Water war on the horizon: State threatens to cut off SSJID water to protect fish:

“A water war is about to erupt on the Stanislaus River.  It’s all because the State of California — which may stop all diversions from the Stanislaus River starting June 5 to protect fish — has told the South San Joaquin Irrigation District that it may overrule historic water rights.  If that were to happen it means Ripon, Escalon and Manteca farmers would run out of irrigation water by mid-August.  The cities of Manteca, Lathrop, and Tracy may no longer have any surface water by then as well.  But the SSJID is prepared to go to court to assert its superior water rights. ... ”  Read more from the Manteca Bulletin here:  Water war on the horizon: State threatens to cut off SSJID water to protect fish