Good to see governor pushing water plan

We were pleased to see Gov. Jerry Brown at the Colusa Farm Show this week, drumming up support for his water plan that includes building tunnels under the Delta.

We have already endorsed any plan to create more water and water storage in California. The state desperately needs a strong water policy to not only provide water to farmers, but to supply water to a population that will exceed 40 million people within seven years. That is 3 million more people that live in the Golden State today.

We are disappointed that the 2010 water bond that was slated to go before voters twice, but was pulled from the ballot, now appears to be dead. That bond proposal would have provided money to begin planning for more water storage and to restore the health of the Delta. Instead, we have a high speed rail project.

Now, Brown is pushing his plan to construct tunnels under the Delta to move water to Southern California Cities and San Joaquin Valley farmers. He told the farmers in Colusa he is still formulating his water plan and some of that 2010 plan would be included. We hope the governor will propose improving water storage in the state. There is a proposal put forward by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Tulare, to add a dam on the upper San Joaquin River above Friant Dam to provide much more water to farmers here in Tulare County. Hopefully, the governor will include that in his final proposal.

California is running out of water, and the Delta is very fragile. It was time years ago to come up with a plan that voters can approve and that can survive legal challenges ­ — both from environmentalists and water-users. At least the governor has brought water and water issues to the forefront where people are considering ideas to provide more water to a thirsty state in dire need of water reform.