Supervisors oppose Delta task force recommendations

Issuing a strong statement that San Joaquin County must protect itself against Delta water being exported to the south while acknowledging the water needs in Southern California, the Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution Tuesday opposing a second attempt of a Peripheral Canal.

"Right now, we're in a huge tug-of-war between north and south," Mel Lytle, the county's water resource coordinator, told the Board of Supervisors.

The proposal was put on the table by the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force, a group appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to advise on how to deal with California's divergent water interests. It's the second generation of the so-called Peripheral Canal, which was defeated by voters statewide in 1982. The proposal was to divert Delta waters to Southern California.

Lytle said that diverting water to urban areas in the Los Angeles and San Diego areas, along with farms in Kern and other south San Joaquin Valley counties, would be detrimental locally.

A "Peripheral Canal," also known as a "dual conveyance system," could result in loss of water and quality in San Joaquin County, decrease agricultural production and create poorer fisheries and fish habitat, Lytle said. It would also harm the county's business and economy, he said.

"'Dual conveyance' is just a sham to make us feel better," Supervisor Leroy Ornellas said.

In opposing the task force's report, Supervisory Larry Ruhstaller asked that the seven cities in San Joaquin County go on record as either supporting or opposing the resolution. Lytle said that the Manteca City Council has already adopted the resolution.

Lytle added that the Delta Blue Ribbon Task Force seems to be re-naming the region to the "California Delta" rather than the "Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta."

"I think we're outnumbered," Supervisor Steve Gutierrez said. "I think it's hardball. I think we need to take a stand."

Highlights of Delta task force recommendations