California protest aimed at water supplies

MENDOTA, Calif., April 15 (UPI) -- Thousands of residents of California's Central Valley region are on a four-day trek as a demand for increased water supplies, an official says.

U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., told those taking part in the demonstration Tuesday that regional farmers are in desperate need of increased water despite environmental attempts to protect area wildlife, the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times said.

"We're not going to stop until we open those pumps at San Luis Reservoir," Costa said.

Environmental protection rules have limited water supplies for the region as part of attempts to protect declining populations among Delta smelt and other wildlife species.

For Costa, the fact those water cutbacks have resulted in struggling humans is a "human tragedy."

"To have people in food lines because there's no water for them to grow the crops, it's more than an irony, it's a human tragedy," Costa said.

The Times said the four-day trek by the demonstrators will conclude Friday when California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed the marchers.