Merced’s one chance to speak out on Bay-Delta Plan comes Monday

Officials from the State Water Resources Control Board will be in Merced on Monday to listen to local representatives and residents give their thoughts on the controversial Bay-Delta plan, which could divert more water away from the Valley in an effort to revive declining salmon populations.

The public hearing on the plan is the only one scheduled to be held in Merced. It will begin at 9 a.m. at the Merced Theatre at 301 W. Main Street. The venue has been changed from its original location at the Merced Multicultural Arts Center.

The Merced County Board of Supervisors, Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, and other elected officials are urging residents to attend Monday’s meeting and speak out against the plan.

“As you know, this plan will have devastating effects on our economy, our drinking water, and our quality of life,” Gray said in a statement. “It is imperative that we make a strong showing at the meetings.”

As proposed, the Bay-Delta plan would increase flows on the Merced River in an effort to revive declining salmon populations. Critics, however, say more water flowing into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta would mean less for irrigation, forcing farmers to continue pumping groundwater, sending less to groundwater replenishment, impacting local drinking water and, ultimately, taking a huge toll on Merced County’s economy.

An alternative plan offered by the Merced Irrigation District would increase water releases to support migrating salmon, target predatory bass, restore river habitat that was dredged a century ago and modernize the Merced River’s salmon hatchery.

“It’s absolutely imperative that the state water board see a strong presence from the community and MID growers,” John Sweigard, MID’s general manager, said in a statement. “Once this water is lost from our community, it will never return. This will harm everything from mortgage and car payments to college education and retirement plans.”

This story was originally published December 18, 2016 at 2:58 PM with the headline "Merced’s one chance to speak out on Bay-Delta Plan comes Monday."