Lets talk about water

Lise Smith’s recent letter urges folks to learn more about the Tuscan Water District, stating “The discussion of a public water district should be a priority.”

She’s right — the outcome of this discussion will shape Butte County for generations.

The Vina Subbasin is currently overdrafted, meaning that we pull more groundwater from the aquifer than is replaced. That condition must be fixed. The alternative is to fallow fields, which would have a significant impact on the local economy.

At the urging of Butte County officials, local farmers have proposed forming a new California Water District to implement projects and management actions to fix the overdraft problem. The proposal has secured support from area legislators, the state and county farm bureaus, and nearly every other special district in the County, including the Durham Irrigation District, Rock Creek Reclamation District, Western Canal Water District, Paradise Irrigation District, and others.

To learn more, visit LAFCO’s website or the proponents website at www.tuscanwaterdistrict.org.

— Dan and Julie Marron, Chico