Thursday’s top of the scroll: Environmentalists stunned by failures of key measures in Legislature
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:31 am
From the Los Angeles Times:
“Environmentalists were counting on big gains in Sacramento this summer, with a governor eager to burnish his green credentials in his final months in office. But by the time the legislative session ended at midnight Tuesday, those hopes had fizzled.
Activists had worked for passage of such pioneering measures as a ban on plastic grocery bags and expanded use of the sun, wind and other renewable resources to power California homes and businesses. But the bold proposals they saw as a springboard to nationwide environmental efforts collapsed in the face of aggressive industry opposition that included intensive lobbying, television advertising and even mail to voters.
“We’re in shock,” said Mark Gold, president of the nonprofit Heal the Bay, which had helped lead a large coalition of activists, retailers and unions crusading for the bag ban. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
ACWA gives its legislative rundown here: ACWA Bill Goes to Governor; Water Rights Measure Dies on Assembly Floor
How to restore the Colorado River: An interview with Brad Udall and Osvel Hinojosa
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:27 am
From The Grist:
“The Colorado River hasn’t reached the sea in ages. Is there hope left for this storied but manhandled river? Jonathan Waterman, author of Running Dry: A Journey from Source to Sea Down the Colorado River, brought together two experts from either end of the river to talk about what’s happened to the river over the years, and how to get more water flowing in the future.
Brad Udall is the director of Western Water Assessment, based out of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offices in Boulder, Colo. Osvel Hinojosa works as director of the water and wetlands program from the Mexican environmental group Pronatura.
Jonathan Waterman: So while you’re both involved a lot with agencies that have to do with safeguarding water and the Colorado River throughout the basin, we’ve also chosen to talk with you because you live, essentially, at opposite ends of the spectrum — in the state of Colorado near the headwaters, and then in the Mexican delta, where the river runs dry. And these are ideal positions to show the range of river issues. … “
Continue reading from The Grist by clicking here.
Picture of the Colorado River by flickr photographer StormeTX.
Pacific Legal Foundation commentary: Clean water, Yes; Federal micro-management, No.
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:19 amFrom the Pacific Legal Foundation:
“Keeping our rivers, lakes, and streams clean is vitally important. So is preserving the legal protections that safeguard our liberties.
Unfortunately, the cause of clean water is being used as an excuse for two federal power grabs that imperil liberty by undermining property rights and accountability in government.
The assault on accountability comes from the Army Corps of Engineers. Recently, the Corps arbitrarily granted itself power over 53 million acres of agricultural property that had previously been beyond its reach—an area, in total, half the size of California. … “
Continue reading from the Pacific Legal Foundation by clicking here.
On the Public Record blog: More on the LHC report, and thoughts on the day’s news
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:17 amFrom the ever-popular On the Public Record blog, more thoughts on the Little Hoover Commission report, including this:
” … if DWM is going to take on water rights authority, it should have water quality authority as well. Water rights and water quality are inextricably linked. The volume of water determines pollutant loads, both concentrations and temperature. The State and Regional Boards are putting a lot of effort into managing salts right now; moving water IS moving salts, so that goes straight back to permission to move water.
The famous State Board decisions about water quality standards in the Delta are also flow decisions about how much water is required to push the salt concentrations westward. If Water Rights were to come over to (the proposed, new) DWM, I think it would rapidly become conspicuous that they still need to do their work hand in hand with Water Quality. … “
Continue reading from On the Public Record blog by clicking here. (Link is now fixed.)
And if you’re thirsting for more, the On the Public Record blog comments on shipping water, Asian carp, and water credit cards here.
California Farm Water Coalition: Irrigation decisions often influenced by outside factors
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:11 amFrom the California Farm Water Coalition:
“A survey of San Joaquin Valley farmers about their irrigation practices reveals that irrigation decisions – when and how much water to apply to a crop – are largely influenced by factors outside of the control of the farmer.
The Agricultural Water Management Council with the cooperation of the California Farm Water Coalition conducted a phone survey of 414 farmers. Conducting the survey was Astone of Fresno, an independent survey firm within California.
Agricultural Water Management Council Executive Director Mike Wade said the report provides important insight into the irrigation system decisions that farmers make. “Many factors influence irrigation decisions on the farm,” said Wade. “This new report helps identify the challenges and opportunities that exist in improving on-farm water use efficiency.” … “
Continue reading from the California Farm Water Coalition by clicking here.
Chronciles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood blog: More doubts about the drought
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:09 amFrom Patrick Porgans at the Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood blog:
“Figures obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, August 31, 2010, show the Golden State’s agricultural earnings have reached historic highs during the so-called three-year drought.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture, (USDA), California’s cash receipts from crop and livestock sales, in billions of dollars, are as follows: 2009- $34.841; 2008- $38.407; 2007- $36.386; 2006- $31.426; 2005 – $32.4; 2004- $30.939; 2003- $28.232; 2002- $26.544; 2000 – $26.206; and 2000- $25.185.
California’s Governor Schwarzenegger, state water officials, 60 Minutes’ Leslie Stahl, and Fox Cable TV host Sean Hannity, were among those espousing their “Dust Bowl” drought rhetoric for the past three years, depicting images or fallow fields, orchards being ripped out and projections of the state’s agricultural industry going under. It appears their doomsday predictions were all wet. … “
Southern California Water Committee: The many stresses on the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 9:06 amFrom the Southern California Water Committee:
“The fragile state of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta (Delta) has taken center stage among scientists from across the nation. The region – a watery web of rivers, sloughs and diverse landscapes – is home to an array of plants and wildlife, and is a critical pathway for moving water to the Bay Area, the Central Valley and Southern California.
In recent years, state and federal authorities have severely limited water deliveries through the Delta in an attempt to help endangered fish populations such as Delta smelt and salmon. And now, researchers and scientists are turning their attention to a much wider range of forces believed to be contributing to the demise of the Delta’s ecosystem. … “
Continue reading at the Southern California Water Committee website by clicking here.
Event: The 2010 Water Quality & Regulatory Conference
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:54 am
From the Water Education Foundation:
The 2010 Water Quality Conference: Early Bird Registration Ends September 15!
Learn the latest on water quality, technology and emerging contaminants from 50 leading experts at this two-day, three-track conference on November 3-4 at the Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center in Ontario, CA.
The 2010 Water Quality & Regulatory Conference: With Security & Emergency Response will feature special sessions exploring topics such as emergency response, perchlorate, and public perception on emerging contaminants. Designed for water agencies, engineers, regulators, treatment plant operators, academics, researchers and elected officials, this is an amazing educational opportunity you can’t afford to miss!
Secure your spot for the special registration rate of $299 until September 15. After September 15 the fee is $350 or you can register on-site for $370. This fee includes continental breakfast, lunch both days and a hosted reception November 3.
Visit http://www.watereducation.org/doc.asp?id=1353&parentID=849 to register securely online or to learn more, or call (916) 444-6240 with any questions.
Asian carp the new bullies of America’s waterways
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:53 amFrom the San Luis Obispo Tribune:
“Cold-blooded. Spawning faster than rabbits. Leaping boats in a single swish. Leaving in their wake, dozens of slack-jawed (and several cases of tooth-loosened) fishermen, kayakers, water skiers and anyone else who dares to trespass through their watery world.
Asian silver carp are becoming the new bullies in America’s waterways, said a Missouri fish biologist.
“They’re here, they’re a problem, they’re not going away soon. And they could potentially be life-threatening,” said Duane Chapman, a research fish biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey and national expert on invasive carp species. … “
Continue reading from the San Luis Obispo Tribune by clicking here.
Abu Dhabi: Multiplying the yield of an oasis
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:48 am
Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates and it’s second largest city, has invested heavily in desalination plants along the Persian Gulf to meet the water demands of its 1.2 million residents, which puts them in a rather precarious position, according to this article in the New York Times:
” … Abu Dhabi may be a desert country, but its daily water consumption per head is higher than that in most places in the world, at about 650 liters, or 170 gallons. In the United States, for example, daily consumption is 300 liters per person, and in many European countries, it is less than half that. Desalinated water is used for golf courses, agriculture and car washes. As much as half is used to water public spaces.
But all this conspicuous consumption is based on a shaky foundation: If something — an attack, a natural disaster or a major oil spill in the Gulf — should put the desalination plants out of operation, the emirate’s reserves, now stored in above-ground water tanks, would be exhausted within 48 hours. “That would be a disaster,” said Mohamed Dawoud of the water resources department at the Abu Dhabi Environment Agency, acknowledging the emirate’s weak spot. … “
Read the full text of this article from the New York Times by clicking here.
YouTube: Russian River biological opinions
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:34 amPosted on YouTube by the Sonoma County Water Agency:
The Sonoma County Water Agency teamed up with NBC Bay Area and several other water agencies from around the Bay Area to produce a public education television program called “Water Matters.” The television program features the Russian River Biological Opinion.
Small leak on Morris Dam poses no danger to stability
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:30 amFrom the Willits News:
“Operators discovered a small leak on Morris Dam, the main water supply reservoir for the City of Willits. It was discovered during a routine inspection in mid-August.
The leak was inspected by engineers who rappelled down the face of the dam in climbing harnesses August 19. The leak is estimated to be about .4 gallons per minute and can be stopped by a person placing his finger into the hole. … “
Continue reading from the Willits News by clicking here.
United — but not without cost: Marine Protected Area proposal finds consensus in North Coast group
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:28 amFrom the Eureka Times-Standard:
“Representatives of North Coast fishing, environmental and tribal interests on Tuesday did what no other group has done: Come up with a single proposal to put certain areas along the coast off limits to fishing and gathering as part of the 1999 Marine Life Protection Act.
The regional stakeholders group hashed out the final details of the proposal that will be sent along to a Blue Ribbon Task Force and on to the Fish and Game Commission for final approval in December.
”Single proposal — we did it,” said Adam Wagschal, conservation director for the Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District. … “
Continue reading from the Eureka Times-Standard by clicking here.
Sierra droughts: Tahoe’s drowned forest
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:26 amFrom the Sierra Sun:
“Lake Tahoe is a reservoir controlled by the dam at Tahoe City with water storage equal to six feet and one inch. There is a federal limit on the maximum level of the lake so that it may not exceed 6,229.1 feet in elevation, but when the lake drops to 6,223 feet no more surface water can feed into the Truckee River. During times of drought, Tahoe’s low levels affect boaters, wildlife and water management.
Droughts have always impacted the region, some worse than others. During a severe drought in the early 1930s, Tahoe’s surface level fell below the rim and exposed tree stumps off the beach of the Tallac Historic Site near South Lake Tahoe. … “
Continue reading from the Sierra Sun by clicking here.
Recycled wastewater boosts Redwood City supply
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:24 amFrom the San Francisco Examiner:
“The greenery encircling Electronic Arts’ corporate offices in Redwood Shores was kept alive with pristine drinking water from the Hetch Hetchy system until about a year and a half ago.
That’s when the gaming giant decided to start using recycled sewage water to keep its grass green, one of the dozens of customers to link up with Redwood City’s rapidly expanding system.
The city recently finished the first phase of the $72 million bond-funded project, a sprawling network of purple pipes in Redwood Shores and near the Port of Redwood City connected to a series of pumps that hum away next door to a sewage treatment plant. … “
Continue reading from the San Francisco Examiner by clicking here.
Fish passageways will help steelhead trout
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:21 amFrom The Acorn:
“The endangered Southern California steelhead trout will receive a fighting chance at repopulating the region’s waterways if several environmental agencies can convince the city of Malibu that their plan to reestablish the fish’s migration routes is viable.
The Solstice Creek Culvert Crossing fish passage project has been the pet project of Caltrans, the Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, National Marine Fisheries Service and other agencies and environmental groups for more than a decade.
According to Rosi Dagit, a senior biologist with the conservation district, a concrete channel under the Pacific Coast Highway near Kanan Road has hampered the migration of the trout from the ocean to streams where they spawn. The species is almost extinct. … “
Continue reading from The Acorn by clicking here.
EPA proposes $69.2 million plan to contain 4.2-mile-long contaminated underground water plume from Whittier to Norwalk
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:15 amFrom the Pasadena Star News:
“The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a $69.2 million plan to contain a 4.2-mile-long contaminated underground water plume that stretches from Whittier to Norwalk.
The water is contaminated with solvents from the former Omega Chemical Co. Superfund site, 12504 and 12512 Whittier Blvd., a hazardous waste recycling business that was open from 1976-91, said Lynda Deschambault, project manager for the EPA.
In addition, there are contaminants, such as chromium and oil, from some existing and past industrial plants in the area. … “
Continue reading this article from the Pasadena Star-News by clicking here.
$600K will help revive San Diego wetland habitat
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:12 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“New state funding will help restore receded wetlands in south San Diego Bay, an ambitious effort to help fish and wildlife displaced by farming and development.
Conservationists want to return the barren area to what it once was: a coastal habitat for native wildlife. Among the animals that could benefit from restoration is a federally endangered songbird called the least Bell’s vireo.
What’s seen in San Diego is part of a troubling national trend. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Superyacht-ready facility still waits for Water Board approval; Meetings continue to be canceled due to lack of quorom
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:10 amFrom The Log:
“It took a fleet of tugboats to bring a massive drydock through San Diego Bay to its new home at Knight & Carver YachtCenter. But the new facility designed to lift vessels weighing up 4,000 tons — allowing full service and maintenance repairs on superyachts larger than 100 feet in length — now sits unused, waiting for the San Diego Regional Water Quality Board to approve its operation.
The problem? Lack of a quorum, which has resulted in cancellation of board meetings.
Knight & Carver YachtCenter submitted its application for an amendment that would allow for operation of the drydock in May. … “
Continue reading from The Log by clicking here.
State lawmakers create sea council
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:09 am
From MyDesert.com:
“No project’s been approved by the state legislature to restore the dying Salton Sea. And the billions of dollars such a project will take are nowhere in sight.
But lawmakers on Tuesday night took one step toward a fix of problems at California’s largest lake, approving creation of a governing council to manage any projects at the sea.
State Sen. Denise Ducheny’s bill to create the Salton Sea Restoration Council passed the state Assembly on a 51-25 vote on Tuesday, the last day of the legislative session. It then passed the state Senate 26-4. … “
Continue reading from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
IID to receive state funding for drain, silt-related maintenance
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 8:06 amFrom the Imperial Valley Press:
“The state will give Imperial Irrigation District $900,000 over three years to cover the costs of silt reduction, which the federal government mandates and the state government enforces.
“If you want to be an irrigation district in California, you have to do it,” said David Bradshaw, IID assistant water manager for agriculture water management, about silt maintenance. … “
Continue reading from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.
Reclamation: Desalting plant trial running smoothly
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 7:52 am
From the Yuma Sun:
“Everyone likes to hear the words “ahead of schedule and under budget” — and that’s just what’s happening at the largest desalting plant in the nation, located in Yuma, Ariz. The plant is on a one-year trial run that began May 3, and so far things are running smoothly said Jennifer McCloskey, Yuma Area Office, Area Manager with the plant.
McCloskey gave an update on the plant at a public meeting Wednesday.
The purpose of the plant is to extract water from a bypass canal that runs to Wellton and put back water into the Colorado River. … “
Continue reading from the Yuma Sun by clicking here.
Picture of Yuma Desalting Plant by Aquafornia.
Colorado: Keeping “our water” not that easy, says commentary
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 2, 2010 at 7:42 amPolitical candidates can say the darndest things, can’t they … ! From Ed Quillen at the Denver Post:
“In certain Colorado circles — call them Water Buffs as opposed to Water Buffaloes — Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes has been criticized for sounding ignorant when he addressed the Colorado Water Congress in Vail last week.
“If it starts in Colorado, it’s our water,” he said. “The question is how do we keep it here. We need to store as much of our water in Colorado as possible.”
In theory, his policy certainly would solve Colorado’s water supply problems. Our state covers about 66.6 million acres. Informed estimates of our average annual statewide precipitation run from 16 to 18 inches. Going with the conservative 16 gives us 88.8 million acre-feet. … “
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Good news in annual Lake Tahoe health report
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 9:04 am
From YubaNet.com:
“UC Davis researchers noted several bright spots in their annual Lake Tahoe health report, issued today: The 2007 Angora Fire had no significant impact on lake clarity; a small test of a method to kill invasive clams worked; the pollutant phosphorus was at its lowest level in 29 years; and free-floating algae in the lake have generally remained constant since 1996.
Earlier this month, the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center announced that lake clarity held relatively steady in 2009. It was noted that the rate of decline in Lake Tahoe’s clarity since 2000 was less that that seen in past decades.
“Overall, we remain cautiously optimistic,” said John Reuter, associate director of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. … “
Continue reading from YubaNet.com by clicking here.
Photo of Lake Tahoe by Aquafornia.
California’s plastic bag ban defeated; plus a legislative update
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:52 am
From the Sacramento Bee:
“A measure to ban plastic carryout bags in supermarkets, drug and convenience stores was defeated late Tuesday in the state Senate, where key lawmakers said it could prove too costly for consumers.
The proposal to make California the first state to institute such a ban was designed to go into effect in large stores in 2012 and smaller stores in 2013. … “
Read more including a rundown of pending legislation and what’s been sent to the governor’s desk from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here. Also, the Los Angeles Times has a legislative recap here.
And for those watching Pavley’s SB565, it has been placed on inactive file by the request of Assembly Member Charles Calderon.
Commentary: The answer to water shortages: ship it here
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:45 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News, this commentary by Don Walsh, PhD, president of International Maritime, Inc., and John Barbieri, president of the Natural Resources Corp. in Los Angeles:
” … Water covers 75 percent of Earth’s surface. Little is added or lost; it is recycled. The oceans contain 97 percent of this water. The rest is tied up in the huge ice masses of Antarctica and Greenland as well as the world’s glaciers. This leaves 6 billion people dependent upon less than 1 percent of the water on Earth.
Our challenge is to not only conserve more and clean up the polluted water we have, but also to transfer large amounts of water from areas that enjoy surplus resources, such as Russia, Canada, Alaska and northern Europe, to areas that face long-term scarcity, like California.
Ocean shipping, already the medium for more than 90 percent of international trade, is a logical solution. … “
Continue reading this commentary by clicking here.
Zeke Grader: September is salmon month, come join us!
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:38 amFrom Zeke Grader at the City Brights blog:
“I know a good thing when I see it, and FarmAid was a good thing. It raised awareness about the plight of family farmers and ranchers, provided some desperately needed financial relief to the small-scale agriculture sector and helped connect average Americans to their food sources. I supported it without reservation.
Today, another group of independent family-owned enterprises needs help – salmon fishermen. As anyone who follows the news knows, our salmon fisheries are collapsing. Habitat destruction and water diversions have played particularly prominent roles in this disaster, and it is the fishermen who have paid the greatest price. They need help. They’re not asking for a hand-out -just a hand, some support in their efforts to get more water down our rivers to sustain spawning salmon. They know that if they take care of the salmon, the salmon will take care of them. … “
Continue reading from Zeke Grader at the City Brights blog by clicking here.
On the Public Record blog on the LHC study: System re-operation, and an inadvertant admission.
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:35 amThe On the Public Record blog continues it’s series of posts on the Little Hoover Commission’s report on water governance, this time responding to t
” The state can increase the amount of water available for use and better perform its environmental protection role by managing California’s state and federal reservoirs as a single system, and optimizing their operations to maximize storage. The process would require working with regional groups to integrate groundwater storage into a broader state strategy.
System re-op? System re-operations is the only state-level action that promises benefits worth mentioning? That’s it? That’s what the (new) Department of Water Management can do to make water available for human and environmental use? Oh friends. What this tells us is that THERE IS NO NEW WATER COMING. What we have in the system now is all there is going to be. (Personally, I don’t think we’ll even have that. I think we’ll lose more to climate change and environmental needs than we can squeeze out of system re-op.)
Little Hoover Commission listened to all that testimony and heard nothing about the (proposed, new) DWM planning more projects and building new dams, or opening up new sources. The best thing they heard, or at least the only thing they mentioned, was system re-op. … “
Read the full text of this post from the On the Public Record blog by clicking here.
Sacramento Bee’s Head to Head: Should California split up into two (or more) states?
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:28 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“THE ISSUE: Californians have toyed with dividing the state – north-south or east-west. Last year, former Assemblyman Bill Maze, R-Visalia, revived the idea of an east-west split and is leading a drive to put the matter on the ballot.”
Pia Lopez says no, Ben Boychuk says, why not? Read their arguments in the rest of this article from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Slow it. Spread it. Sink it! A Homeowner’s and Landowner’s Guide to Beneficial Stormwater Management
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:21 am
From the Southern Sonoma County Resource Conservation District website:
“This exciting new guidebook will help landowners and homeowners make the most of the many potential benefits of innovative stormwater management. Once thought of as a nuisance, stormwater is now universally recognized as one our most important natural resources and proper management (simple to complex) is more important than ever.
Traditional building and landscaping practices were designed to dispose of stormwater as quickly as possible. This outdated paradigm typically results in significant damage to land, structures, and the surrounding environment. Slowing down, spreading and sinking stormwater can help protect your property & increase its value, provide a free source of water for irrigation, conserve drinking water, beautify your landscape, promote groundwater recharge and much more! … “
You can find out more and download the pdf version by clicking here.
Farm Bureau calls for careful study of Klamath dams
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:18 amFrom the California Farm Bureau Federation:
“Noting that the proposal will affect farmers and ranchers in a wide area of northeastern California, the California Farm Bureau Federation has urged state and federal agencies to conduct a thorough review and consider all potential impacts of a plan to remove four hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River. The dams, owned by the Portland, Ore.-based utility company PacifiCorp, would be removed as part of a plan to restore the salmon population in the river.
The U.S. Department of the Interior and the California Department of Fish and Game have collected comments from the public concerning the issues, alternatives, mitigation measures and significant effects to be considered in their environmental review of removing the dams.
“This is one of the largest reversals of water infrastructure in the United States,” said Jack Rice, CFBF associate counsel, “so the environmental review needs to be extremely thorough and that is what we’re calling for.” … “
Continue reading from the California Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
Karen Garrison/NRDC: Marine Protected Areas hold promise for better fishing and economic boost
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:16 amFrom Karen Garrison’s blog at the NRDC Switchboard:
“Among the spate of recent setbacks for America’s seas and the fishermen who make a living on them, at least one ongoing effort provides a glimmer of hope: California’s implementation of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), a law calling for establishment of a statewide network of marine protected areas. California has now created protected areas around the Channel Islands and along the central coast from Mendocino County to Santa Barbara County. The designation process is underway in waters off the south and north coasts. Evidence already shows that areas protected consistent with this law can benefit fishermen as well as protect ocean biodiversity and productivity.
Like national parks and refuges on land, marine protected areas are science-based safe havens where wildlife can rebuild and thrive. Over the past decade, a litany of scientific studies has shown that marine protected areas around the world benefit sea life and habitats. For example, recent research shows that in no-take marine reserves around California’s Channel Islands, fish are significantly bigger and more plentiful and kelp is healthier, just five years after creation of those reserves. … “
Continue reading Karen Garrsion’s post by clicking here.
Dan Bacher: The questions that Arnold’s MLPA proponents don’t want to answer
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:12 amFrom Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org:
“Faced with massive opposition by Indian Tribes, fishermen and environmentalists, officials from Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s fast-track Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative keep repeating the mantra that the process is “open, transparent and inclusive” and “science-based.”
The proponents of the process refuse to address the many criticisms that advocates of true ocean protection have leveled against the MLPA Initiative. I have challenged MLPA proponents to answer a series of hard questions that cut to the core of the current MLPA process.
None have responded yet to my specific questions, but only continue to repeat their unsubstantiated claims that the Initiative is “open, transparent and inclusive” and that anybody who criticizes the initiative is an opponent of “ocean protection.”
The Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) is a comprehensive, landmark law that was signed by Governor Gray Davis in 1999. The MLPA, as amended in 2004, is very broad in its scope.
The law was intended to not only restrict or prohibit fishing in a network of “marine protected areas,” but to restrict or prohibit other human activities including coastal development and water pollution. … “
Continue reading from Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org by clicking here.
Orland water fight continues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:08 amFrom the Orland Press Register:
“The battle over a proposed sparkling mineral water bottling plant in Orland is moving forward.
Attorneys for Orland, Crystal Geyser Water Co., Save Our Water Resource and Friends of Orland will meet in telephone conference at 2:30 p.m. Friday.
The case was originally assigned to be heard Sept. 3 by Glenn County Superior Court Judge Peter Twede, who recused himself Aug. 13. Glenn County Superior Court Judge Donald Byrd also recused himself. … “
Continue reading from the Orland Press Register by clicking here.
Alameda Creek Dam holds frogs’ future
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 1, 2010 at 8:05 amFrom the Bay-Citizen:
“Alameda Creek has a few claims to fame. It drains the second-largest watershed feeding San Francisco Bay. It covers a surprising variety of habitats from Sunol Wilderness through Niles Canyon all the way to the urban wilds of Fremont. And every year, determined activists try to help a few migrating steelhead trout find their way upriver.
But it’s the frogs that have fascinated Sarah Kupferberg, a research scientist at UC Berkeley. Alameda Creek used to have foothill yellow-legged frogs all along its length, but now they persist only in pockets and in scarce numbers. Kupferberg has been keeping an eye on them for a while, and her research will culminate in a forthcoming article in Copeia, the quarterly journal of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. … “
Aquafornia's Information Desk
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Recent Posts
- Thursday’s top of the scroll: Environmentalists stunned by failures of key measures in Legislature
- How to restore the Colorado River: An interview with Brad Udall and Osvel Hinojosa
- Pacific Legal Foundation commentary: Clean water, Yes; Federal micro-management, No.
- On the Public Record blog: More on the LHC report, and thoughts on the day’s news
- California Farm Water Coalition: Irrigation decisions often influenced by outside factors
- Chronciles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood blog: More doubts about the drought
- Southern California Water Committee: The many stresses on the Delta
- Event: The 2010 Water Quality & Regulatory Conference
- Asian carp the new bullies of America’s waterways
- Abu Dhabi: Multiplying the yield of an oasis
- YouTube: Russian River biological opinions
- Small leak on Morris Dam poses no danger to stability
- United — but not without cost: Marine Protected Area proposal finds consensus in North Coast group
- Sierra droughts: Tahoe’s drowned forest
- Recycled wastewater boosts Redwood City supply
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