Listen to Audio for 3/4 Teleconference Following Release of Map Showing Selenium-Damaged Land, Oil Deposits for Fracking, & More

On Tuesday, March 4, we released a new map depicting the overlap between the largest agricultural users of Bay-Delta water exports, land impaired by selenium concentrations that make farming unsustainable, and oil and gas basins that could be fracked.

“This map will show a remarkable overlay of where our water is going, how the public subsidizes unsustainable crops on drainage-impaired lands, selenium concentrations that pose a threat to the public, and underlying oil deposits that could be fracked with water from the governor’s tunnels,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of RTD. “Unsustainable farming has damaged these lands. And the taxpayers have been subsidizing it. Fracking is another water intensive industry in the San Joaquin Valley that will further contaminate groundwater supplies. The governor’s plan describes water for fracking via the proposed peripheral tunnels as a beneficial use. Beneficial for whom? The peripheral tunnels would benefit unsustainable corporate agribusiness in one region and potentially the energy industry – at the expense of everyday Californians.”

Below: Audio and the released map and table from the media teleconference on March 4, 2014 with Food & Water Watch Director Adam Scow.

Listen here:
Audio link, Right click and save to download audio.

Link to released map:
Map and Table: Users of Delta Water Irrigating Selenium-Impaired Soils in the San Joaquin Valley

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