New Melones Water Dispute Continues

Sonora, CA – Area Congressmen have strong words for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Commissioner about ordered April water releases.

Mother Lode Congressman Tom McClintock, U.S. Representative for the 4th District of California, and Jeff Denham, U.S. Representative for the 10th district of California, signed a letter sent to Commissioner Estevan Lopez. The letter says, “Reclamation has ordered another pulse flow” and it “raises the specter of devastating water disruptions to local communities.” The full letter to Commissioner Lopez questioning whether “Reclamation and NMFS have in fact been working with local water districts in good faith or simply paying lip service” is posted as a blog here.

As reported last month, the letter refers to the possibility of two irrigation districts drawing down the waters of Lake Tulloch to supply drought relief to the reservoir, which could leave some 2,400 Copperopolis residents without water.

McClintock’s previous letter to Lopez is in the news story “Troubled Waters” here. Details about recent letters to other authorities, including President Obama, are here.