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State Board conducts hearing to revoke Auburn Dam water rights

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 26, 2008 at 9:29 am

From IndyBay.org:

Here is a short report from Bill Jennings, executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, on the State Water Resources Control Board’s hearing on revocation of the Bureau’s Auburn Dam water rights that was held last Monday. “Auburn Dam is DEAD,” said Jennings. “The autopsy, obituary and eulogy have been written.”

State Water Resources Control Board Conducts Hearing to Revoke Auburn Dam Water Rights; Millions of acre-feet of water at stake

by Bill Jennings, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance

Ten years ago CSPA protested the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s request for an extension of time on its Auburn Dam water rights, which had been issued in 1970 and never put to beneficial use. Staff of the State Water Resources Control Board asked the Bureau for a CEQA document and revised plans for the Dam. The Bureau failed to provide the requested documents.

Since the State Board couldn’t conduct a hearing on the CSPA complaint without the required documents, staff had no alternative but to recommend revocation of more than 4 million acre-feet of storage and diversion rights. An evidentiary hearing (exhibits and testimony under oath, subject to cross-examination and rebuttal) was held this past Monday (21 July 08). Gary Wolf was the State Board presiding hearing officer.

CSPA submitted extensive written testimony and exhibits. CSPA Executive Director Bill Jennings and CSPA FERC Projects Director Chris Shutes testified and CSPA Board Member Mike Jackson served as CSPA’s attorney. Ron Stork of Friends of the River provided a marvelous history of Auburn Dam. Jonas Minton of the Planning and Conservation League testified.

San Joaquin County and Stockton East Water District participated in the hearing because they were concerned that revocation would eliminate their languishing hope for American River water. Other parties represented at the hearing included, the Auburn Dam Council, Sacramento County, American River Authority, Save the American River Association, Westlands Water District and San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority.

The Bureau’s defense of their water rights was embarrassingly ineffective because the Auburn Dam project is essentially dead. There has been no construction on the dam since 1975, no water put to designated beneficial use since authorized in 1970, Sacramento has embraced other alternatives for flood control and Congress has refused to appropriate money on 12 separate occasions.

July 26, 2008 · Filed Under Water Storage