Published Feb. 19, 2014 in Tulare County's Foothills Sun-Gazette
"We got a letter from LSID today," said my friend Robert Bastady, who has kept my concerns for the small farmer close to his chest for more than a decade. Robert and his brother John are small-scale family farmers, like most of their neighbors, like most of their friends in Sierra Citrus Association, their packinghouse, like most of the accounts served by the Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District (LSID.) Some big operators like Sun-Pacific and Paramount have increased their acreage in the district over the last decade, and one big Sunkist house from the coast, Limoniera, has leased the land of Sheldon Ranches, a medium-sized family-held corporation. But for the most part, the citrus and olive growers around Lindsay have been family-sized historically, which is what created Lindsay's once-renowned well-being.
Robert handed me the letter to read. Dated Feb. 1, 2014, it began "ATTENTION ALL HOMEOWNERS. This year will be the driest year on record. The Lindsay-Strathmore Irrigation District will be allocating water to its crop growers. The water supply will most likely not be adequate to sustain all permanent crops. Therefore, conservation methods must be used by homeowners to minimize their use of water to increase the supply to irrigators." Requesting an initial, voluntary reduction of 25%, with a ten-point list suggesting ways to do that (including eliminating watering lawns and backyard fruit trees,) the letter reasoned that this reduction could mean the difference in growers being able to sustain his/her permanent crops. "Without an adequate water supply, many will be faced with abandoning trees or not being able to set any crop."
What was most frightening to me was the second paragraph. "We will be using District groundwater wells to supplement our surface water supplies. These groundwater wells are capable of meeting the residential demand in the District only if there are conservation measures being followed. These wells may not last through the season due to rapidly declining underground reservoirs. Should the District's wells fail, strict and mandatory conservation measures will need to be implemented."
"Should the District's wells fail...." What a thought. All those people out there with nothing to drink or shower or wash with.... With groundwater pumping sure to increase by individual property owners, each one fighting for economic survival, what is the likelihood that we, as a community, can make it through this year? What if they're able to keep the trees alive but not set a crop? This year's Freeze-damaged work picking and packing will look good by comparison with next year's non-existent wages. We've been here before, and the prospects are not pleasing.
When I'd finished absorbing the letter, Robert waited for my reaction, then added "And I read in the paper today about the City-sponsored community tree planting day this Saturday. How are they going to keep those trees alive?" It's a good question. Promoted as a community-building event, in flush water times I can see the idea as valid. But for too long we've forgotten the community-building effects of our small-scale growers, their vital contributions to this town's economy. If we want to really build this community, we need to include their needs for water in our sphere of concern. We'd all be better off if we let our lawns die so that the oranges and olives might live.
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Trudy Wischemann is a small-farm, small-town advocate who'd rather fight than switch. You can send her your city-based conservation ideas c/o P.O. Box 1374, Lindsay, CA 93247 or leave a comment below.
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