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Dan Bacher commentary: Professor challenges PPIC report backing peripheral canal; upcoming meeting on the PPIC’s technical data next week

Posted by: Maven on November 9, 2008 at 6:49 am

From Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org:

Dr. Jeffrey A. Michael, Director of the Business Forecasting Center and Associate Professor of the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, on October 23 published a superb study challenging the controversial PPIC report calling for the construction of a peripheral canal to “solve” the problems of the California Delta.

The report, “The Economics of Ending Delta Water Exports Versus the Peripheral Canal: Checking the Data of the PPIC,” harshly criticizes the report for using “fabricated” and “exagerrated” data to push for the construction of a peripheral canal. The data has been used by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his Delta Vision Task Force to provide the “scientific” justification for building the canal.

“The issue of the peripheral canal has returned to the center of the debate about the future of the Delta,” said Michael in his summary. “The case for building the peripheral canal has recently received a major boost from a report by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) that endorses the peripheral canal as the best long-run solution for the Delta. The PPIC report considers alternative strategies, most notably ending Delta water exports. They find that ending Delta water exports is significantly better for the environment than a peripheral canal, but reject the strategy because it is too costly.”

However, Michael contends that the PPIC’s cost estimates are “exaggerated.” “They depend on inaccurate assumptions that utilize outdated, undocumented, or fabricated sources. When adjustments are made to their population growth and desalination cost assumptions to reflect the best, documented sources, the cost of ending Delta exports are likely to be similar to a peripheral canal. With similar costs, ending Delta exports is the best strategy due to its superior environmental benefits,” he concluded.

More from Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org by clicking here.

Related Note:  PPIC will discuss the data behind their report in this upcoming meeting:

CALFED Science Program Workshop – Comparing Futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (PPIC II): November 12th and 13th at CALFED Bay-Delta Program, Delta Room; 650 Capitol Mall, 5th Floor, Sacramento.
The Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) has recently released an on-line edition of its report “Comparing Futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.” Much of the core technical information and reasoning behind the comparison of potential futures in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is contained in appendices available with the report (http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=810).  This two-day workshop will feature presentations and question-and-answer sessions focusing on material contained within each appendix. A concluding panel featuring CALFED Science Program advisors will discuss the best use of science for the Delta’s future, given the results of the PPIC report and ongoing planning processes.

This workshop will be webcast:
November 12, 2008: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=53108
November 13, 2008: http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=53111
For more information see http://www.science.calwater.ca.gov/pdf/workshops/workshop_ppic_public_notice_110308.pdf

November 9, 2008 · Filed Under Delta Issues

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