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Odds and ends: Diversion reductions in historical context, group contests data used in bio-op, how SoCal can deal with no Delta water, remembering the LA River as a river, refrigerated beaches and floating eco-houses, National Georgraphic’s most viewed photo galleries, plus groupies wanted!

Posted by: Maven on December 17, 2008 at 9:00 pm

My New Year’s resolution: Use more pictures!

The diversion reductions aren’t as dramatic as they’re being portrayed when viewed in a historical context, says Spreck Rosekranz of the Environmental Defense fund: Amidst the recent (media frenzy ) about Delta water supplies, it seems worth noting that many scientists and environmentalists have been warning for decades that it will not be possible to sustain the valuable and unique Bay-Delta ecosystem if we continue to divert increasing amounts of water from the Delta and the rivers that feed it. It also seems worth noting that the “Wanger” diversion reductions are not so large when considered in a historical context – under the “Wanger” decision State Water Project customers would receive as much exported water as they did only ten years ago. The recent Biological Opinion reductions need to be considered in this same context. His post includes a chart showing actual and projected deliveries. From the Environmental Defense Fund: The Delta Smelt Export Reductions in Context

Meanwhile, the Family Farm Alliance has filed an Information Quality Act Request regarding the new biological opinion, identifying a number of errors in the alliance. The Pacific Legal Foundation has all the details: Family Farm Alliance files Information Quality Act Request re New Delta Smelt Biological Opinion

Is it the end of Delta exports?  If so, David Zetland of the Aguanomics blog has the answer and he’s never one to mince words:  Seems like SoCal will have to get used to having less water (as I suggested in my recent post against the peripheral canal). Two ways to minimize the harm from lower water supplies are to allow (perhaps force, via all-in-auctions) trade among water owners and users at the wholesale level and to raise retail, urban prices high enough to curb demand (conservation pricing). It’s likely that IID/PVID/CVID water will also be reallocated through eminent domain.  Water managers who do less (e.g., calling for conservation, rationing water, asking for more dams, and wringing their hands) should be fired for timid incompetence. From the Aguanomics blog: The End of Delta Exports.

Remembering the Los Angeles River when it was actually a river … The L. A. Creek Freak has a story from a man who remembers when he used to swim on the beach along the now cemented and channelized Los Angeles River: On the beach we found wild native Pacific Pond turtles, Western toads, and not much else in the way of land animals that I remember. All turtles were turned loose. In the river were mergansers (fish eating ducks), other kinds of ducks, and mud hens. All ducks and shore birds flew away when we came down to the beach. Shore birds frightened away included herons, killdeer, sandpipers, egrets, and other species. Small fish were in the river. I should have done some fishing but didn’t. Bullfrogs were croaking (honking) in the deep water area. Who knows what kinds of fish were lurking in the deep water! There are even a few historical pictures. From the L.A. Creek Freak: Standing on a beach, at the LA River

You know you have too much money when…. you can afford to refrigerate your beach! Dubai has decided it’s visitors don’t want to burn their feet (I guess they’re so rich, they don’t buy flip flops like the rest of us…) so they’re going to refrigerate their beach: The beach, to be created by British company Hyder Consulting, will feature a computer-controlled system of coolant-filled pipes under the sand that will help keep temperatures comfortable. According to Soheil Abedian, president of the company that owns the Palazzo Versace, “This is the kind of luxury top people want.” Ludicrousness from the Clean Technica Blog: Dubai to Create World’s First Refrigerated Beach

After global warming, New York artists envision a waterborne nomadic existence aboard the Waterpod Floating House: The Waterpod is a floating eco-habitat designed to sustainably support a community: The Waterpod is a triple-domed island, built from a combination of recycled wood, metal, plastic, fabric and other materials, sitting astride an industrial barge. As well as being a living space, the 80 x 25 feet construction is designed to house community and artistic activity and a range of eco-initiatives, including food grown with purified water from the Hudson River, vertical agriculture and alternative energy. From the Clean Technica blog: Waterpod Floating House Points to a Nomadic Future After Global Warming

Top ten photo galleries viewed in 2008 from National Geographic: Images of the dissection of a giant squid, strange marine animals found off the coast of Antarctica, World Heritage sites, and masterworks of magnification, all from National Geographic:  Top Ten Photo Galleries:  Most Viewed of 2008

Aqua Blog Maven needs some groupies so please join the Aquafornia Twitter! I’ve only got 4 followers right now, and if I get a few more, I’ll become inspired to post news of updates and other interesting things.  And while you’re at it, you’ll want to join Matt Weiser’s Sac Bee Delta twitter, too!  You can find my twitter here:  https://twitter.com/Aquafornia and Matt’s here:  https://twitter.com/sacbee_delta

December 17, 2008 · Filed Under Aquafornia News & Exclusives

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