Central Valley Project Water Contracts Renewed

Over 200 water contracts negotiated with San Joaquin Valley farmers decades ago have been renewed by the federal government. Farmers will continue to buy water at rates well below market value for at least the next 25 years. Environmentalists are outraged, saying that more water should have been allocated to environmental projects. They also fear farmers may sell their water to cities rather than use it. The federal government says the contracts had to be renewed by law, and that checks and balances are in place to prevent farmers from getting rich on water sales. Jeff McKracken, Public Affairs Director for the Central Valley Project, Bennett Raley, Former Assistant Secretary of Water and Science for the Department of Interior, and Barry Nelson, Senior Policy Analyst for the NRDC, join Larry to discuss the new water contracts.