State Water Board launches another assault on Delta water quality

From Bill Jennings, of the CSPA, posted at IndyBay.org:

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) is yet again discarding long-existing regulations protecting water quality (and fisheries) in order to protect the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) from their continuing violations of the Public Trust and Bay-Delta water quality standards.

This despicable charade is another poster-child of why the Schwarzenegger administration’s “assurances,” “guarantees,” “promises,” and even “regulations” aren’t worth a warm bucket of spit. CSPA is prepared to go to the mat in opposing this blatant effort to immunize DWR and the Bureau from the law.

The State Board has issue a Notice of Public Hearing to determine whether to modify Order WR 2006-0006 that, in part, adopted a Cease and Desist Order (C&D) against the DWR and the Bureau. Notices of Intent to participate in the expedited evidentiary hearing are due by 19 June, testimony and evidence circulated to hearing participants by 22 June and the hearing will occur on 25 June. CSPA will participate fully in the hearing by direct testimony, evidence, cross-examination and rebuttal.

The State Board adopted delta salinity standards in 1978 and reaffirmed them in 1995 and 2006. The salt standards were set at levels protective of Delta agriculture; however, the standards also serve to protect the aquatic ecosystem. The DWR/Bureau, who operate the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP), were assigned responsibility for meeting the standards because Delta salinity is controlled by SWP/CVP export pumping, salt loading via export pumping and releases of water from upstream project reservoirs. CSPA participated in those hearings.

The salinity standards have been routinely exceeded over the last 30 years. In 2006, the State Board finally issued a C&D against DWR and the Bureau over salinity violations. Despite repeated subsequent violations, the State Board has refused to enforce the 2006 Order. CSPA testified in the C&D hearing.

Read more of Bill Jennings commentary at IndyBay.org by clicking here.

Comments

Admin

• Log in

Credits

Powered by Vertigo & WordPress
WordPress Themes by Brian Gardner