The farms that supply much of America's produce are quickly becoming extinct.
On Friday, as I drove back from my southern California office north on I-5, I witnessed it firsthand seeing for myself what many are now calling the Congress-created Dust Bowl.
Of course, global warming obsessed media, when they bother to report this dire situation, typically blame the problem on California's drought.
Fortunately, Fox News viewers know the truth, as on Friday, for the second time in two months (see Brad Wilmouth's "FNC: Drought-Stricken Farmers Lose Fight for Water to Endangered Fish"), Sean Hannity informed the nation what the real cause is -- the Endangered Species Act and a federal judge's decision in August 2007 to save a little-known fish called the Delta smelt (video embedded below the fold):
As the Associated Press reported in September 2007, one federal judge is at the heart of this crisis:
A federal judge on Friday imposed limits on water flows caused by huge pumps sending water from the San Joaquin-Sacramento River delta to users around the state, saying the pumps were drawing in and destroying a threatened fish.
The judge, Oliver Wanger of Federal District Court, said pressure from the pumps helped reverse the natural direction of water within the estuary, damaging habitat and killing delta smelt, a fish that experts say might be on the brink of extinction.
“The evidence is uncontradicted that these project operations move the fish,” the judge said. Under the ruling, limits would be put in place from the end of December, when the fish are about to spawn, until June, when young fish can move into areas with better habitat and more food.
Bear in mind that we're not talking about a dam for electricity, or offshore oil rigs. We're talking about our food supply, and a judge actually decided that a two-inch minnow is more important.
Before you ask why you should care about this if you don't live in California, consider that the Golden State is home to nine of the nation's ten largest farming counties. It supplies over half of the country's fruits, nuts and vegetables and over 90 percent of our almonds, artichokes, avocados, broccoli and processing tomatoes. As measured by cash value, grapes, lettuce and almonds are California's biggest crops.
As such, unless something is done soon, Americans could find themselves buying more and more imported produce at significantly higher prices and with far less pesticide control.
Despite this, with the exception of FNC, television news organizations have given very little attention to the Delta smelt.
According to LexisNexis, CNN and MSNBC have never mentioned this fish. Ditto NBC. CBS and ABC have mentioned it once.
As this is an issue that could end up impacting virtually every American, one has to wonder why.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
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Noel...I am so glad you
June 21, 2009 - 19:36 ET by bigtimerNoel...I am so glad you have this horrendous outrage posted here....you cannot color me red enough about all of this.
I'll be back later to post some more, although some of us have already regarding this today.
What is being done needs to be told everywhere regarding this.
Got to go to the movies here at home, got my husband Grand Torino for his Father's Gift (one of them), time to watch it.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
BT
June 21, 2009 - 19:38 ET by Noel SheppardBT,
What a nice gift. I heard that film was spectacular. In my view, Clint NEVER disappoints. ns
I agree, Noel...my d-i-l
June 21, 2009 - 19:45 ET by motherbeltI agree, Noel...my d-i-l asked me if I thought hubby would like it; I told her Clint Eastwood? Absolutely!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Hey, bt... ours son and
June 21, 2009 - 19:44 ET by motherbeltHey, bt... ours son and d-i-l gave my hubby Gran Torino too! Can't wait to watch it! I got him the series "Band of Brothers." He had been watching some of it on the History Channel.
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Wow! There's a real
June 21, 2009 - 20:14 ET by MidAmericaWow! There's a real pattern going here. I received Gran Torino also. Must be there is still a yearning for our father's to be real men and not just 'sensitive'.
→ Tru Dat MA
June 21, 2009 - 20:19 ET by Cool ArrowI got a trip to my favorite Tex-Mex restaurant with my kids and grandkids.
I picked up the check, of course, but that's part of the celebration, too.
Fortunately nobody gave me "Same Time, Next Year" with Alan Alda.
That's way too sensitive!
Sounds like you had a
June 21, 2009 - 20:27 ET by MidAmericaSounds like you had a great time. Consider us lucky to be so blessed.
Avante
June 21, 2009 - 22:26 ET by Willis_Leon_JohnsonWith Jack Lemon and Juliette Mills has far more class than anything alun alldumb ever made.
http://gjresult.com
That is what I got my dad
June 21, 2009 - 23:50 ET by 24enakThat is what I got my dad for father's day to, Gran Torino and grilled ribeye steaks as well.
<sound of duct tape ripping off roll>
June 21, 2009 - 19:49 ET by motherbeltThis is beyond outrageous!!
If the midwest is America's breadbasket, California is America's fruitbasket.
Of what benefit is the Delta Smelt to humanity?
To save a species, just for the sake of saving a species, is insanity.
As such, unless something is done soon, Americans could find themselves
buying more and more imported produce at significantly higher prices
and with far less pesticide control.
Then President Obama will schedule a speech in which he will address our reliance on foreign produce. And probably forbid some imports because of the pesticide thing....and claim that we need to embark on a mission to find alternate methods of farming (without water).
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
→ Better Idea mb
June 21, 2009 - 20:05 ET by Cool ArrowMaybe the hardworking people of California will have enough of this and stage a real revolt against the tyrrany that forces them into bread lines.
Hard to believe, but maybe the youngsters in Iran are teaching us something.
These religious clerics have bullied us long enough.
Church of the Envrionment.
June 21, 2009 - 21:40 ET by motherbeltI'm guessing those are the clerics you mean....
New state motto for California:
Irrigate now! Irrigate everywhere!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
→ Of course
June 21, 2009 - 21:53 ET by Cool ArrowWhether it's the crescent moon goddess, Ashteroth, or the Earth goddess, Gaia, similarities abound.
just a joke
June 22, 2009 - 00:16 ET by 24enakthis is just a snide comment, so here it goes.
by hardworking people of California do you mean the illegal immigrants in the produce fields.
again just a snide comment please don't waste you time with comments
I don't know what the
June 22, 2009 - 00:12 ET by 24enakI don't know what the benefit the Delta Smelt is to humanity but, if you believe in God (christian God) then he created it for a reason so it must have a purpose.
If you believe in the 'butterfly effect' then it is best to perserve the tiny fish. It evolved or was 'created' and placed there by God for a reason.
Perhaps the little fish is food for another species, take away the fish then the food chain, or web, becomes unbalanced which leads to other problems for other species until the problem affects the species on top of the food chain, or web, which would be us, humans.
solution to the water problem in California would be to find another way to supply water to the fields. Humans adapt a lot quicker then the Delta Smelt does.
In six weeks a million almond trees will DIE.
June 22, 2009 - 01:53 ET by upcountrywaterHere is the problem I have:
Who appointed the eco wizard ?
And why is that persons view point the one that is followed?
BTW the water irrigation system has been in place for almost 70 years.
Little fishies have SURVIVED this long.
And you propose a water pipe from WHERE?
And how fast could it be built?
Reagan VS Carter and 0bama
I believe in Jesus Christ as
June 22, 2009 - 06:03 ET by Dan The Man 2I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and God said man has dominion over the earth. Using your anaology man should not change anything in teh earth period.
The orginal dust bowl was
June 22, 2009 - 10:30 ET by 24enakThe orginal dust bowl was prolonged because of man and his God given dominion over the earth. Bad conservation lead to millions of ton of earth to be blown away, all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.
Conservation is good for nature and man, if man does not conserve nature than it won't be around for future use. Something that Teddy Roosevelt (R) talked about and conservation was one of the greatest legacies he left.
24 eek ,There was a DROUGHT, hasn't been that dry since.
June 22, 2009 - 10:59 ET by upcountrywaterThe Dust Bowl days of the 1930's affected 50,000,000 acres of land, rendering farmers helpless.
Reagan VS Carter and 0bama
"I don't know what the
June 22, 2009 - 09:18 ET by ckc1227"I don't know what the benefit the Delta Smelt is to humanity but, if
you believe in God (christian God) then he created it for a reason so
it must have a purpose."
If you believe in God, and the smelt is about to go extinct, he must be allowing it to happen for a reason.
Why do I have a sneaking suspicion that you're not nearly as concerned over the millions of babies killed each year as you are about the poor delta smelt? If you believe in God, or the butterfly effect, that can't be a good thing.
"Perhaps the little fish is food for another species, take away the fish
then the food chain, or web, becomes unbalanced which leads to other
problems for other species until the problem affects the species on top
of the food chain, or web, which would be us, humans."
You're right....better to skip all that drama, and go right to the top. Besides, I thought you said humans can adapt so well....if so, we should be able to adapt to whatever imaginary crisis you come up with...*IF* it happens, that is. Right?
Well, I'd say the 'food chain' could be called 'unbalanced'...
June 22, 2009 - 10:57 ET by Tailgunner...if we can't GROW ANY, moron.
What do you liberal environmentalist wackos use for brains??
And why do the rest of us listen to a ******* word they say??
Nationalized Healthcare is a DEATH SENTENCE.
God gave man dominion over
June 22, 2009 - 09:23 ET by Jack BauerGod gave man dominion over all other species. However I am assuming your entire post is a joke.
Want to laugh yourself silly?
June 22, 2009 - 09:42 ET by BlondeFrom your own UK Daily Mail....Turkey Twizzlers are GOOD for you and polar bears AREN'T dying out!
I need to know what a Turkey Twizzler is, tho.
I hope he fails, too.
Blonde, Funny ! I know you are waiting for a reply from Jack...
June 22, 2009 - 11:19 ET by upcountrywaterAn evil processed food those TurkeyTwizzlers
They are loaded with "rusk" what the heck is that?
Eating has caused 100% of all cancers.
Reagan VS Carter and 0bama
Good one, upc
June 22, 2009 - 11:25 ET by BlondeThey could have just said a curly-que turky french fry. Doesn't surprise me, actually. Jamie Oliver's obsession is kind of wierd, though....have you ever seen him cook?
I hope he fails, too.
Have to admit Turkey
June 22, 2009 - 11:32 ET by Jack BauerHave to admit Turkey Twizlers have passed me by!
But I'm tempted to eat some just to annoy the envriro nut Green Shirts.
Rusk is just an old English name for a dry biscuit. Rusks are very popular with babies, I believe.
Probably dropped out of American English usage
Bring water to the deserts
June 22, 2009 - 11:00 ET by CobraMan"I don't know what the benefit the Delta Smelt is to humanity but, if you believe in God (christian God) then he created it for a reason so it must have a purpose."
The "purpose" of the Delta Smelt isn't to prevent fresh water from reaching the Desert, is it?
The fish in question lives in a DELTA (where a river meets the sea), and the water level isn't going to drop in any delta that also receives water directly from the sea even if we completely cut off all the fresh water being released into that Delta (something that isn't happening anyways). This attempt to "save" the smelt by banning the transfer of fresh water to the parched desert is unnecessary. It's only goal is to control agriculture, to control the food supply. It's an attempt to control mankind's population, not the fish population.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
If you believe in the 'butterfly effect'
June 22, 2009 - 11:07 ET by botgIf you believe in the 'butterfly effect' then it is best to perserve the tiny fish.
If you believe in the 'butterfly effect' then you're an idiot.
---fixed---
hint: the Dodo along with millions of species have gone extinct---- WE'RE DOOOOOMED!!!
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -- Chief Justice John Roberts
→ Thanks Noel
June 21, 2009 - 19:56 ET by Cool ArrowI saw Paul Rodriguez on Hannity the other night. Suddenly people realize this liberal movement has a very sinister side when personal wealth is jeopardized.
Most of us have never had their own ox gored to the extent of these Mexican Americans, Mexicans, and farmers, but most of us will feel it soon.
All for the greater good? By judicial decree a paradise is temporarily transformed into a desert?
Wonder who picks up this prime real estate for pennies?
Rodriguez has been making
June 21, 2009 - 20:02 ET by bigtimerRodriguez has been making his just case via the radio air-waves, Levin, Hannity and who knows where all else for quite awhile now too...and he voted O and was/is a dem...we shall see if others of his ilk eventually wake up and smell the roses.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
No farm, no farm workers
June 21, 2009 - 19:59 ET by Dan DiegoI wonder if the United Farm Workers are pressuring Der Leader on this.
The rest of the states send Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables to California, most end up living in Hollywood or Frisco.
→ We'll see Diego
June 21, 2009 - 20:14 ET by Cool ArrowWhat Der Leader really wants is to starve the self-reliance out of the California worker.
Well, not just California. This is just one of his marxist venues.
When anti-collectivist farmers resisted Stalin...
June 21, 2009 - 20:28 ET by Tailgunner....he created a famine which killed millions of 'kulaks'.
Liberals today are no different...as we see here.
Nationalized Healthcare is a DEATH SENTENCE.
Right wing conspiracy
June 22, 2009 - 12:09 ET by boomerconIt's all a "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" don'tcha know?
Take away the farm lands, and no farm workers are needed, so no more immigrants (legal or otherwise) come to USA. No more immigrants, no more work for ACORN to register them to vote, and the Dem's big plan to get 20 mil. new Mexican voters for 2012 is gone up in smoke...er...dust, as the case may be.
Pretty slick of that conservative, right wing, Republican judge, if you ask me.
Huh? He's not conservative? Not right wing? Not even a Repub?
Never mind.
(guess he'll be getting a memo from The One)
Just one more example....
June 21, 2009 - 20:10 ET by superconof two Senators, all their Congress people, the state assembly, the Governor and the POTUS all letting tens of thousands of people twist in the wind over an over reaching ruling. That federal judge shouldn't have the power alone to shut down and entire industry. People have rights.
The state of California should defy his order. To let all that farm land go dry and put all those people out of work is an absolute disgrace and I hope the voters remember who had their backs when push came to shove.
Hey Janet Napolitano...I'm proud to be a Right-winger.
As long as Obama gets to eat
June 21, 2009 - 20:26 ET by snaggletoothieAs long as Obama gets to eat every day, I can't see a problem.
If he thinks arugula is
June 21, 2009 - 21:17 ET by motherbeltIf he thinks arugula is expensive now at Whole Foods, he ain't seen nothin' yet!
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
How about some of that Organic produce from China...
June 21, 2009 - 21:38 ET by upcountrywaterYummy Organic Melamine added free of charge.
The dying trees that is on my brain!
Reagan VS Carter and 0bama
serious question. Can the
June 22, 2009 - 00:36 ET by 24enakserious question. Can the judges decsion be appealed and why haven't they appealed?
As far as the Endangered Species Act, it is a good thing. It 'saved' many animals before they became extinct. I don't know that much about the Act, other than it protects species from extinction, but I'm sure it applies to all animals not just the pretty ones, or big ones or the ones we have heard about.
Humans can adapt quicker than fish can so the farms in California can find another way to get water to the produce fields.
So, if you do not know much
June 22, 2009 - 10:22 ET by Evil CapitalistSo, if you do not know much about the act, maybe you really should not venture out to say that it is good?
Here's a short intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJgWV5cUYIA&feature=related
serious question. Can the
June 22, 2009 - 00:39 ET by 24enakserious question. Can the judges decsion be appealed and why haven't they appealed?
As far as the Endangered Species Act, it is a good thing. It 'saved' many animals before they became extinct. I don't know that much about the Act, other than it protects species from extinction, but I'm sure it applies to all animals not just the pretty ones, or big ones or the ones we have heard about.
Humans can adapt quicker than fish can so the farms in California can find another way to get water to the produce fields.
"Humans can adapt quicker
June 22, 2009 - 09:04 ET by ckc1227"Humans can adapt quicker than fish can so the farms in California can find another way to get water to the produce fields."
Apparently you've never been introduced to the laws of physics. But putting that aside, those who believe the life of a smelt fish is on the same level as human life are wrong....except when they're talking about your life. Hell, they're wrong then too. The smelt is on a higher level than you.
However, liberals can adapt quicker than humans.
June 22, 2009 - 10:51 ET by TailgunnerNationalized Healthcare is a DEATH SENTENCE.
They can also regenerate
June 22, 2009 - 11:10 ET by SickofLibsThey can also regenerate limbs and tails, as we've seen many times here lately.
Can they?
June 22, 2009 - 11:26 ET by CobraMan"Humans can adapt quicker than fish can so the farms in California can find another way to get water to the produce fields."
Fish have been around for hundreds of millions of years. They have adapted to live in just about any environment that contains liquid water. The have even adapted to live in brackish water, water with saline content that kills most other water born organisms, and from depths ranging from the surface to the deepest trenches in the oceans. One species of fish even adapted itself to breath air for short periods while it crawls across the mud (google the Lungfish).
Mankind, on the other hand, has a much shorter geological history (by a factor of 1/100 or more), has adapted to live in only marginal environmental extremes as compared to the fish, and and lives in an environment that is only one fifth in area of that of the fish.
I would say that, due to their long history and their remarkable adaptivity, combined with their expansive habitat availability, fish can adapt to any changes in their environment faster than man ever will.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
Extinction is a natural event, it happens to all living things.
June 22, 2009 - 11:37 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsOver 99% (possibly 99.9%) of all living things are currently extinct. 99% of ALL. This is the way of nature, adapt or die. What makes this minnow so important that we should starve millions of humans in order to save it?
D
Keep the ILLEGALS out, join NumbersUSA to send free faxes to your reps.
EPA.........romatherapy
June 22, 2009 - 09:45 ET by Pilgrim1949Just another example of environ-wacko, Leftist (and Statist) sovereign fiats from The Bench that, as usual,
smelt to high Heaven.
No, environ-wacko issue
June 22, 2009 - 10:10 ET by 24enakNo, environ-wacko issue statments that condem the killing of a fly, environ-wacko wears hemp. I am not an environ-wacko, the tiny fish has a purpose. There are other ways to get water to the fields of California.
24enak: You're insane. Quite simply insane.
June 22, 2009 - 11:23 ET by TailgunnerJust like the rest of you environment wacko losers.
Nationalized Healthcare is a DEATH SENTENCE.
You could try pissing on the
June 22, 2009 - 11:11 ET by Jack BauerYou could try pissing on the dying water-deprived Californian crops. The way you piss on human beings!
Can you enlighten the masses
June 22, 2009 - 11:14 ET by SickofLibsCan you enlighten the masses with a few of those "other ways" that do not include pumps and irrigation channels?
Cloud-seeding will not be acceptable as a serious answer.
why not figure out why the delta smelt are so far upstream
June 22, 2009 - 11:22 ET by SouthJersey1953Instead of cutting off water to irrigation that benefits millions, why don't you relocate the delta smelt back to the delta they came from? Obviously they are not native to the area.
...the tiny fish has a purpose.
June 22, 2009 - 11:26 ET by acaiguanaGee, I'm all ears.
Enlighten me as to what purpose is greater than feeding the world?
I'd love to hear that.
ACA
...
Quoted from: 'Acaiguana notes from the Underground' (Soon to be at theaters near you)
Name one
June 22, 2009 - 11:29 ET by CobraMan"There are other ways to get water to the fields of California."
Name one alternative. Just one.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
....a purpose......??
June 22, 2009 - 11:43 ET by Pilgrim1949Yup, just like the (in)famous tse-tse fly and the countless and blissfully non-DDT-bothered malaria-bearing mosquitoes delivering their quite-in-tune-with-nature saliva to the millions of African children and adults who needlessly -- and painfully -- die anually of an otherwise largely avoidable disease.
There's purpose aplenty to be had in the pastoral realm of nature, and let's not forget those cute little fleas hitching rides on all those cuddly obliging rats during the Bubonic Plague. How serene a scene that was.
Ah, nature at its finest! (For the extreme eco....it is Nature at its finest when mankind is the endangered species.)
When the citizens of
June 22, 2009 - 11:36 ET by snaggletoothieWhen the citizens of California have built dams and waterways with the express purpose of bringing water to their cities and farms they still need to do build arounds for every whackadoodle judge who won't even consider reasonable cost/benefit analysis or the public good? This judge needs to impeached and replaced with someone with a reasonable judicial temperment. This one is cursed with antisocial tendencies. Or maybe he is just another life hating Democrat.
Central Valley Rally-Cry
June 22, 2009 - 11:37 ET by AMR1960SMITE-the-SMELT !!!
___________________________
Long Live...THE REPUBLIC !
They're fish, they swim, and they'll swim back
June 22, 2009 - 11:43 ET by CobraMan“The evidence is uncontradicted that these project operations move the fish"
Hay, idiot Judge, they're fish, they swim, and they'll swim back if they want to. That's why fish have fins, and tails, so they can MOVE through the water. If they don't like the environment around or in that particular delta, they'll swim to another habitat that's more suitable to their survival.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States.
The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus.
The US Supreme Court
I wonder if these farmers
June 22, 2009 - 12:11 ET by NL207I wonder if these farmers and their workers have any torches, pitchforks and shotguns?
Seems to me the time is ripe for someone to stand up to these tyrants and this is an opportunity to do so where those taking action will enjoy massive public sympathy.
These farmers and their former employees + families, etc. ought to march right down to those pumping stations and turn those pumps on. Let the Feds try to stop them. They have nothing to lose. If the status quo persists, they lose their farms. The Government my try to sieze their farms for defiance if they resist. Makes little difference to these people which happens, the end result will be the same: ruined lives. And if they resist, there is the hope some significant fraction of the rest of the population will support them and restrain the Government, allowing them to restore their farms.