THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM A RANCHER HERE IN THE SCOTT VALLEY, AS YOU WILL SEE IN THE LETTER IT IS A BEGINNING AND WILL TAKE PLACE ALL OVER THE STATE —
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
Though this may fall on a few deaf ears — or on some who simply won’t believe the full ramifications of this proposed SB 565, the coming assault is real and it is beginning to happen all over California.
Actually, THIS IS ALREADY HAPPENING WITH US (specifically the Jenners so far in Scott Valley)….we’ve had 3 visits in 2 weeks from Fish & Game deputies/wardens (all decked out in their bullet-proof vests and sidearms!)…..and Water Quality….. about giving up our Water Rights via controversial 1600 agreements — which will cost us thousands of dollars whether we submit to their proposals one way or the other — over rights we already possess as part of our land/property rights. It’s more complicated than this, of course, but either way, the choice is absurd and in our minds, unconstitutional (and so says the water attorney).
This is all so incredible…..Doug has hardly slept in 2 weeks and we have hired this water attorney who says hang tough, DON’T submit …but now, this bill, will simply be ANOTHER way for the state government to move in and “take” water. We’ve already faced a similar array of “permits” in the last 5 years while attempting to “clean” out gravel that has washed downstream in a creek that crosses our property — and so far, we’ve paid out OVER $30,000 in permits to SIX agencies (duplicating paperwork), while NO ONE from even one of these agencies has ever come out to “see” anything — and STILL we have not gotten PERMISSION to move the gravel.
Ironic, really, when the last time we did rock work, the local Resource Board came out and NOTED that there were 55 NEW spawning holes in OUR portion of the creek (where the rock had been moved/cleaned out), while the creek was almost “dead” above our property line! Wouldn’t someone — somewhere — think, YES, this is a GOOD thing. Instead we are constantly being called out to defend what we actually have as a responsibility and right to do, if only for flood control and to prevent further bank erosion.
Like the Klamath Basin farmers who lost ALL their water several years ago (and 3 small towns dried up as well), we will be put on the chopping block via a law like this! The fines are massive and the implications incredible for ALL CALIFORNIANS! Diversions are first, and wells and ground water will be second, and it specifically targets farmers and ranchers, but it will come to be more than that eventually. Sadly, however, many farmers will not be able to survive this assault and we may not either — although we’re going to fight it all the way. I have to believe that Orwell’s 1984 is coming to pass; the incredible ability to use language and turn reality inside out is amazing. Truly, BIG Brother is moving in on farmers and ranchers…..but we won’t be the only target, merely the first.
Please, please, please, please take action and urge your assemblymen and women to OPPOSE SB 565 (it will mean death for many in California — except, of course, for maybe a few REALLY “big” guys!).
And if you will, please forward this to your friends and neighbors, too. I am not asking anyone to take a stand in regards to individuals or parties, but I AM asking your support on behalf of farmers and ranchers all over this state who are barely making it now….and if we “go down,” it will dramatically affect all consumers and eventually all communities. It’s a travesty and a sham.
Gail and Doug Jenner
Etna, CA
Aug 26, 2010 
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Jim and Virginia McFadden are going to the RESTORE HONOR WATER RALLY on Aug. 28, 2010 at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds in Yreka, CA.
Here is a photo of Tom taken during the recent Old Time Rodeo in Etna, CA. on July 31. He was having a good time.
Jess keeps his garden irrigated through his legal Water Right allotment and it is producing well this year as the above photo proves.
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