Dale Matson
I have heard lots of folks who argue against the value of
creating additional water storage and for increased water conservation. These
same folks advocate for yards that require less water and artificial turf.
Often they will blame the lack of available water on ‘Climate Change’. They
argue against increased storage capacity saying that in average years, there is
adequate capacity and that a new dam at Temperance Flat would not be cost effective. Being cost effective is
based on the supply of any particular resource.
However, increased storage is water conservation. We have an existing storage infrastructure
designed for a much smaller population than the 40 million people who now
inhabit California. When hiking and backpacking, I have been able to view most
of the length of California’s 2nd longest river beginning with the
north, middle and south forks with headwaters in the high Sierra. The three
forks merge before entering Mammoth Pool Reservoir, which is currently only at
43% capacity.
The problem is that much of the water at Millerton Lake is
now being discharged back into the San Joaquin to make room for anticipated runoff
because of above average rainfall and anticipated large snowpack in the Sierra
Nevada. Millerton Lake is currently only at 73% capacity and not being allowed
to fill fearing that the excess would spill over the top and overwhelm the
banks of the San Joaquin. This happened in the last decade and washed out the
bridge below the dam on the road heading to Bass Lake out of Friant. The remains
of the bridge can still be seen as stark evidence of the force of too much
water overwhelming the dam at Millerton Lake. One of the reasons Friant Dam was
built was for flood control. Unfortunately because of lack of funds the dam was
downsized when built. The runoff is water that could also be stored at the
potential Temperance Dam site instead of flowing into the ocean.
I live in Fresno CA near the San Joaquin and in wet years
while walking in Woodward Park, have grieved the sheer waste of water being
allowed to flow to the ocean as if the river were a giant storm drain. This
year, I photographed and videoed this event in hopes that a picture would be
worth a thousand words. Some who oppose the new proposed reservoir may see
themselves as ‘environmental activists’ and ‘River Preservationists’ but, in
fact, they are not “Friends of the River”.
True conservationists would
not allow the loss of such a great water resource. Click On Photographs To Enlarge
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