This is just one post in the Peripheral Canal Category

Trout Underground on California’s water wars, fisheries, and the peripheral canal

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 19, 2008 at 4:32 pm

Tom Chandler of the Trout Underground blog, has posted an article on California’s water wars, where he aptly discusses the murky politics of our state’s water issues. Tom’s post outlines many of the issues and gives a history into why some groups feel as strong as they do. It all boils down to trust, Tom writes:

… the Peripheral Canal would divert Sacramento River water before it even reaches the California Delta, reasoning that it’s far less environmentally damaging than using massive pumps to remove from the south end of the Delta.

Most experts agree in theory, but the environmental and fisheries communities - groups with little faith in those running the Central Water Project - can’t see past the potential for massive diversions of water around the Delta, which - combined with even limited pumping - would lead to the complete collapse of the ecosystem.

In essence, the Peripheral Canal issue could come down to trust - something the state’s water users haven’t exactly earned.

Can We Trust the Water Project?

Enviros - most of whom can’t forget the nightmare of the Trinity River, where a pair of dams - which were “guaranteed” to be operated so as not to damage the Trinity’s robust fishery - immediately began robbing the river of as much as 90% of its water. (The majority of that water was shipped to Westlands Water District - the same politically-connected water district who now want to flood miles of trout streams by raising the Shasta Dam.)

After literally decades of litigation, groups like the Friends of the Trinity got a little water returned to the Trinity River, and the result has been steelhead fishing so good that fishermen can’t find places to park on weekends.

More recently, the water project’s massive pumping from the Delta and apparent disregard for the health of the Delta (and the state’s commercially viable fisheries) has pretty much soured the milk as far as enviros are concerned.

Yet Another Water Grab? Where some see a Peripheral Canal as a solution to the state’s water woes, many environmentalists see yet another water grab, and sadly, history (see above) suggests they might be right.

Read the full text of Tom’s post at the Trout Underground by clicking here.

July 19, 2008 · Filed Under Environment & Water, Peripheral Canal