GROUNDWATER FOR BUTTE'S CAMPAIGN IS GEARING UP.
The next election for TWD is coming right up! Last December, landowners within the boundaries of the TWD approved formation of the district, with their vote based on the assessed value of the land. Now they must approve the funding to pay for the TWD. Ballots are set to arrive in mailboxes by the end of November with January 15 the final day to submit ballots.
Groundwater for Butte will do what is feasible to stop this water grab. We plan to reach out to TWD landowners to get out the NO vote, and once again we are calling on you to help with donations or as volunteers.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Please consider making a donation (soon if possible!) to pay printing and postage for mailers to TWD landowners explaining why their NO vote is so important. Please donate here, or send a check to Groundwater for Butte, PO Box 2342, Chico CA 95927.
We are seeking volunteers to make direct contact with TWD landowners, to help them understand what is at stake, and the importance of voting NO; canvassing to start around mid-November to December 1. Contact us at groundwaterforbutte@gmail.com
Spread the word to your networks– via Facebook, Instagram, email, and letters to the editor.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO OPPOSE THE TWD?
Land Value Based Voting Deprives Small Farms of Power Over Their Water
Although small farms and small-parcel homeowners within the TWD number in the thousands, their voting weight is negligible. The voting structure is based on the dollar value of acres owned, leaving smaller farmers with virtually no say. Due to the assessed-land value, five or ten of the largest farms, some corporate out-of-state, will dominate TWD decision-making from the start.
City of Chico Residents are Excluded
A non-transparent group drew the boundaries to exclude the entire City of Chico, even though Chicoans are dependent on and use the same water. Only property owners within the TWD may vote, even though future decisions will affect all who draw water from the Lower Tuscan Aquifer, including all of Chico.
Risks of Many More Shallow Wells Failing and Native Trees Failing
The TWD’s stated purpose, to develop, construct, and operate facilities to purchase, import, move, recharge and transfer water would give the Board of the TWD cover for an unprecedented drawdown of groundwater levels, up to 200% beyond historical lows, beneath the reach of Valley Oak root systems. Such a drawdown would have severe negative impacts on the shallow roots and ecosystem of the area. Many of the same Butte County landowners will be assessed to pay for the District in this election.
GROUNDWATER FOR BUTTE’S CAMPAIGN:
In spite of stiff odds to stop the TWD, Groundwater for Butte is launching a campaign to stop TWD in the up-coming funding election. There are several factors in our favor:
- Although TWD proponents won the election to form the district, the majority of landowners, and even many petitioners, chose not to vote. We think our last campaign influenced many of those decisions. For this election we will reach out to non-voters, and urge them to vote NO.
- During the last campaign, we expanded our base of support among TWD landowners, many of whom are ready to spread the word to their friends and neighbors who own land in the TWD, further expanding our base.
- This election violates Prop. 13 by imposing a new tax without 2/3 approval.
- With nut prices depressed, many growers are going to think twice about accepting yet another sure-to-increase tax burden on top of the Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency’s recent assessment.
Check our website to learn more about why TWD is a bad idea for all who depend on the Lower Tuscan Aquifer, and why it is in all of our best interests to stop it however possible.
In the next few weeks we intend to blanket the community and the local cyberspace with our message. We will keep you posted as the campaign progresses.
Thanks for helping assure the long-term health of the groundwater we all depend on!
Emily Alma, Campaign Coordinator
Vote NO on Funding the Tuscan Water District
(530) 864-0714
www.groundwaterforbutte.org