Calfironia Governor moves to give farmers more water
With California's rich agriculture harvest at risk, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger moved Thursday to amp up water supplies to Central Valley farmers hammered by a parched spring and recent court rulings that limit pumping from a key resource.
The governor proclaimed a state of emergency for nine counties with "severe water shortages" and ordered several state agencies to help drill wells, use the California Aqueduct to transport water to farmers, and to expedite water transfers between agencies.
"We recognize the specific impacts that will accrue to farmers, farmworkers, industries and local economies; and that can affect the state and national economy," Lester Snow, director of the California Department of Water Resources, said in a conference call with reporters.
