www.fresnobee.com/2010/05/28/1950835/west-side-farmers-clear-water.html

Irrigation cleanup deadline extended.

Posted at 11:29 PM on Friday, May. 28, 2010
By Mark Grossi / The Fresno Bee

Despite activist opposition, west Valley farmers have cleared a key hurdle for a decadelong extension on the deadline to clean up tainted irrigation drainage going into the San Joaquin River.

The extension for the Grassland Bypass Project, which prevents the bad water from passing through 100 miles of sensitive wetlands channels, was approved Thursday by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The California Sport Fishing Alliance and the California Water Impact Network argued the contamination will jeopardize the revival of long-dead salmon runs in early 2013. Re-establishing the salmon is part of a San Joaquin River restoration program that began last year.

The farmers, who were supposed to have the drainage cleaned up by October after 14 years of effort, now must get the approval of the State Water Resources Control Board. A date for the hearing has not been scheduled, but it is expected this summer.

Over the years, farmers have spent $100 million, about half of which was government-funded, to eliminate much of the contamination from 97,000 acres between Firebaugh and Interstate 5.

Now, they say they need more time to develop a water treatment plant that will remove the remaining contamination.

But for a few miles along the river, the farm drainage makes the San Joaquin exceed the standard for a natural element called selenium, which is toxic to wildlife in high concentrations. That is a big problem, activists say.

"We're saying there will be a toxic gantlet that juvenile fish are going to run into," said Bill Jennings, executive director of the fishing alliance in Stockton. "And it's not just in the river. There is wildlife being harmed downstream in Suisun Bay and other places."

Jennings said a two-year extension would have been more reasonable than a full decade.

Farm representatives say their studies show the fish would pass through the river at a time of higher flows, which will dilute the selenium level and make it harmless to fish.

"We do not think the salmon will be impacted," said engineer Joe McGahn, who is working with the farmers. "But we know it's a concern."

McGahn said there will be an oversight committee to investigate any problems with the fish and ecosystem. The committee will include the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, federal Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state Fish and Game Department and the Central Valley Regional Water Control Board.

Farmers must submit a water treatment plan to the state by 2013, McGahn said. He also said that over the next five years the farmers must lower selenium concentrations to an interim target about 40% lower than current levels or face fines.

The reporter can be reached at mgrossi@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6316.