Sky Will Not Fall

by Walt Shubin

Fresno Bee - July 10,2005

It seems some of our farmers, politicians, mayors, water officials and the public have been misled and misinformed by the very people who are perpetrating an injustice that began over 60 years ago: drying up the San Joaquin River for 70 miles on the Valley floor to benefit growers who aren't even in the watershed.

Along with the misinformation come scare tactics. If we put some water back into the San Joaquin River , the sky will not fall and civilization will not end. If we can put vehicles on Mars to look for water, we can put some water back into the river.

The myth that water going down the river is wasted is just that: a myth. In fact, every drop sent down the river recharges the aquifer, brings back fish and helps farmers downstream in the Delta, as well as Delta drinking supplies.

The sandy riverbed itself is Mother Nature's best recharge facility. We don't need all these proposed groundwater banks that the public will have to spend tens of millions of dollars to finance and that will enrich private parties. If private parties want to finance water banks, fine. Don't milk the public treasury.

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