For the first time in more than 60 years, the San Joaquin River is flowing from the mountains to the sea. The restoration of the San Joaquin, however, comes at a cost, according to a recent Fresno Bee article.

"Now, in the first full year of the restoration, east San Joaquin Valley farmers will lose up to 230,000 acre-feet of water to keep the flow going," wrote reporter Mark Grossi. "It amounts to 18% of the water they have been getting after an average season."

In a letter to the editor published today, Fresno resident Harry Cline - who is editor of the agriculture trade publication Western Farm Press - took issue with that statement, backing up his point with crop water use information from the University of California.

"Farmers will not lose 230,000 acre-feet of water annually," Cline wrote. "People will lose the food that could be produced with 230,000 acre-feet of water."

He reported that 230,000 acre-feet of water represents the irrigation supply needed for:

• 64 million boxes of table grapes
• 92 million boxes of lettuce
• 13.8 billion bread loaves
• 64 million boxes of oranges