What is the need?

While an admirable work of propaganda worthy of his west side origins, MID General Manager John Sweigard leave a huge hole in the middle of his argument, a hole that cannot be concealed by no matter how much "environmental community" bashing he undertakes.
What is the need for more water in Lake McClure? Did MID fail to deliver to its customers during the last -- propaganda-made -- drought? When real droughts occur, don't farmers dust off their well pumps? Although sinking, isn't the aquifer under MID's service area still in better shape than those to the north or south of it in the San Joaquin Valley?
Why does Sweigart fail to mention how much money MID could make by selling surplus water to the west side or to Southern California or give the public any indication of how that money would be spent? A larger parking lot? More expensive perks for management? 
Finally, just because it is possible to store more river water, should it always be done, even without any obvious need for it? -- blj
 
9-24-11
Merced Sun-Star
John Sweigard: Examining impact of Lake McClure project…The author is general manager of the Merced Irrigation District.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/09/24/v-print/2055242/john-sweigard-ex...
Environmentalists have hit the panic button regarding an improved water storage project at Lake McClure. They claim if the project moves forward, the sky will fall with respect to loss of jobs in Mariposa County and environmental protections and they invoke an "us versus them" -- Mariposa County versus Merced Irrigation District (MID) -- mentality.
The facts are simple: MID would like the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider a 10-foot raise of the gated and ungated spillways at Lake McClure to store up to an additional 70,000 acre-feet of water in wet years, for use in dry years. In 2011, a wet year, MID could have banked additional water for use in a dry year.
For this water storage project to be considered, federal law regarding about 1,800 linear feet of the 122.5 miles of the Merced River designated Wild and Scenic boundary must be changed. When the Wild and Scenic River Act was amended in 1992, it overlapped the MID FERC boundary at the upstream end of Lake McClure. A change in federal legislation to allow consideration of the project will not send the entire country into a Wild and Scenic River tailspin as opponents suggest.
To the environmental community, changing the Wild and Scenic River environmental legislation would be tantamount to amending the Endangered Species Act. However, this project can be evaluated on its own merits by both FERC and the public -- if pending legislation passes through Congress. The environmental impacts of the water storage project would then be evaluated through the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) processes, two landmark environmental laws.
The water storage project opponents claim job losses. Lakes McClure and McSwain, created by the New Exchequer Project, directly employ more than 30 full-time employees and 35 seasonal employees. The hydroelectric project -- as well as the homes and houseboats built and maintained to enjoy the lake -- generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in property tax revenue for Mariposa County.
In fact, Merced and Mariposa counties are linked at the hip through tourism, recreation and agriculture. Tourists and recreation enthusiasts stop in Merced on the way to and from Mariposa County and Yosemite National Park. Mariposa County agriculture enjoys the cattle and agricultural commodity markets created by irrigated agriculture in Merced County. This is made possible by the water supply from the New Exchequer Project. A large number cattle and farming operations cross the Merced and Mariposa County lines. There simply is no "us versus them." We coexist, and our livelihoods rely on each other.
It takes a significant stretch of the imagination to believe the project will have any negative impact on Merced River rafting. That vast majority of rafting occurs above the project. Some 21 Class III, or higher, rapids are located in the 22.6 miles of the Merced River above the North Fork Falls. Those falls, considered a Class VI rapid described with a "30-foot vertical drop decorated by large boulders," is just above Lake McClure and the Merced River confluence with the North Fork of the Merced River.
North Fork Falls is referred to almost universally as a portage point to get out of the river and avoid the danger. There are a few Class II rapids in the final 5.7 miles from the falls to the out-portage point at MID's Bagby Recreation Area. I find it hard to connect the dots from a short term, infrequent 10-foot water level raise to a loss of rafting-related jobs in Mariposa County on that stretch of river.
All humans have universal needs, including water for all its purposes. We can evaluate the human need for this water in a responsible manner if given the opportunity. To be given the opportunity, FERC needs permission from the federal government now pending in the House of Representatives. The legislation does not provide a green light to begin the project. Instead, it would allow it to be scrutinized by FERC, CEQA and NEPA -- all safeguards for the environment and opportunities for public input and comment.
Would-be developer in Chowchilla failed at similar project in