Opponents of California’s Delta Tunnels Project Push Alternative Strategies.
The state’s proposal to build twin tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta cleared another hurdle last month, but opponents still believe that better options exist.
The existing pumps that export Delta water have drastically upset the balance of the estuary’s ecosystem, causing fish declines and the intrusion of saltwater from San Francisco Bay.
But if not WaterFix, then what?
“If you oppose the tunnels, you need to propose an alternative,” Moyle said.
Some of its opponents have called for changes to cropping systems to reduce California agriculture’s heavy demand for water.
The single tunnel proposed in the plan would take one-third of the river water that WaterFix would take, but still provide a reliable emergency system in the case of a failure at the south Delta pumps.
Some policy analysts have suggested that farmers could use less water by growing less.
However, California’s almond growers have almost tripled their acreage over the same period, with farmers still planting more almond trees in what advocates of sustainable agriculture consider a reckless strategy.
Rosenfield would rather see farmers growing annual row crops, like grains, vegetables and melons, than trees.