For far too long, the people of California – especially those of us in the agriculturally vital San Joaquin Valley – have been presented with a false choice: fish or farms.
That narrative is not only tired; it’s untrue.
In reality, California’s water must serve multiple needs: clean drinking water, productive agriculture, recreational use, and healthy ecosystems. Our state’s water policy and legal framework reflect this multi-benefit approach. Nowhere is this more urgently needed — and more possible — than on the Merced River.
For over a decade, a narrow faction within the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has pursued a misguided attempt to take as much as half of Lake McClure’s water and send it to the Pacific Ocean. This effort, buried in the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, is based on the hope of improving salmon populations by a few hundred fish — with no credible guarantee of success, and at a staggering cost – up to $672 million in lost local economic activity and $167 million in local labor income.
It’s worth noting that MID operations did not cause the Merced River’s salmon declines, but by state-approved gold dredge mining that devastated the riverbed. In contrast, MID has voluntarily restored spawning and rearing habitat along the Merced, and we’ve offered to provide new, real water – even in dry years – as part of a durable solution.
That solution is the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Voluntary Agreement (HRL).
This comprehensive approach, championed by the Newsom Administration, offers a better path. It brings together local, state, and federal partners to invest in habitat, flows, and long-term ecological health – not just regulatory mandates. The Sacramento Valley is already showing what can be achieved through cooperation. The San Joaquin region deserves the same opportunity.
MID has long sought to be part of the HRL approach. We’ve put forward a strong proposal that restores significant vital habitat and offers meaningful flow commitments. It would improve river conditions and contribute water to the San Joaquin River system – while protecting the lifeblood of our communities: agriculture, safe drinking water, and local economies.
Leaders like Congressman Adam Gray, Assemblymember Esmeralda Soria, and Senator Anna Caballero support our proposal, and we’re grateful for their advocacy. Now, we need Governor Newsom to act.
We respectfully urge the Governor to ensure that the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Voluntary Agreements are included in Phase 2 of the Bay-Delta Plan, alongside the Sacramento Valley settlements. Let’s end this false choice and create a real, lasting solution – one that restores rivers, supports farms, and sustains the people and environment of the San Joaquin Valley.
The window is open. The solution is ready. We just need the will to act.
Visit SettleTheMercedRiver.org to learn more and join us in securing a healthy future for the Merced River and the communities it sustains.
Stephanie Dietz is a director on the Merced Irrigation District Board.