Not Increasing Water Flows in the Delta to Protect Species

Michael Franz who owns Franz Wholesale Nursery, along with his brother in the town of Hickman, Stanislaw County. He also sits on the Board of the Turlock Irrigation District, which delivers water to thousands of acres of almonds and walnuts.

One thing for certain, you can't take that water from farming, noted Franz. “Clearly we need to be able to export as much water out of the Delta as we can environmentally and scientifically do. It is a net win for all the people in California,” he said.

“I'm sensitive to the Delta farmers who need to see Delta outflow to keep the salinity from building up in their channels. I recognize that's a concern of theirs, but you have to consider the millions of acre feet that goes out to the ocean, never to come back to the state on high water years,” he said.

The reality is this state allows millions, tens of millions of acre-feet on some water years to escape out to sea. “And of course, that means the pumps aren't turned on, moving water southward to the farmers,” Franz said. “Those pumps, should be turning at full speed, pushing water down into the South Valley where it could be applied on farm and allowed to percolate down into the aquifer and help recharge and rebuild a healthy aquifer,” Franz noted.