Lake McClure in Mariposa County
Credit: Merced Irrigation District

March 3, 2025 – Last week, the Merced Irrigation District released the following Statement:

Merced Irrigation District General Manager John Sweigard is calling on all eastern Merced County residents to take immediate action in support of a Voluntary Settlement Agreement (VSA) for the Merced River and to oppose the State Water Resources Control Board’s Bay Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Bay Delta Plan) and the pending 401 Water Quality Certification.

Ideally, comments should be submitted by Friday but can also be sent the following week if necessary. The State Board is poised to issue its 401 certification on April 15 but could issue it sooner for MID’s federal relicensing of its Lake McClure hydroelectric facilities. 

“The Bay Delta Plan will have a devastating impact on our community, costing hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of lost jobs, not to mention critical impacts to our local drinking water quality,” said Sweigard. “Our community must act now and be heard.”

Under the state’s current proposal, nearly half of Lake McClure’s water supply could be diverted away from local communities, farms, and businesses and sent to the Pacific Ocean. Lake McClure is owned and operated by MID and the District has existed since 1919. The purported purpose and benefit of the plan is to see an additional 500 salmon each year on the Merced River.

The consequences of this plan would be devastating for the region:

• Thousands of jobs lost in Merced County across multiple sectors
• Drinking water quality degradation for 150,000 residents
• Up to $672 million in lost local economic activity
• Up to $167 million in lost local labor income

“The people of eastern Merced County deserve a fair and balanced solution — one that protects our community’s future while also enhancing environmental stewardship,” said Sweigard. “We need a Voluntary Agreement that works for everyone. We urge all residents to stand with us and make their voices heard.”

Residents can submit letters of support for MID’s proposed VSA, and opposition to the Bay Delta Plan and 401 Certification, in two simple steps by visiting https://mercedid.org/raise-your-voice/ or www.SettleTheMercedRiver.org.
Source: Merced Irrigation District