Trump Said Water Wars 'Easy' to Fix. What Do Farmers Say Now?
gvw_david_taub
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 5 years ago on
July 3, 2019

Share

[Sassy_Social_Share_Premium id="3"]

Three years ago, presidential candidate Donald Trump got right to the heart of Central Valley agriculture’s fight over its most precious resource.
“We’re going to solve your water problem. You have a water problem that is so insane,” Trump told a campaign audience at Selland Arena in May 2016.  “It is so ridiculous where they’re taking the water and shoving it out to sea.”
Trump said the seemingly endless grind among agricultural, urban, and environmental interests over water resources would be simple to fix.
“We’re going to get it done, and we’re going to get it done quick. Don’t even think about it. That’s an easy one.”
On June 28, farmers gathered in Los Banos to ask questions of President Trump’s agriculture secretary, Sonny Perdue.  GV Wire took the opportunity to ask growers if they believed Trump was doing enough to bring water to farmers.
Generally, they said they like how things are progressing.

Farmers: Problems at Local, State Level

Gino Pedretti III, the Merced County Farm Bureau president and a farmer in El Nido, said water is his top issue. But he said his water problems are more with local district issues and the California Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
When it comes to federal regulations, Pedretti said U.S. authorities are doing the best they can.
“Where I’m situated, (the water) is locally owned. The federal government is doing the best they can on biological opinions and to deal with the state,” Pedretti said. “As far as federally, they don’t have much input with the water my family uses to farm.
“The Trump administration has been very open to helping California farmers with the water situation. There are a lot of laws and different biological opinions from the past that are hurting us. It just takes time to work through. They have been very aggressive to help agriculture out,” Pedretti said.
A precinct-level breakdown of the 2016 presidential election shows that many of the rural areas around Los Banos voted for Trump. That includes the precinct covering El Nido — about 11 miles south of Merced — which voted 65% for Trump.

Water Uncertainty Still Problematic

Aaron Barcellos of A-Bar Ag Enterprises said heavy rainfall in the last year has helped.
“Mother Nature has delivered for us the last couple of years, where we’ve had a pretty good supply of water. I know (Trump has) made it a little bit easier on the regulative side for us to get better water supply,” Barcellos said. “Water certainty is still a big question, up in the air, for us. We’re not sure what happens when we get in a drought type of years.”
That lack of certainty makes it hard to plan for the future, said Barcellos, who also cited SGMA as an issue.
Barcellos said he doesn’t agree with Trump on everything, but he appreciates the administration’s water efforts.
“I think they’re trying,” he said. “It’s a better environment for us than it has been in previous administrations.”
Trump won 62% of the vote in the precinct where A-Bar is located.

Trump Trying, but More Water Wanted

Joe Del Bosque, a westside grower of nuts, fruit, and vegetables, says that Trump is doing his part.
Portrait of Firebaugh farmer Joe del Bosque
— Joe Del Bosque
“I think that most people would say the administration has been trying to make sure we get some water,” said Del Bosque, who in 2014 gave President Barack Obama a tour of his farm.
Still, Del Bosque would like access to more water, noting the allocation levels set by the federal Bureau of Reclamation.
“I don’t know if it has been enough. This year, we should have had 100%, where it is 75% for the westside,” he said.
The precinct that contains one of Del Bosque’s Firebaugh farm supported Hillary Clinton with 64% of the vote.

DON'T MISS

FresYes Fest Is Saturday: This Immigrant Is Living the American Dream With Xtreme Shawarma

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

DON'T MISS

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Chavez Win Attorneys Fees from Fresno County. Court Gives Chavez Blvd. a Green Light.

DON'T MISS

Special Congressional Election Tuesday. How Many Have Voted Already?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

News Minute: Amelia Earhart’s Lost Plane, McIlroy’s Wild 65, Fresno Eclipse Chasers

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

Hutson Is Done as Fresno State Basketball Coach After Tournament Loss

No data was found
David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

10 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

Bitwise /

10 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

Environment /

13 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

14 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

14 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

14 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

14 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

News /

14 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

15 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

15 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

9 hours ago

4 days ago

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

4 days ago

Prosecutor Leaves Georgia Election Case Against Trump After Relationship With District Attorney

4 days ago

Rory McIlroy’s 65: 10 Birdies, 2 Tee Shots in the Water, 1 Testy Dispute

4 days ago

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

4 days ago

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

4 days ago

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

4 days ago

India’s New Citizenship Law Excludes Muslims. Here’s What to Know

4 days ago

US, G-7 Allies Warn Iran to Back Off Deal to Provide Russia Ballistic Missiles or Face New Sanctions

Photo of San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead

4 days ago

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

4 days ago

Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

Search