In this Issue...


We take a look at hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in California, with information presented at Groundwater Resources Associa- tion of California’s inaugural symposium


on groundwater and energy.


On the Cover


California is the fourth largest producer of crude oil in the United States and has a long history of oil exploration. Now, the practice of going after oil previously unat tainable through hydraulic fracturing is being scrutinized to make sure it does not contaminate precious underground water supplies.


Credits Editors


Rita Schmidt Sudman Sue McClurg


Writer Gary Pitzer


Editorial Assistance Robin Douglas


Design & Layout Graphic Communications Photos


Bakersfield Convention & Visitors Bureau Kern County Library Natural Resources Defense Council


Steve Schubert Thomas Taylor Water Replenishment District of Southern California


Graphics Graphic Communications


Find bios of our board members, www.watereducation.org


The Water Education Foundation thanks all the sources and experts who reviewed this magazine for balance and accuracy.


The mission of the Water Education Foundation, an impartial, nonprofit organization, is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.


Western Water is published by the Water Education Foundation, 717 K Street, Suite 317, Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 444-6240, fax (916) 448-7699. An annual subscription to this bi-monthly magazine is $65. The balance of the Foundation’s information program may be supported by larger amounts, which are tax deductible. Printed on recycled paper with soy-based ink.


E-mail: feedback@watereducation.org Web page: www.watereducation.org ISSN: 0735-5424


President: William R. Mills


Executive Director: Rita Schmidt Sudman © 2012 Water Education Foundation


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Editor’s Desk


Water Writings To help celebrate the Foundation’s 35th Anniversary, we asked for your thought on the most influential written words on California water. We heard from a lot of you on what written words have influenced you and affected the landscape of water in California. We asked that people think


broadly in nominating documents that included everything from books, essays and poems to technical reports, judicial opinions, legislation, agency reports and even internet blogs.


The winners and the nominations will be revealed at the Foundation’s 35th anniversary dinner, Oct. 25, in Sacramento to which you are all invited. Visit www.watereducation.org to learn more. The winners will be selected by a diverse group of Foundation Board Members. I looked at the writings and it’s fascinating. There are well-known and obscure writings and those submitting the nominations make a good case for their selection. The writings break down into three major categories: • those with water at the heart of a sense of place and even spirituality • those that are political in that they made – or currently make – the case for changes based on science and policy, and call people to action


• those that are classics, including respected water law texts, state bulletins, judicial decisions and state and federal laws


I’m not a judge in the contest but if I was, I’d nominate the writings of Joan Didion because I think she transcends all three categories. A native from a pioneer family and veteran of Sacramento’s dry summers and personal flood watches on the levees, she combines the factual and the poetic. She described her love of the physical movement of water in the West in her 1979 essay “Holy Water” from The White Album. In this and other writing, she discusses controlling water and life by remote control and of living in California with the artificiality of living in a harsh and transitory environment. She even writes about trying to fall asleep at night by thinking about water tumbling out of projects from Egypt to the California Aqueduct. Water has often made her deliriously happy. So I’m proud to say that she recently sent me a note saying she regrets not being able to be with us on our anniversary but “I send all my admiration and thanks for everything you do.” She understands the work we do and she’s the top writer in my book. We used several Joan Didion excerpts in our own bookWater & the Shaping of


California, published in 2000. As with all our publications and programs, we strived to bring the water story alive in our book and help educate people about the value of water. It’s a mission we know you share and we would like to thank you for all your support these past 35 years! ❖


Our first interactiveWestern Water received good reviews! With the digital version you get more – videos, audio interviews, graphics, and links to online resources – with just a click. Everyone is online these days, so for print subscribers we now list websites to view for more information. To have the resources at your fingertips, purchase an e-subscription. See page 15, visit www.watereducation.org, or call 916-444-6240 for more information.


Western Water


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