Saturday’s top of scroll: Science panel says Delta pumping restrictions are justified in California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 7:01 amSorry, no time to mash together the gazillion articles on the NAS reports this morning, so I’m going to excerpt one and give you the links to the rest. Here’s Matt Weiser’s coverage from the Sacramento Bee:
“A high-level science panel Friday concluded that federal rules that limit water diversions from the Delta to protect endangered fish are “scientifically justified,” dealing a blow to south state water interests that had hoped the review would punch holes in the rules.
The panel of 15 experts was appointed by the National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, in response to a formal request from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and the Interior Department. They made their request at the urging of water users – particularly San Joaquin Valley farmers – who say the federal restrictions on pumping in the Delta are ruining them financially.
Called biological opinions, the federal rules regulate how much water is diverted south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, depending on the needs of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and Delta smelt. State and federal water pumps in the Delta suck fish to their deaths and alter their habitat. The regulations aim to limit those effects by reducing pumping at certain times of year, depending on where the fish are. … “
Continue reading this article from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE OF THIS STORY:
- Scientists give mixed review of delta plans; Study says it’s too early to see whether smelt have been helped, from the Fresno Bee
- Study backs efforts to save delta fish, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Science’s ‘Supreme Court’ plunges into Delta dispute, from the Stockton Record (Log in or free registration required.)
- Scientists’ report only intensifies delta debate, from the Los Angeles Times
- California: Review Backs Water Limits, from the New York Times
- Report backs reduced water for ag; Fiorini appointed to Delta Stewardship Council, from the Turlock Journal
- New report: Water limit to Westside farms justified, from the Hanford Sentinel
- California Bay-Delta Water for Fish ‘Scientifically Justified’, from the Environment News Service
Download your copy of the NAS report here:
Senator Feinstein urges administration to respond to new National Academy of Sciences report on the Delta biological opinions; Calls for greater flexibility, robust adaptive management and integration of federal actions in the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:51 amFrom Senator Dianne Feinstein:
“I have great respect for the National Academy of Sciences, and I welcome this new analysis of the science governing the biological opinions in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This critical ecosystem is one of the most complex estuaries in the country, provides water supply for the nation’s largest agricultural breadbasket and drinking water supplies for California’s major cities, and is home to a number of endangered and migratory species.
The report issued today by the National Academy provides a useful assessment of the current biological opinions, and provides opportunities for federal agencies to lessen water export restrictions by implementing the opinions with additional flexibility.
The report’s authors conclude that the federal actions that restrict water flows to protect endangered and threatened fish species in the Delta are ‘scientifically justified,’ but the ‘scientific support for specific flow targets is less certain. Uncertainty in the effect of the triggers should be reduced, and more-flexible triggers that might require less water should be evaluated.’ (Page 5, pre-publication copy) … “
Much more from Dianne Feinstein by clicking here.
Boxer statement on National Academy of Sciences’ review of Delta water issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:48 am“Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today released a statement on the National Academy of Sciences’ review of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water issues, which highlighted how rigorous scientific monitoring and data modeling may help provide more flexibility in water supply management in this critical part of the state:
“I am encouraged by the initial review that has been done by the National Academy of Sciences. This study highlights areas where, with careful monitoring, there may be flexibility in how we manage water supplies for the benefit of agricultural communities, fishermen and all stakeholders. I look forward to hearing more from the NAS as they complete their investigation.”
The report released today is the first of two that the National Academy of Sciences will release on the Delta. The second report – which will examine various factors affecting the health of the Delta, including invasive species, urban wastewater discharge, and unscreened diversions – is slated for completion next year.”
Congressman Costa’s response to National Academy of Sciences review of Bay Delta water issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:47 amFrom the website of Congressman Jim Costa:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) today issued the following statement regarding the release of the National Academy of Sciences report on water management and Bay Delta health.
“Our Valley needs water to survive,” Costa said. “We have made real progress lately, but we can’t win this fight completely until the one-sided and flawed biological opinions being used to cut off our water are revised to reflect what is actually happening in the Delta. For too long, critics of our Valley have pointed fingers at our farmers, workers, and communities for the decline in Delta health. It is time for the science community, along with the Administration, to join me and the people of our Valley in saying, ‘Enough is enough.’”
According to the report: “[…] No scientific study has demonstrated that pumping in the south delta is the most important or the only factor accounting for the delta-smelt population decline. Therefore, the multiple other stressors that are affecting fish in the delta environment as well as in the other environments they occupy during their lives must be considered, as well as their comparative importance with respect to the effects of export pumping.” … “
More from Congressman Jim Costa by clicking here.
Score one for science, says SF Chronicle editorial on NAS findings
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:45 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle, this editorial:
“Score one for science. A national panel waded into California’s water wars and sided with salmon and smelt in a politically loaded showdown with Central Valley farmers.
The report sprinkled “scientifically justified” throughout its 64 pages, which backed up water curbs denounced by valley water agencies and farmers. The findings came with important caveats and a call for more research on the state’s sickly water system. But the message is clear: It’s time to negotiate water use and not look for a political knockout punch.
After three years of drought, the federal and state water pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta were dialed down to nearly zero, turning fertile Central Valley acreage into dust bowls in the nation’s biggest farming state. Adding to the restrictions were decisions by two federal agencies to withhold water for declining stocks of salmon, sturgeon and smelt. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Doug Obegi: National Academy of Sciences confirms that protections for endangered salmon and other species are “scientifically justified”
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:43 amFrom Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Today, the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council (NRC) publicly released its interim report on the science used in the biological opinions protecting salmon, delta smelt, and other endangered fish in California’s Bay-Delta estuary. The NRC’s report confirms that the agencies used the best available science in developing these biological opinions, finding that these protections are “scientifically justified” and have a “sound conceptual basis,” as Mike Doyle reported yesterday and the Los Angeles Times reported this morning.
The NRC’s conclusion is consistent with the findings of the numerous internal and external peer reviews of the two BO’s and their methodologies, which were conducted both before and after the two opinions were released. These BO’s, together, have 78 separate requirements. Given the complexity of those requirements, the relatively few recommendations for improvements are striking.
It is important to read the NRC review in the context of the scientific and agency reviews of the previous biological opinions. By contrast, those previous BO’s were found to have violated agency procedures and were found not to have incorporated the best available science. Those reviews led a federal court to reject them – leading to these new, and clearly improved, BO’s. … “
Continue reading this post from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Western Growers: 1st NAS Delta water study released, data lacking
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:41 amFrom PR Newswire, this press release from Western Growers:
“IRVINE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement today regarding the National Academy of Science’s (NAS) release of its first report on the Endangered Species Act-based restrictions on water pumping operations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta:
“We commend the NAS for this first report, which was produced in a very short period of time. The NAS focused on the scientific validity of the actions imposed by the federal fish agencies to restrict water pumping operations and attempted to identify alternative actions that would be equally or more protective of fish species while causing less economic harm to water users south of the Delta. It is interesting that the NAS characterized the impact of stressors to the fish species other than the pumps as ‘potentially large.’ These include urban wastewater discharges, predatory and invasive species, pesticide runoff and others factors. We look forward to the NAS’s second report which will thoroughly examine the impacts of these other stressors.
“The NAS’s report finds that reducing pumping to protect fish species has scientific validity, yet the report focuses on concern that ‘there is substantial uncertainty regarding the amount of flow that should trigger a reduction in exports.’ This is the heart of the matter. In fact, Senator Feinstein’s proposal to moderate the pumping restrictions within the confines of the biological opinions goes directly to this point. Lacking solid data that establishes the effectiveness of the reverse flow triggers used by federal agencies to reduce pumping, the agencies simply default to the most severe restrictions on water supply within their discretion. The agencies should require better monitoring of the effectiveness of these reverse flow restrictions and set triggers based this data, even if the result is to restore some water supply to farms and cities south of the Delta. … “
Continue reading this press release from Western Growers by clicking here.
EarthJustice: Top scientists validate restoration plan for California salmon
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:39 amFrom Unearthed, the blog of Earth Justice:
“A National Academy of Sciences review panel today announced findings that federal protections for salmon and other fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are scientifically justified. The determination by the panel comes after months of controversy sparked by the plan’s modest restrictions on massive pumps in the Delta. These huge pumps export water to farms and cities south of the Delta, but also cause Delta rivers to run backwards, pulling large numbers of baby salmon and other fish to their deaths.
The new federal plan, won by Earthjustice attorneys, requires the pumps to run below maximum capacity from January to June when baby salmon migrate through the Delta to the sea. Before the plan was put in place, unrestricted pumping not only contributed to the collapse of threatened Central Valley salmon runs, but helped drive the population of non-threatened, commercially-valuable Sacramento River king salmon to such low levels that ocean salmon fishing along one thousand miles of coastline was completely closed for the first time in history during 2008 and 2009. Sacramento king salmon have traditionally formed the backbone of sport and commercial salmon fishing in California and Oregon, and the closure cost thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of lost economic activity in both states. … “
Continue reading this post from Unearthed by clicking here.
Remaining appointees to the Delta Stewardship Council named
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:33 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“State leaders on Friday filled the remaining five slots of a new seven-member agency overseeing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the troubled estuary that has long sparked battles among water users, local residents and environmentalists.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, with four appointments to the Delta Stewardship Council, selected Turlock farmer Randy Fiorini, former Sacramento mayor and Delta task force chairman Phil Isenberg, retired biotech executive Henry Nordhoff and conservation lawyer Richard Roos-Collins.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, used his one appointment to select former state lawmaker Patrick Johnston, a Democrat who represented portions of the Delta in both the Senate and Assembly. … “
Continue reading this article from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
- Members of Delta Stewardship Council appointed, Contra Costa Times
- Schwarzenegger delta council appointees include Turlock businessman, Modesto Bee
- Johnston tapped for Delta council, from Stockton’s Record (Log-in or free registration required.)
- Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Four Members to Delta Stewardship Council, press release from the Office of the Governor
- ACWA Lauds Appointments to Delta Stewardship Council, press release from ACWA
Hearings could set new course for Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:17 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“Hearings beginning today are one of the first steps to be taken under sweeping water reform laws meant to strike a new balance in the Delta — proceedings that could help determine how water is divided between the environment and people.
Specifically, the State Water Resources Control Board today begins sorting out how much water must flow through the Delta to preserve its “public trust” values. The question, which returns to direction a state appeals court set in the 1980s that was never followed, could be answered in a number of ways.
“It could be the launching point for something very significant, or, depending on how it works out, it could be much ado about nothing,” said Richard Frank, executive director of the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley’s School of Law. … “
Continue reading this article from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Barge-scale cleanup in the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:09 am
From CNET News:
“Hundreds of abandoned vessels of varying sizes and stages of decay litter the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta’s 738,000 acres. Marine debris, some of which is decades old, is polluting the same waterways that provide drinking water to two-thirds of California with oil, hydraulic fuels, paints, and asbestos.
To address the issue, state waste management agency CalRecycle has teamed up with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department to eliminate these hazards from the system of natural and man-made water channels. But hauling out old boats, barges, and buildings is no easy feat.
The heavy equipment needed to break up, haul, and tow the debris, some of which is as large as houses, must be negotiated through the complex system of waterways with 10-ton vehicles moved to soft-soiled islands on barges. Managing the cleanup, commercial divers and work crews transport the materials to the appropriate disposal and recycling facilities.”
Check out this photo gallery from CNET by clicking here. More photos from CNET here.
From the Contra Costa Times:
“Sunny skies heralded a beautiful spring morning on the Delta, but along its waterways there was ugliness. Contra Costa County sheriff’s boats passed eyesore after eyesore last week as they wended their way toward Fisherman’s Cut, where another effort to remove junk from the San Joaquin River was under way.
On one side of the channel a crane was parked on a derelict barge; fire had all but destroyed a few more. Farther upstream, two tiny dilapidated houses sat on docks in the middle of the river.
But over the next few weeks, much of the blight and the dangers it poses will be disappearing. “All these ratty structures, they’re all going to come out,” said sheriff’s Deputy Jim Lambert of the agency’s Oakley-based marine patrol unit. … “
Continue reading this story from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Nunes on YouTube: “Water torture on Glenn Beck”
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:57 amCongressman Nunes appeared on Glenn Beck’s show recently to discuss water:
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Congresman Cardoza calls on government agencies to address predator fish that hurt Delta smelt and Valley agriculture
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:56 amFrom the website of Congressman Dennis Cardoza:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Cardoza called on state and federal agencies today to take immediate steps to address non-native striped bass that are feeding on protected salmon and Delta smelt.
“Our government agencies have known for some time that non-native striped bass in the Delta are responsible for predation of native, threatened Delta smelt and salmon,” said Congressman Cardoza. “However, these predator fish have been allowed to flourish while cuts have continued in the deliveries of irrigation water to the San Joaquin Valley. This makes absolutely no sense and we deserve more from our government agencies.”
The issue was raised in letters (below) sent from Congressman Cardoza to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the letters, Congressman Cardoza, joined by Congressman Jim Costa and George Radanovich, said the agencies must stop programs that protect the predator fish until taking into consideration their impact on the native species of Delta smelt and salmon. He also said that the fish must be managed in a way that complies with the Endangered Species Act, taking into consideration the implications to Delta smelt and salmon.
“It is apparent that the federal government has known about the predation problem for years and yet has continued to fund programs and allow actions that protect and maintain these sport-fishing populations to the detriment of native fishes, including Delta smelt, salmon, and steelhead,” states the letter to the federal agencies. … “
Continue reading this press release, along with copies of the letters sent, by clicking here.
PCL’s Green Roots blog: Californians ask “With 23,000 teachers receiving pink slips, how can we afford an $11.14 billion water bond?”
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:45 amFrom the Planning & Conservation League Green Roots blog:
“Tens of thousands of teachers across California will face unemployment this year as the state continues to struggle to pay its bills. In a press release on Monday, State Superintendent of Public Education Jack O’Connell said, “To date, 21,905 pink slips have been issued to teachers and other staff around the state this year. While I understand the Governor and the Legislature have tough decisions to make, these budget cuts are devastating our schools and impacting our ability to do the most important job in our society, that is, to teach our children.”
At the same time, some officials in Sacramento continue to campaign for an $11.14 billion water bond that will be on the ballot in November. … “
Continue reading this post from the Green Roots blog by clicking here.
Powerful state agency was weak when it came to the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:42 amFrom the Oakland Tribune:
“A powerful state agency with broad authority over water stayed on the sidelines as the Delta ecosystem crashed and California descended into its worst water crisis since the early 1990s.
Reforms passed by lawmakers in November are bringing the State Water Resources Control Board back into the game after a decade of inaction, but some question how it will respond.
Critics say they already see some water board members reluctant to act aggressively, taking a more limited view of the new law.
And the board has a history of shying away from the Delta’s controversies and complexities. “All of the laws have put the responsibility to fix this with the state board the whole time,” said Michael Jackson, an environmental lawyer and frequent critic of the board. “They’ve done nothing.” … “
Continue reading this article from the Oakland Tribune by clicking here.
Dan Bacher commentary: Hudson Riverkeeper honors Arnold the ‘Fish Terminator’
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:40 amFrom Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org:
“The Hudson Riverkeeper is honoring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the worst Governor for fish and the environment in California history, for his “environmental advocacy” at the “Riverkeeper’s Annual Fishermen’s Ball” on April 14. ” This is absurd as Henry Kissinger receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, it’s akin to giving Pol Pot an award for his human rights record!
I have been a member of the Klamath Riverkeeper since the organization started and was a strong, outspoken supporter of the DeltaKeeper organization throughout its existence. I am livid over this move by the Hudson Riverkeeper to honor a guy that makes former California Governors Gray Davis and Pete Wilson look like veritable John Muirs in comparison.
More than any journalist in the country, I have documented in article after article Schwarzenegger’s crimes against fish and the environment when most corporate media sources and some “environmental” NGOs have greenwashed the Governor’s record. The Riverkeeper must be condemned for honoring the guy who has presided over the unprecedented collapse of Central Valley salmon, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, striped bass, green sturgeon and other California fish populations.
How can the Hudson Riverkeeper possibly honor the Governor who continually campaigns for the construction of a peripheral canal and more dams, who has constantly slashed the budget for Department of Fish and Game biologists and game wardens, who has attacked Endangered Species Act protections for Delta smelt and Central Valley salmon and who has eviscerated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)? … “
Continue reading this commentary from Dan Bacher by clicking here.
Nunes: Democrats pass another water bill: This time for Southern CA
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:36 amFrom Congressman Devin Nunes, posted at You Tube:
“First, waste water recycling for the Bay Area. Now Southern California water quality becomes a top Congressional priority. Meanwhile, no action is taken to address the government-imposed drought confronting the San Joaquin Valley. ”
Planning & Conservation League: Affordable Water Solutions set for release March 25 at the Water Education Foundation’s Executive Briefing
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:29 amFrom the Planning and Conservation League:
“The Planning and Conservation League’s “8 Affordable Water Solutions for California” will be released at 11:00 a.m., March 25th at the Water Education Foundation’s Executive Briefing at Sacramento’s Doubletree Hotel 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento.
These eight solutions have specific recommendations, including funding sources, for clean water, Delta conveyance, an affordable water bond and more. Copies of the “8 Affordable Water Solutions for California” will be posted on PCL’s website, www.pcl.org at noon on the 25th.”
Bureau of Reclamation & DWR to discuss water delivery allocations at State Board of Food and Agriculture meeting Wednesday the 24th
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:25 amFrom the California Department of Food & Agriculture:
“SACRAMENTO, March 18, 2010 — The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will address federal and state water delivery allocations at its upcoming meeting on March 24, 2010. The meeting will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 1220 ‘N’ Street – Main Auditorium, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Regional Director Donald R. Glaser, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will be providing remarks.
“California’s water challenges continue despite recent winter weather,” said CDFA Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “Farmers need to hear from federal and state officials on the future water outlook and the proactive steps government agencies are taking to assist during this difficult time.”
The meeting will also include presentations by Thomas Birmingham, General Manager, Westlands Water District, and Daniel Nelson, Executive Director, San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority. The board will also continue its dialogue with Australian Water Officials from the State of Victoria with presentations by David Downie, Department of Sustainability and Environment, and Murray Smith, Northern Victoria Irrigation Renewal Project.
“Misperceptions continue to dominate the headlines,” said Al Montna, President of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “The crisis is real. Farmers are going bankrupt and farm workers are losing their jobs – we need action by federal and state water agencies.”
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and secretary of food and agriculture of findings as they impact agriculture and consumer needs. The board conducts forums that bring together local, state, and federal government officials, agricultural representatives, and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.
All California State Board of Food and Agriculture meetings are open to the media and general public.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture protects and promotes California’s agriculture.“
Plastiki, the plastic bottle boat, to set sail
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:22 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“The Plastiki, a boat with a hull built of 12,500 plastic bottles, was set to sail from a Sausalito yacht harbor this morning on a risky and adventurous voyage across the Pacific.
The purpose, said expedition leader David de Rothschild, is to draw attention to the health of the oceans and to demonstrate the value of recycled plastic bottles. De Rothschild and his crew of five hope to sail to Australia, a voyage of about 11,000 nautical miles. … “
Continue reading this article from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Water crimped to Klamath farmers; federal plan aims to protect threatened salmon in the Klamath River
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:19 amFrom the Eureka Times-Standard:
“The federal government has ordered significantly reduced water deliveries to Upper Klamath Basin farms this year, responding to concerns over drought and potential harm to protected salmon in the Klamath River.
Farms in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Klamath Irrigation Project will get only 30 percent to 40 percent of the water they are allocated in average years, while remaining water will be sent down the river to keep coho salmon from being harmed. The action comes after the National Marine Fisheries Service determined that the bureau’s intended water deliveries would jeopardize coho and prompted the change in operations.
The crisis is likely to strain relations forged among tribes, fishermen, farmers and conservationists who in February signed parallel agreements to tear our four dams on the Klamath and embark on a $1 billion restoration effort. The legislation to put those plans in place is still being written. … “
Continue reading this article from the Eureka Times-Standard by clicking here.
Cities decry Water Agency’s proposed 10% rate hike
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:17 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“Santa Rosa and Petaluma, hard hit by sweeping budget reductions, are calling on the Sonoma County Water Agency to make some cuts of its own instead of passing on rate increases of 9 to 10 percent.
The cities are especially unhappy because they have laid off hundreds of workers and curtailed services, and now face the prospect of telling residents they have to pay higher water bills.
“We are all making cuts to programs and staff and benefits,” said Santa Rosa Mayor Susan Gorin. “It is important for the Water Agency to look to reduce their costs as well.”
It also rankles cities that at the same time the Water Agency is proposing the increase, it wants city residents to cut back on water use as they did during the water shortage last summer.
“When local governments like the cities and the county are facing a lot of layoffs and no increases, it is very hard for us as contractors to justify a rate increase, especially if they are planning on delivering less water,” said Petaluma Mayor Pam Torliatt. … “
Continue reading this article from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
Anthony Peak: Snowpack, water in good shape
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:15 amFrom the Colusa Sun-Herald:
“Snowpack measurements taken at Anthony Peak in the Mendocino National Forest show that precipitation this winter is slightly above average.
The average snowpack measured at the end of February was 70.4 inches, with water content measuring 25.7 inches, forest officials reported on Thursday. Those measurements are 113 percent of the average snowpack and 105 percent of average water content, according to the report.
The historic average for this time of year is 61.8 inches of snow pack and 24.7 inches of water content. … “
Continue reading this article from the Colusa Sun-Herald by clicking here.
In Napa, a new path to using less water
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:12 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“On close inspection, one thing stands out amid the vines at Dominus: You’d be hard-pressed to find thin black water hoses running down the rows.
Irrigation tubing is so ubiquitous in California that the lack is disconcerting. Yet that was always the plan laid out by proprietor Christian Moueix in 1981, when he agreed to make wine from the Yountville site.
“My first sentence was, I will need 20 years to make a good wine,” Moueix recalls. “My second sentence was, I will make a wine without irrigation or acidification, or I won’t make my wine. For us it’s just common sense.”
Yountville isn’t the most arduous place to farm, but one of its historic vineyards, the Napanook site now owned by Dominus, provides a contrarian blip amid California’s pervasive water use. As water worries mount, the lessons from this slice of Napa are worth acknowledging. … “
Continue reading this article from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Santa Clara Valley: Keep pumping fee for water supply funding, says editorial
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:10 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“The Santa Clara Valley Water District is in a bind. A court ruling on a lawsuit by well owners has placed a major source of the district’s revenue, a groundwater fee, in serious question. So the public agency now is asking the well owners for permission to continue charging them the fee, which brings in $70 million a year — a quarter of the district’s budget.
They might well say no, but that would be a mistake. It’s our water supply they’re toying with. Keeping the system strong is important not only for residents but for the region’s economy: Nothing, not even high taxes, will drive companies away as surely as uncertainty about the water supply.
The water district maintains that supply, among other responsibilities. It provides water to the utilities and private companies that sell it to consumers. About half of that water comes from wells — but two thirds of the well water is put into the ground by the water district, drawing on reservoirs and imported supplies. This is the basis for the fee, which owners call the pump tax. Other water districts have similar fees, some significantly higher. … “
Continue reading this article from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Clamicide: Scientists prepare to eradicate larger areas of Asian clam infestation this summer
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:07 amFrom the Tahoe Daily Tribune:
“SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Clams beware — the scientists are out to get you; consider the Fourth of July your judgment day.
This summer Tahoe scientists will continue to eradicate portions of the Asian clam population in Lake Tahoe by putting rubber tarps over areas of their nesting grounds. As proven by tests last summer, the tarps suffocate the clams and can kill off small populations. After the Fourth of July, scientists will test the method on larger areas — two half-acre plots near Lakeside Marina and Marla Bay.
“We don’t have a day nailed down yet; we need to make sure we are operating in a manner that works for the water purveyors,” said Ted Thayer, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Aquatic Invasive Species Program manager.
The thumbnail-size clams were discovered in small groups in 2002. Since then, they have grown in population and cover many areas along Tahoe’s southeast shore. … “
Continue reading this article from the Tahoe Daily Tribune by clicking here.
Commentary: Have the rains solved the local water shortage?
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:01 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel, this commentary by Ron Duncan, manager for the Soquel Creek Water District:
“After a long, rainy winter, the recent sunshine has been a welcome friend. So with rainfall being on par with normal this year, does this mean the water shortage issues in Santa Cruz County are over?
The answer is a clear “no” for those served by water agencies that rely on groundwater and for people relying on private groundwater wells. The fact is long-term conservation is still very much needed in a large portion of our county.
Unlike the city of Santa Cruz, which relies almost exclusively on surface water like the San Lorenzo River, most of the county depends on groundwater from natural underground aquifers that are in a state of “overdraft.”
The overdraft is due to pumping more water from the aquifers than is being recharged from the rains. Since about 85 percent of the water used in the county comes from aquifers, most of which are overdrafted, the region is facing a gradual and long-term water shortage. … “
Continue reading this commentary by clicking here.
Ventura County: Builders predict more problems; Panelists expect stormwater limits to return
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 4:59 amFrom the Ventura County Star:
“Builders and developers got what they wanted last week when water regulators agreed to revisit the stormwater runoff permit issued last year for Ventura County, a permit the development industry claims would cripple business.
But at a housing and development conference in Camarillo on Friday, the general consensus was that the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board will issue a new permit that’s very similar to the old one. Regulators are committed to reducing runoff because it sends polluted water to the ocean and speeds up erosion of hillsides and streams.
“California had a flood-control culture for many years,” said Mark Grey, director of environmental affairs for the Building Industry Association of Southern California. “Now we have a sustainability culture.” … “
Continue reading this article from the Ventura County Star by clicking here.
Southern California: Water workshops for arid lands (free!)
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 4:57 amThe LA Creek Freak has information on a series of free workshops for Do-It-Yourselfers on how you can upgrade your property to be sustainable and water-efficient. Rainwater harvesting, water smart landscapes, and green roofs & walls will be covered.
Click here for more information from the LA Creek Freak.
Baca sponsors legislation requesting water resources feasibility study for Soboba Band
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 4:53 amFrom the website of Congressman Joe Baca:
“Today, Congressman Joe Baca (D-Rialto) introduced legislation to direct the Secretary of the Army to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of carrying out a project to address the water resource development and management needs of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians Reservation. The legislation authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to appropriate $1.7 million to complete the feasibility study.
“Proper use and management of our water resources is becoming increasingly critical to the quality of life in the Inland Empire,” said Rep. Baca. “I am pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation, which directs the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to carry out a long overdue feasibility study on the Soboba Reservation. Especially in these times of continued drought, protecting the water resources of our tribal communities is essential to their future growth and economic well-being.”
In 2008, Congress enacted the Soboba Settlement Act, which included funding for the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians, to settle water-related claims against the United States. But before the Soboba community can begin construction on new water related structures and systems, they need a feasibility study to ensure the construction can be carried out safely and in a cost-effective manner. … “
Continue reading this press release from Congressman Joe Baca by clicking here.
Helix Water District: Water budgets proposed for big lots
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 4:51 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“LA MESA — Customers of the Helix Water District who live on large lots could be placed on a water budget if officials get their way.
Instead of a simply paying higher prices for using more water, customers who live on lots larger than half an acre would be put on a water budget at the beginning of a season or a billing period. The amount would depend on a variety of factors, including the size of their property and the number of people in their household.
Customers would pay higher rates when they exceeded their allotted amount. Those on smaller lots would remain on the district’s three-tiered rate structure, paying more when they exceeded certain usage levels.
The Helix board voted unanimously Wednesday to develop the new rate structure. Helix General Manager Mark Weston said an analysis of the plan would take about a year before it would be implemented. … “
Continue reading this article from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Group to protest applications to draw water from rural Nevada
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 4:49 amFrom the Las Vegas Sun:
“A group composed of ranchers, miners, environmentalists and others intends to lodge objections to the newly filed 146 applications of the Southern Nevada Water Authority to draw water from rural counties to populous Las Vegas.
Abby Johnson of the Great Basin Water Network, which won a decision in the Nevada Supreme Court over the water authority, says it will file its protests to the applications that seek 250,000 acre-feet of water from several counties in eastern Nevada.
Great Basin wasn’t operating in 1989 when the water authority filed its first applications for water in rural Nevada. But it was the lead plaintiff in the suit to overturn the decision of the state engineer’s office to allocate 40,000 acre-feet of water from Spring Valley. … “
Read more from the Las Vegas Sun by clicking here.
Governor Schwarzenegger appoints four members to Delta Stewardship Council
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 4:26 pmFrom the Office of the Governor:
“Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Francis Randall “Randy” Fiorini, Philip Isenberg, Henry “Hank” Nordhoff and Richard Roos-Collins to the Delta Stewardship Council.
“The Delta Stewardship Council was established as part of last year’s groundbreaking legislation to reform, restore and rebuild California’s vital water system. This council will work collaboratively to develop a plan to achieve the co-equal goals of restoring the Delta ecosystem and ensuring water supply reliability,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Each of these individuals possesses the qualities, experiences and unique perspectives that are necessary to help the council meet these goals and implement the most comprehensive effort in decades to save and restore California’s Delta and secure our water supply for the future.”
Fiorini, 56, of Turlock, has been managing partner of Fiorini Ranch since 1975 and managing partner of FarmCo since 2001. Previously, he was president of Fiorini Family Vineyards from 2002 to 2008 and owner of Farm Data from 1984 to 2000. Fiorini is past president and board member of the Association of California Water Agencies, past board president and director of Turlock Irrigation District Division #5, and past president and board member of the California Farm Water Coalition. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in fruit science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Fiorini is a Republican.
Isenberg, 71, of Sacramento, has served as president of Isenberg/O’Haren Government Relations since 2005. From 1977 to 2004, he was counsel for Miller, Owens and Trost, Attorneys at Law. Previously, Isenberg served as a member of the California State Assembly representing the 9th District from 1992 to 1996 and the 10th District from 1982 to 1992. From 1975 to 1982, he was mayor of the city of Sacramento. Isenberg served as chair of the California Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force from 2004 to 2006 and served as chair of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force from 2007 to 2008. He is also a member of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy Advisory Board. Isenberg earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science and government from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Isenberg is a Democrat.
Nordhoff, 68, of Del Mar, was president and chief executive officer of Gen-Probe Incorporated from 1994 until his retirement in 2009. Currently, he serves as chairman. From 1992 to 1994, Nordhoff served as president and chief executive officer of TargeTech and, from 1988 to 1992, he was president and chief executive officer of American Biogenetic Sciences. From 1986 to 1988, Nordhoff was vice president of mergers and acquisition for Sterling Drug Company and from 1970 to 1986, he worked for Pfizer Inc. in the U.S., Europe and Asia. His last position at Pfizer was director of licensing and business development. Nordhoff earned a Master of Business Administration degree in international business and finance from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and political economy from Johns Hopkins University. Nordhoff served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Nordhoff is a Republican.
Roos-Collins, 56, of Berkeley, has been director of legal services for the Natural Heritage Institute Since 1991. Previously, he served as deputy attorney general of the public rights division for the California Department of Justice from 1989 to 1991. From 1986 to 1989, Roos-Collins was attorney-advisor for the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He is co-chair of the Agricultural Water Management Council and a member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Steering Committee. Roos-Collins is also director of the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council and founding director of the Hydropower Reform Coalition. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Princeton University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Roos-Collins is a Democrat.
The Delta Stewardship Council was created in SBX7 1 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), which established the framework to achieve the co-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply to California and restoring and enhancing the Delta ecosystem.
As created in the bill, the Delta Stewardship Council consists of seven members, four appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
The Council is tasked with:
* Developing a Delta Plan to guide state and local actions in the Delta in a manner that furthers the co-equal goals of Delta restoration and water supply reliability;
* Developing performance measures for the assessment and tracking of progress and changes to the health of the Delta ecosystem, fisheries, and water supply reliability;
* Determining if a state or local agency’s project in the Delta is consistent with the Delta Plan and the co-equal goals, and acting as the appellate body in the event of a claim that such a project is inconsistent with the goals; and
* Determining the consistency of the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) with the co-equal goals.”
Science justifies California water limits
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 2:23 pm
From Reuters News:
“Federal limits on water that can be pumped out of a major river delta for California farmers are scientifically justified, a much-anticipated report said on Friday, a finding hailed by environmentalists in the state’s epic water wars.
But the National Academy of Sciences stopped short of handing a decisive victory to environmental interests over agricultural interests. The academy said further study was required and that threats to Chinook salmon, delta smelt and other endangered fish were not entirely caused by the pumping.
“The Academy of Sciences report clearly validates the biological opinions,” Ann Hayden, a senior water resource analyst for the Environmental Defense Fund, said of regulations devised under court order by federal wildlife biologists and issued in late 2008.
“It’s time to stop pitting the economic interests of farmers against fishermen and move forward to find solutions,” Hayden said. “We have pushed the Bay-Delta system to the brink of collapse and saving it — and the jobs that depend on it — is going to require increased cooperation among all interests.” … “
Continue reading this article from Reuters by clicking here.
Legal Planet blog: Delta NRC committee issues initial report
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 2:19 pmFrom the Legal Planet blog:
“The National Research Council’s Committee on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta released its first report this morning (also available through the National Academies Press web site, with registration). On a quick review of the summary, the conclusions are unsurprising — the Committee finds that the provisions of the Biological Opinions for protecting Delta smelt and winter-run chinook salmon are scientifically justified and conceptually sound, but that there is a great deal of uncertainty about the precise triggers for pumping restrictions. Seems to me we already knew exactly that, but there’s no harm in having yet another authoritative voice say so.
The report makes several useful contributions to the ongoing management debate.
First:
The committee concludes that reversing or even slowing the declines of the listed species cannot be accomplished immediately. Even the best-targeted methods of reversing the fish declines will need time to take effect amid changing environmental conditions such as multi-year droughts and continued pressures on the system from other human-caused stresses. Especially for fishes whose populations are very low already, the effects of any actions will be difficult to detect at first, and detecting them will be made more difficult by the effects of other environmental changes and uncertainties inherent in sampling small populations.
Again, this was already well known among those working on the Delta ecosystem, but the big water users seem to have managed to obscure it in the public discussion with their loud and repeated complaints that it has not been proven that export restrictions are helping the fish. Inevitably, when a population has been allowed to dwindle to the extent these fish species have, recovery cannot be immediate, and even detecting positive effects will be difficult and may take considerable time. It is unreasonable to demand, and the ESA wisely does not require, that benefits be immediate or obvious. … “
Find out what else the Legal Planet blog thinks about the NAS report by clicking here.
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Recent Posts
- Saturday’s top of scroll: Science panel says Delta pumping restrictions are justified in California
- Senator Feinstein urges administration to respond to new National Academy of Sciences report on the Delta biological opinions; Calls for greater flexibility, robust adaptive management and integration of federal actions in the Delta
- Boxer statement on National Academy of Sciences’ review of Delta water issues
- Congressman Costa’s response to National Academy of Sciences review of Bay Delta water issues
- Score one for science, says SF Chronicle editorial on NAS findings
- Doug Obegi: National Academy of Sciences confirms that protections for endangered salmon and other species are “scientifically justified”
- Western Growers: 1st NAS Delta water study released, data lacking
- EarthJustice: Top scientists validate restoration plan for California salmon
- Remaining appointees to the Delta Stewardship Council named
- Hearings could set new course for Delta
- Barge-scale cleanup in the Delta
- Nunes on YouTube: “Water torture on Glenn Beck”
- Congresman Cardoza calls on government agencies to address predator fish that hurt Delta smelt and Valley agriculture
- PCL’s Green Roots blog: Californians ask “With 23,000 teachers receiving pink slips, how can we afford an $11.14 billion water bond?”
- Powerful state agency was weak when it came to the Delta
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