The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Perhaps did as much to destroy the water and environment of the state of California as any individual. An understated obit from the Mercury News:
http://www...breakingnews/ci_12084326

This, too:
http://www...009/04/07/MN7K16U3AH.DTL

More in depth, from the award-winning authors of King of California:
http://www...rd.edu/saroyan/arax.html

Info on $10 million+ in farm subsidies Boswell's company received, mostly in the early 2000's:
http://far...php?custnumber=009439118

I've said it before on this board. Read King of California.

"Perhaps did as much to destroy the water and environment of the state of California as any individual. An understated obit from the Mercury News:"


I understand your concern for the states rivers and lakes but it seems to me pretty poor taste to attempt to taint a legendary California farmers legacy in the wake of his death.

Might want to re-think your rants a little in times like these, especially since the Boswell Family Operation continues to provide steady employment to well over 2,000 hard working Californians.

-Mark

Sorry, I stand by what I said. Anyone with knowledge about farming in the Central Valley, particularly that of Boswell's company, knows that there have been many prices to pay for the success of that company. Environmentally and socially. It's the nature of this country for some to find all positives in what Boswell has done, and others to view things differently. I didn't say anything about the man personally. My post concerned the environmental impact on the state of California from the practices of his company. I don't know if you've read King of California, but I recommend it.

Just because companies employ people doesn't mean they are above examination. If you hold banks and lending companies responsible for the impact their practices have had on the economy, despite the fact that they employ probably millions of people, isn't it also appropriate to direct a critical eye at the impact another company has on the environment, also despite employing many people?

I respect your vastly differing viewpoint than mine on this matter.

My main issue is your poor timing.

The man leaves many legacies behind in passing and you find it appropriate to bring up how you feel he has "destroyed" California's water and environment only days after his death. Aside from the legitimacy of this claim, it shows no class. I think there are far more effective ways of bringing to light the water concerns of the state than posthumously "dissing" J.G. Boswell.

I appreciate that. Apologies if I offended anyone. I'll leave it at that.

Thanks for the heads up Andrew. Looking forward to reading the book...

Apology accepted, Appreciate your sincerity and character.

Now, in the old days with some of the former members who have abandoned this board, this conversation could have taken an entirely different turn.

I'll look forward to hearing what you think when you've read it. I know that a number of folks on the board found it really interesting.

THAT is an understatement!

I should say that I don't think your posting of this was out of line Andrew. I did not see it as a personal attack on Boswell, but a basic statement of facts. The Colonel and his nephew were certainly not the only influential CA farmers (just the biggest) to make this type of impact on the water situation that we live with today.

But I also do not think that they realized that the jockeying they did for water and land resources would have the impact on our fisheries and environment that we now know they did.

I do have to wonder if Mark doesn't have some close connection with the Boswell family or enterprise to have taken your post in the negative light that he did.


Buzz