxer or Pelosi. We have our own problems with kooks like Feinstein and Filner but you guys wear the Boxer and Pelosi chain.

[offduty]

With a whole ocean at their front door, why in the world can't S.C. start building DeSalt plants and produce their water as some Arab countrys do ? They have all the money and resourses down their and need water. Get off theit butts and get busy. Bill K

Santa Barbara already has a de sal plant. It is much more expensive to use de sal than the other water. I live in So Cal and wish I lived up north, someday I will get my transfer. I am not trying to start an argument but they call it the state water project for a reason, the water is for the state. in this economy de sal is not an option as the state taxpayers would have to pay for it and water prices would skyrocket. Nor Cal has most of the states water and the state water project was developed to distribute it. As far as having all the money in So Cal I dont think that is accurate as it costs almost twice as much to buy a home here and although there are more people there are plenty of folks just getting by. If I had a family I could not afford to live here on a state firefighters salary. not to mention what folks pay in gas costs to commute 1-3 hrs to work 5 days a week

I would love to see more lakes and dams in the state but the way the enviromaniacs are it is tough to make that happen. I know I cant wait to get out of So Cal, the traffic and crowds suck and it is a rat race but when I do make it up north I wonder if I can accept what I have just said. We are all in this together and everyone wants their piece of the american dream. Look at all the water that comes from far away to go to serve other places. It happens all over the world and although we need more lakes and dams to meet the growing needs of California as tough as it is to get anything done in this state what we need is to curb our growth but then we piss off those in construction and development. I Moved to Ventura in 67 and the area had a huge greenbelt, now it is like LA. Santa Barbara has grown a lot and so has San Luis Co. There is a wave of development moving north in California and eventually it will reach farther north than it is right now. That is the primary reason I want to get well above Sacramento. Hopefully it wont get that far before I die and I think there are some things we just have to accept or just move east and forget about California weather accept the snow in winter.

Rich

[sTony]

BTW we do not get to vote for Boxer or Pelosi. We have our own problems with kooks like Feinstein and Filner but you guys wear the Boxer and Pelosi chain.

Back to school for sTony I guess. I assumed that y'all got to vote for a U.S. senator as much as we did up here. That'd be Feinstein and Boxer. Least I thought it worked that way but I've never lived or voted in SoCal. Pelosi is all on SF/Marin, isn't it? Oh heck, beats me. I just know I've never voted for any of them and they seem to have held office forever.

sTony

[offduty]

any particular reason ya'll don't build one in No Cal? Can't build one down here, ya'll would have to find another reason to bitch about us down here...

We would stop bitching about your three showers a days and people having to have lawns in a dessert.

Yeah I can see the answer well all just move to the top half of the state. Would that make the Nor Cal guys happy your population would triple or quadruple but then that would be our water too I guess.

Rich

[sTony]

Yeah I can see the answer well all just move to the top half of the state. would that make the Nor Cal guys happy your population would triple or quadruple but then that would be our water too I guess.

Rich

No one up here wants to dry anyone up down there. It'd just be nice to know that works both ways. We get the feeling up here, often, that interests in mid to lower half don't care if we get sucked dry up here, and we do.

sTony

[Robert F]

Back to school for sTony I guess. I assumed that y'all got to vote for a U.S. senator as much as we did up here. That'd be Feinstein and Boxer. Least I thought it worked that way but I've never lived or voted in SoCal. Pelosi is all on SF/Marin, isn't it? Oh heck, beats me. I just know I've never voted for any of them and they seem to have held office forever.

sTony

As you, I have never voted for them. By somebody they get in there year after year. We get it from all sides down here. They keep telling us to conserve then raise the price of our water because we are not using enough. Just lucky that I have my private water source so I don't have to deal with it.

[offduty]

Yeah I can see the answer well all just move to the top half of the state. would that make the Nor Cal guys happy your population would triple or quadruple but then that would be our water too I guess.

Rich

No one up here wants to dry anyone up down there. It'd just be nice to know that works both ways. We get the feeling up here, often, that interests in mid to lower half don't care if we get sucked dry up here, and we do.

sTony

I can respect that, just seems about once a month a topic pops up that is a Nor Cal vs So Cal water topic and for me personally it is getting pretty old and seems to divide us when we do have some very common interests. I certainly am no organizer of any type of special group. It seems like what we need is to get people to band together against the enviromanics that have been holding us back progressively so that we have some power over them and can build more dams and protect some recreational interests. I feel people need to be able to recreate in the outdoors to maintain some type of balance and the enviromaniacs care more for animals than people sometimes and can not see the forest for the trees.

Rich

[CN]

Quite the attidute for someone who wants more from the north.
Maybe living in a desert is not such a good idea if you really like water?
I do not know but just a thought.
Not sure growing crops in the desert is such the great idea either.

Way past time for the south to find their own source of water. Maybe we should look to our great friends south of the border.

Fact is I live on my own well water source down here. I also have a solar PV system that powers my home and sends excess back to the grid. Actually my whole community lives off of well water. Other cities around us primarily use Colorado river water so to make this a So. Cal. issue is a bunch of BS. Like I said before Nor. Cal. doesn't have an issue sucking off the So. Cal tax teat. Might want to give up the North versus South thing. Nor. Cal. loses that battle.

Wait a Minute here Robert there is this thing called the California Aquaduct you do know where that starts and ends dont you.

If not it start's around the Discovery Bay area in the California Delta then run's south to the Forebay just North of Los Banos. It come's down mainly from the Delta Mendota Canal that feed's the Forebay which is pumped into San Luis as a holding pond and a Damn big one. Then they send it South and no not all to Sothern California but alot does get pumped over the Grapevine. Correct me if I am wrong does not Pyramid,Castaic and a few other's down there get water from the Aquaduct.

[Kevin]

[Greg_Cornish]

I don't think that there would be a problem if SoCal practiced a little water conservation. They will soon be forced to. I have heard a few horror stories of Northern Californian friends driving through SoCal seeing sprinklers watering lawns, water left running and huge swimming pools being filled. People taking way to many showers during droughts like there was no shortage.

These are things that are rationed up here during tough times. I think meters that cut off your supply after a certain point both north and south would solve a lot of everyone's problems.

Also is it true that the excess free water that ag gets, is sold to SoCal by farmers?

Hey, if you run out of water, people will disperse top areas where water is abundant.