Op-Ed: Put Ecosystems Before Agriculture in California's Water Crisis

A San Jose Mercury News editorial addresses the ongoing, heated controversy over how California should manage the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, also known as the Bay Delta.

"California needs to get serious about protecting the health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, one of Silicon Valley's most valuable water sources. The short-term needs of Central Valley farmers are significant. But they pale in comparison with preserving the long-term water quality of the estuary that provides water for two-thirds of the state's residents."

The argument is made in the wake of a decision last year to waiver environmental protections to pump additional water to agricultural uses. According to the editorial, Tom Howard, the executive director of the State Water Resources Control Board, admitted that the state erred in predicting the impacts of the decision on the ecosystem of the Bay Delta.

The editorial notes that the state will have a decision to make in March about how much water to pump this year. "Gov. Jerry Brown needs to demonstrate that he has his priorities straight when it comes to the Delta's delicate ecosystem," argues the editorial.