Citrus growers and Valley legislators push for water bond on November ballot

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Tractors began tearing out about 400 acres of citrus trees at Harlan Ranch near Clovis because of the drought.

For the first time since the federal water project was built, communities and agriculture along the eastern portion of the San Joaquin Valley have received zero surface water allocation, forcing some to leave their ground fallow.

Valley legislators, farmers and citrus industry officials used the opportunity to push for a multibillion-dollar water bond on the November ballot. They believe a bond could provide funding for surface water storage, ground water cleanup and other projects.

Shawn Stevenson with Harlan Ranch said, "There's a human toll, there's a business toll, there's a toll on the land itself. You can look around here and see the ponds that are gone. Normally they'd be full of fish and birds and all kinds of wildlife."

Industry officials say there's about 50,000 acres of citrus at risk of being removed.

Watch the video for extended coverage from Action News anchor Linda Mumma.