Farm Bureau opposes water transfers

 Anticipating proposals to move water from the Salinas Valley Water Project to municipal uses, Farm Bureau directors voiced their opposition to any transfers to municipalities.

Noting that regional talks have not yet produced a specific proposal, directors decided to be on record against possible transfers.

Directors agreed at their April 10, 2008, to write to the Monterey County Water Resources Agency to express Farm Bureau’s opposition to the transfer of any water from the Salinas Valley Water Project to any municipality.

Farm Bureau Environmental Resources Director Traci Roberts and President Jason Smith summarized water discussions.  Smith noted that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency recently agreed to sign a regional memorandum of understanding to talk with other agencies about water problems, but the MCWRA board specified that signing the MOU did not commit the agency to any particular proposal.

Bill Hammond said “any time you talk about taking water to give to municipalities, that water’s gone.”  If water is transferred from behind the SVWP rubber dam, Hammond sees future requirements for setbacks, pesticide regulations and so on affecting properties adjacent to the Salinas River.

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