East side farmers sue to halt Friant Dam water flow

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The latest battle over water will soon be fought in a federal courtroom in Fresno. The Friant Water Authority, which represents growers on the Valley's east side, has filed a legal challenge to halt the release of water from Millerton Lake.

The water being released from Friant Dam will be used by the Exchange Contractors on the Valley's west side, a group of growers with water rights dating back hundreds of years.

Friant Water Authority general manager Ron Jacobsma said the lawsuit seeks a restraining order against the US Bureau of Reclamation to stop the river flow. "This is not against the Exchange Contractors."

Jacobsma said northern California water delivered to wildlife refuges and the state water project should instead be given to the Exchange Contractors. Water from Millerton he said should not be used.

Jacobsma explained, "From the Friant perspective on our contractual rights and our water rights seniorities we don't believe the bureau has taken the necessary steps to protect the Friant supplies for the benefit of the Friant growers."

Joel Nelsen of California Citrus Mutual estimates 50,000 acres are vulnerable on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley because growers face zero water allocation. Nelsen met with growers on Wednesday and said, "Guys are sitting there making decisions on whether they can keep trees alive, whether or not they have enough water over the course of the summer to keep trees alive. We're not even worried about next year's crop."

Many citrus growers have started to pull out productive orange trees because of uncertainties over the water supply. Nelsen said, "But the problem lies in the policy of the federal government. They're keeping too much water up north."

The Friant Water Authority expects the case to be heard in Federal court in the next few days. Action News contacted the US Bureau of Reclamation about the legal challenge but the bureau does not comment on pending litigation.