Jeff Odefey

Water Policy Director, One Water Econ

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

hey y'all (not that there are many of you) but I've mostly abandoned this hellsite for the place where the Skies are Bluer. you can find me there at PinusJ

[Jay in Kyiv @JayinKyiv]

Spoke with a 3 Star US General today and this quote is sticking with me.

"America hasn't just screwed the brave Ukrainians but also the other Europeans that now unexpectedly have to go it alone, even possibly sending troops to compensate for US political disfunction. When America needs allies, AND WE WILL, it's now a question as to how much support there will be"

Insane.

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

@PPICWater We really shouldn't perpetuate this "goes to the environment" language. Water IS the environment, allocations for other purposes TAKE FROM the environment. Those purposes may be legitimate but putting "the environment" in the same frame delegitimizes envt'l water needs.

[Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 @IAPonomarenko]

No, this was never about 'the U.S. 'owing' Ukraine something.

Yes, 25 years ago, our leaders of the past stupidly gave up on our nuclear stockpile and strategic bombers, which were decommissioned or, moreover, handed over to Russia, just like that.

Yep, there were multilateral 'security assurances' - but who is here to blame for the fact that we once gave up on our tactical nukes and cruise missiles for basically a piece of paper with words of encouragement written on it.

Our leaders thought there'd be no tomorrow and that a war was impossible. Their direful attitude toward our military for decades has been tragically known.

Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are right now paying the ultimate price for that colossal crime of historic scale.

It's been happening all this damned decade -- ever since the days of February 2014, when Russia unfolded its punitive war on its former colony embraced by a victorious revolution.

The thing is that in our own Revolutionary War, the empire generally failed to bring its colony back on its knees, yet it spilled rivers of blood.

And in 2022, it came back for the final solution fueled by a propaganda-driven irrational cult of revenge, hatred, territorial grabs, and perpetual war on the West as a ruling narrative.

The last thing that we, as a struggling 40-million democracy, wanted was a grand, all-out invasion by one of the world's largest military powers hellbent on eliminating Ukraine as an independent nation.

We did not choose this hell.

Yet, the delusional aging dictator in the Kremlin, drunk with lust for power and willing to crown himself a new emperor, decided that he needed yet another splendid little war.

You know what happened next - the biggest European war of aggression since WWII.

In which, against expectations, Ukraine managed to stem the enemy onrush, stabilize the front line, and even take large amounts of the national territory back.

Russia, in the first month of its war, the active part of which was supposed to last nearly 10 days, suffered a tremendous defeat at Ukraine's capital city, Kyiv, which effectively derailed the entire war's initial goal.

Now it's been two years of a tremendously large battle of million-strong armies.

Just think of the scale. Right now, for instance, Oryx has documented and confirmed the loss of a total of 2,714 Russian tanks.

That's more than the entire fleet of M1 Abrams in active use by the U.S. Army (2,645 per Military Balance 2023).

That's a square full of destroyed tanks measuring 360 by 360 yards.

That's tanks alone.

There's really a handful of nations in this world that could successfully wage an all-out war of defense against such a gargantuan armada, and, moreover, aspire towards a victory in such a war.

All this time, this has been a story of Ukraine literally begging for weapons and munitions, getting as little as it gets from the hypercautous and undetermined West, and carrying on with its war of national survival.

And we and our friends, particularly in media, again and again, managed to break our heads through the wall and persuade the West to take one more step forward.

Artillery, munition, tank killers, air defense, missiles, jets, tanks. Reluctantly, slowly, amid long wars of words, the West did that - simply because most do understand that helping Ukraine is necessary and that it works.

No wonder that so-called 'opponents' of the Ukraine aid against the Russian invasion can't give any mature and rational explanation as to why the free world should just let Russia devour a 40-million European nation.

It's always either about primitive 'pRoXy wAr' conspiracy theories that comfortably ignore the simple timeline of events or just outright lies -- like "they want to send American soldiers to fight" or "we don't really know where our taxpayers' cash money goes", or "we're spending 40% of American GDP on Ukraine as there are poor people in Philadelphia."

Or it's about something as childish as "let them all burn, it's not my problem."

Well, dictatorial regimes in Moscow, Tehran, Pyongyang and elsewhere are only glad to see you step aside and do nothing -- very soon, they will be very much of YOUR problem, and that's what's happening right now in the news.

This world is now too small and interconnected to just put heads into the sand.

The thing is that we NEED EACH OTHER.

Not because somebody 'owes' something but because it's wise, smart, and mutually advantageous.

With Ukraine's defense aid, America has been supporting a truly decent and simple cause, morally and practically, that is admittedly a pretty rare thing in human history.

Moreover, it was doing it with absolute support from European allies, which had not always been the case in the past.

The United Europe is also bringing a lot to the table, although the temptation to close its eyes and do nothing is strong.

Moreover, it was rendering assistance to Ukraine at a very moderate cost, with not a single American soldier to be sent to fight - but with a whole range of American enterprises getting government contracts and providing American jobs, American salaries, and American taxes in America.

And Ukraine asks for tools to neutralize the worst European war of aggression since Adolf Hitler with its own hands.

Over the last two years, Ukraine has demonstrated it so many times that this is absolutely possible and vital to the safety of the world we live in.

How is this any worse than spending billions and billions and billions on decades-long, pointless wars somewhere in the Middle East, with folded American flags sent back home?

We need America to rejoin the rest of the free world in one of the most dangerous moments in modern history.

It's not too late yet - but cheap politics and listening to irresponsible demagogues have given way too much time and resources to the aggressor.

There's still time to prevent a catastrophe but the time is running very short.

Support my work: https://t.co/j4T7XvJnUN

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

This.

[NE Ohio Regional Sewer District @neorsd]

since thursday night, we've received more than 1,260 voicemails. twelve hundred voicemails.

and they are still coming in this morning.

this is just one of them.

i've realized there are moments. and there are movements.

maybe this is both.

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

Very insightful and challenging (in a good way) conversation. Really appreciate @USWaterAlliance for creating space for deep thinking and sharing #OneWater

[US Water Alliance @USWaterAlliance]

"Water has given me purpose. Water has given me voice." Daryl Vigil, Co-Director at the Water and Tribes Initiative joined our closing plenary to share his water story and his hope for the future of the Colorado River Basin.

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

A truly inspiring project, great for people, salmon and the magical #yubariver. I'm beyond proud to be one of the @yubariverpeople.

[Yuba Water Agency @YubaWater]

Thanks to our partners for their continued commitment to pursuing creative solutions to benefit the #YubaRiver: @TeichertInc, @yubariverpeople, @CalNatResources, @CaliforniaWCB, @USFWS, cbec eco engineering and Cramer Fish Sciences

Read more: https://t.co/RF2FBLXN1E

3/3

[Ian James @ByIanJames]

These farming families use more Colorado River water than some states: ProPublica & The Desert Sun found a majority of the water consumed by Imperial Valley farms goes to just 20 extended families. Outstanding reporting by @Nat_Lash & @janetwilson66 https://t.co/0qnTDBsnqb

[Fara Kaufman @justfara]

So, I spoke to people getting food at a food bank and here are some things I learned from those in need:
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.

In all the years I have donated food at the Holidays, I bought what I thought they wanted, but have never asked. I am glad I did. If you are helping a Family this Christmas, maybe this can help you tailor it more. It does for me!

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

@SoCalWaterComm To my understanding Sites in not financially viable without funding from SoCal water agencies, who would benefit the most from its storage. Perhaps it's time to give more consideration to the costs to NorCal economies communities and ecosystems.

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

@SoCalWaterComm I think it's safe to say that there is far from universal agreement with this statement. As just one quibble, I'd point out that "everyone" really means "State Water Project contractors," and so you've privileged your/their interests above many others.

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

@SoCalWaterComm Fair enough, and appreciate the response. But - CA's water history is one of appropriating rivers in one part of the state to benefit distant people and economies and, of course, agriculture. As our decimated salmon runs attest, there are real impacts from this disparity.

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

Fantastic! Salmonid habitat restoration at work !!!

[SYRCL @yubariverpeople]

Here's some recent footage from the Hallwood Side Channel and Floodplain Restoration Project, designed to improve the natural production of Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead 🐟

Check out our progress: https://t.co/67PwtC9xU7

[Russ McSpadden @PeccaryNotPig]

This poem by Austin Smith reminds me of my father’s love carrying me & all the times I’ve carried my kiddo & how finite parenthood is.

“One day many years from now
After your father has failed

To remember your name
You will only faintly remember

This night he carried you home

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

If you want to solve a problem, it's best to get to the root causes of the problem.

[Jay Lund @JayLund113]

Another reminder that as good as groundwater recharge is, there is no avoiding sizable agricultural water use reductions to end groundwater overdraft in California's southern Central Valley.
https://t.co/22PVsz4Q3F

[Dr. Pablo @PabloWater]

We need water meters in virtually every agricultural well in California. "Well metering is a key step toward generating shared data, but it is generally met with resistance." writes Casey Walsh https://t.co/sSYOt3DYUB

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

@northstreems I had to share the purple air app and DIY air filter instructions with my NY family. One said "I bet this is what the dinosaurs saw."

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

A wonderfully succinct riposte to one of the more pernicious statements of water greed and ignorance.

[Felicia Marcus @FeliciaMarcus]

A huge thanks to the authors for a clear concise explainer much needed in the California water war of words.
Water Wasted to the Sea? https://t.co/fkO265Dx5f via @UCDavisWater

[Jeff Odefey @OdefeyJ]

Again avoiding the behavior change needed to save the river. At some level I can't help but think we're just paying the actors who contribute to the crisis to stop doing the very thing that creates it.

[Tony Davis @tonydavis987]

John Fleck finds positive elements in the new Colorado River Basin agreement. But he likens its cash for conservation element to a “shakedown” that sets a bad precedent. Deadpool Diaries: “Nice river basin ya’ got there….” - jfleck at inkstain https://t.co/u6bGxlExER

[Kevin Moran @KmoranEDF]

EDF’s @DrKuzMan on #water management and the temporary rise in Lake Mead: “We can sit around and hope for five or six good winters but that’s not good water management, that’s just flailing around. We still have a huge underlying problem we need action.” https://t.co/6o5uOt8K9A