Saturday’s top of scroll: Science panel says Delta pumping restrictions are justified in California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 7:01 amSorry, no time to mash together the gazillion articles on the NAS reports this morning, so I’m going to excerpt one and give you the links to the rest. Here’s Matt Weiser’s coverage from the Sacramento Bee:
“A high-level science panel Friday concluded that federal rules that limit water diversions from the Delta to protect endangered fish are “scientifically justified,” dealing a blow to south state water interests that had hoped the review would punch holes in the rules.
The panel of 15 experts was appointed by the National Research Council, an arm of the National Academy of Sciences, in response to a formal request from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and the Interior Department. They made their request at the urging of water users – particularly San Joaquin Valley farmers – who say the federal restrictions on pumping in the Delta are ruining them financially.
Called biological opinions, the federal rules regulate how much water is diverted south from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, depending on the needs of salmon, steelhead, sturgeon and Delta smelt. State and federal water pumps in the Delta suck fish to their deaths and alter their habitat. The regulations aim to limit those effects by reducing pumping at certain times of year, depending on where the fish are. … “
Continue reading this article from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
MORE COVERAGE OF THIS STORY:
- Scientists give mixed review of delta plans; Study says it’s too early to see whether smelt have been helped, from the Fresno Bee
- Study backs efforts to save delta fish, from the San Francisco Chronicle
- Science’s ‘Supreme Court’ plunges into Delta dispute, from the Stockton Record (Log in or free registration required.)
- Scientists’ report only intensifies delta debate, from the Los Angeles Times
- California: Review Backs Water Limits, from the New York Times
- Report backs reduced water for ag; Fiorini appointed to Delta Stewardship Council, from the Turlock Journal
- New report: Water limit to Westside farms justified, from the Hanford Sentinel
- California Bay-Delta Water for Fish ‘Scientifically Justified’, from the Environment News Service
Download your copy of the NAS report here:
Senator Feinstein urges administration to respond to new National Academy of Sciences report on the Delta biological opinions; Calls for greater flexibility, robust adaptive management and integration of federal actions in the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:51 amFrom Senator Dianne Feinstein:
“I have great respect for the National Academy of Sciences, and I welcome this new analysis of the science governing the biological opinions in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. This critical ecosystem is one of the most complex estuaries in the country, provides water supply for the nation’s largest agricultural breadbasket and drinking water supplies for California’s major cities, and is home to a number of endangered and migratory species.
The report issued today by the National Academy provides a useful assessment of the current biological opinions, and provides opportunities for federal agencies to lessen water export restrictions by implementing the opinions with additional flexibility.
The report’s authors conclude that the federal actions that restrict water flows to protect endangered and threatened fish species in the Delta are ‘scientifically justified,’ but the ‘scientific support for specific flow targets is less certain. Uncertainty in the effect of the triggers should be reduced, and more-flexible triggers that might require less water should be evaluated.’ (Page 5, pre-publication copy) … “
Much more from Dianne Feinstein by clicking here.
Boxer statement on National Academy of Sciences’ review of Delta water issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:48 am“Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today released a statement on the National Academy of Sciences’ review of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water issues, which highlighted how rigorous scientific monitoring and data modeling may help provide more flexibility in water supply management in this critical part of the state:
“I am encouraged by the initial review that has been done by the National Academy of Sciences. This study highlights areas where, with careful monitoring, there may be flexibility in how we manage water supplies for the benefit of agricultural communities, fishermen and all stakeholders. I look forward to hearing more from the NAS as they complete their investigation.”
The report released today is the first of two that the National Academy of Sciences will release on the Delta. The second report – which will examine various factors affecting the health of the Delta, including invasive species, urban wastewater discharge, and unscreened diversions – is slated for completion next year.”
Congressman Costa’s response to National Academy of Sciences review of Bay Delta water issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:47 amFrom the website of Congressman Jim Costa:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) today issued the following statement regarding the release of the National Academy of Sciences report on water management and Bay Delta health.
“Our Valley needs water to survive,” Costa said. “We have made real progress lately, but we can’t win this fight completely until the one-sided and flawed biological opinions being used to cut off our water are revised to reflect what is actually happening in the Delta. For too long, critics of our Valley have pointed fingers at our farmers, workers, and communities for the decline in Delta health. It is time for the science community, along with the Administration, to join me and the people of our Valley in saying, ‘Enough is enough.’”
According to the report: “[…] No scientific study has demonstrated that pumping in the south delta is the most important or the only factor accounting for the delta-smelt population decline. Therefore, the multiple other stressors that are affecting fish in the delta environment as well as in the other environments they occupy during their lives must be considered, as well as their comparative importance with respect to the effects of export pumping.” … “
More from Congressman Jim Costa by clicking here.
Score one for science, says SF Chronicle editorial on NAS findings
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:45 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle, this editorial:
“Score one for science. A national panel waded into California’s water wars and sided with salmon and smelt in a politically loaded showdown with Central Valley farmers.
The report sprinkled “scientifically justified” throughout its 64 pages, which backed up water curbs denounced by valley water agencies and farmers. The findings came with important caveats and a call for more research on the state’s sickly water system. But the message is clear: It’s time to negotiate water use and not look for a political knockout punch.
After three years of drought, the federal and state water pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta were dialed down to nearly zero, turning fertile Central Valley acreage into dust bowls in the nation’s biggest farming state. Adding to the restrictions were decisions by two federal agencies to withhold water for declining stocks of salmon, sturgeon and smelt. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Doug Obegi: National Academy of Sciences confirms that protections for endangered salmon and other species are “scientifically justified”
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:43 amFrom Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Today, the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council (NRC) publicly released its interim report on the science used in the biological opinions protecting salmon, delta smelt, and other endangered fish in California’s Bay-Delta estuary. The NRC’s report confirms that the agencies used the best available science in developing these biological opinions, finding that these protections are “scientifically justified” and have a “sound conceptual basis,” as Mike Doyle reported yesterday and the Los Angeles Times reported this morning.
The NRC’s conclusion is consistent with the findings of the numerous internal and external peer reviews of the two BO’s and their methodologies, which were conducted both before and after the two opinions were released. These BO’s, together, have 78 separate requirements. Given the complexity of those requirements, the relatively few recommendations for improvements are striking.
It is important to read the NRC review in the context of the scientific and agency reviews of the previous biological opinions. By contrast, those previous BO’s were found to have violated agency procedures and were found not to have incorporated the best available science. Those reviews led a federal court to reject them – leading to these new, and clearly improved, BO’s. … “
Continue reading this post from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Western Growers: 1st NAS Delta water study released, data lacking
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:41 amFrom PR Newswire, this press release from Western Growers:
“IRVINE, Calif., March 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Western Growers President and CEO Tom Nassif issued the following statement today regarding the National Academy of Science’s (NAS) release of its first report on the Endangered Species Act-based restrictions on water pumping operations in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta:
“We commend the NAS for this first report, which was produced in a very short period of time. The NAS focused on the scientific validity of the actions imposed by the federal fish agencies to restrict water pumping operations and attempted to identify alternative actions that would be equally or more protective of fish species while causing less economic harm to water users south of the Delta. It is interesting that the NAS characterized the impact of stressors to the fish species other than the pumps as ‘potentially large.’ These include urban wastewater discharges, predatory and invasive species, pesticide runoff and others factors. We look forward to the NAS’s second report which will thoroughly examine the impacts of these other stressors.
“The NAS’s report finds that reducing pumping to protect fish species has scientific validity, yet the report focuses on concern that ‘there is substantial uncertainty regarding the amount of flow that should trigger a reduction in exports.’ This is the heart of the matter. In fact, Senator Feinstein’s proposal to moderate the pumping restrictions within the confines of the biological opinions goes directly to this point. Lacking solid data that establishes the effectiveness of the reverse flow triggers used by federal agencies to reduce pumping, the agencies simply default to the most severe restrictions on water supply within their discretion. The agencies should require better monitoring of the effectiveness of these reverse flow restrictions and set triggers based this data, even if the result is to restore some water supply to farms and cities south of the Delta. … “
Continue reading this press release from Western Growers by clicking here.
Remaining appointees to the Delta Stewardship Council named
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:33 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“State leaders on Friday filled the remaining five slots of a new seven-member agency overseeing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the troubled estuary that has long sparked battles among water users, local residents and environmentalists.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, with four appointments to the Delta Stewardship Council, selected Turlock farmer Randy Fiorini, former Sacramento mayor and Delta task force chairman Phil Isenberg, retired biotech executive Henry Nordhoff and conservation lawyer Richard Roos-Collins.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, used his one appointment to select former state lawmaker Patrick Johnston, a Democrat who represented portions of the Delta in both the Senate and Assembly. … “
Continue reading this article from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
- Members of Delta Stewardship Council appointed, Contra Costa Times
- Schwarzenegger delta council appointees include Turlock businessman, Modesto Bee
- Johnston tapped for Delta council, from Stockton’s Record (Log-in or free registration required.)
- Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Four Members to Delta Stewardship Council, press release from the Office of the Governor
- ACWA Lauds Appointments to Delta Stewardship Council, press release from ACWA
Hearings could set new course for Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:17 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“Hearings beginning today are one of the first steps to be taken under sweeping water reform laws meant to strike a new balance in the Delta — proceedings that could help determine how water is divided between the environment and people.
Specifically, the State Water Resources Control Board today begins sorting out how much water must flow through the Delta to preserve its “public trust” values. The question, which returns to direction a state appeals court set in the 1980s that was never followed, could be answered in a number of ways.
“It could be the launching point for something very significant, or, depending on how it works out, it could be much ado about nothing,” said Richard Frank, executive director of the Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at UC Berkeley’s School of Law. … “
Continue reading this article from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Barge-scale cleanup in the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 6:09 am
From CNET News:
“Hundreds of abandoned vessels of varying sizes and stages of decay litter the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta’s 738,000 acres. Marine debris, some of which is decades old, is polluting the same waterways that provide drinking water to two-thirds of California with oil, hydraulic fuels, paints, and asbestos.
To address the issue, state waste management agency CalRecycle has teamed up with the State Water Resources Control Board and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department to eliminate these hazards from the system of natural and man-made water channels. But hauling out old boats, barges, and buildings is no easy feat.
The heavy equipment needed to break up, haul, and tow the debris, some of which is as large as houses, must be negotiated through the complex system of waterways with 10-ton vehicles moved to soft-soiled islands on barges. Managing the cleanup, commercial divers and work crews transport the materials to the appropriate disposal and recycling facilities.”
Check out this photo gallery from CNET by clicking here. More photos from CNET here.
From the Contra Costa Times:
“Sunny skies heralded a beautiful spring morning on the Delta, but along its waterways there was ugliness. Contra Costa County sheriff’s boats passed eyesore after eyesore last week as they wended their way toward Fisherman’s Cut, where another effort to remove junk from the San Joaquin River was under way.
On one side of the channel a crane was parked on a derelict barge; fire had all but destroyed a few more. Farther upstream, two tiny dilapidated houses sat on docks in the middle of the river.
But over the next few weeks, much of the blight and the dangers it poses will be disappearing. “All these ratty structures, they’re all going to come out,” said sheriff’s Deputy Jim Lambert of the agency’s Oakley-based marine patrol unit. … “
Continue reading this story from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Congresman Cardoza calls on government agencies to address predator fish that hurt Delta smelt and Valley agriculture
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:56 amFrom the website of Congressman Dennis Cardoza:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Cardoza called on state and federal agencies today to take immediate steps to address non-native striped bass that are feeding on protected salmon and Delta smelt.
“Our government agencies have known for some time that non-native striped bass in the Delta are responsible for predation of native, threatened Delta smelt and salmon,” said Congressman Cardoza. “However, these predator fish have been allowed to flourish while cuts have continued in the deliveries of irrigation water to the San Joaquin Valley. This makes absolutely no sense and we deserve more from our government agencies.”
The issue was raised in letters (below) sent from Congressman Cardoza to the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In the letters, Congressman Cardoza, joined by Congressman Jim Costa and George Radanovich, said the agencies must stop programs that protect the predator fish until taking into consideration their impact on the native species of Delta smelt and salmon. He also said that the fish must be managed in a way that complies with the Endangered Species Act, taking into consideration the implications to Delta smelt and salmon.
“It is apparent that the federal government has known about the predation problem for years and yet has continued to fund programs and allow actions that protect and maintain these sport-fishing populations to the detriment of native fishes, including Delta smelt, salmon, and steelhead,” states the letter to the federal agencies. … “
Continue reading this press release, along with copies of the letters sent, by clicking here.
Powerful state agency was weak when it came to the Delta
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 20, 2010 at 5:42 amFrom the Oakland Tribune:
“A powerful state agency with broad authority over water stayed on the sidelines as the Delta ecosystem crashed and California descended into its worst water crisis since the early 1990s.
Reforms passed by lawmakers in November are bringing the State Water Resources Control Board back into the game after a decade of inaction, but some question how it will respond.
Critics say they already see some water board members reluctant to act aggressively, taking a more limited view of the new law.
And the board has a history of shying away from the Delta’s controversies and complexities. “All of the laws have put the responsibility to fix this with the state board the whole time,” said Michael Jackson, an environmental lawyer and frequent critic of the board. “They’ve done nothing.” … “
Continue reading this article from the Oakland Tribune by clicking here.
Governor Schwarzenegger appoints four members to Delta Stewardship Council
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 4:26 pmFrom the Office of the Governor:
“Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointments of Francis Randall “Randy” Fiorini, Philip Isenberg, Henry “Hank” Nordhoff and Richard Roos-Collins to the Delta Stewardship Council.
“The Delta Stewardship Council was established as part of last year’s groundbreaking legislation to reform, restore and rebuild California’s vital water system. This council will work collaboratively to develop a plan to achieve the co-equal goals of restoring the Delta ecosystem and ensuring water supply reliability,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Each of these individuals possesses the qualities, experiences and unique perspectives that are necessary to help the council meet these goals and implement the most comprehensive effort in decades to save and restore California’s Delta and secure our water supply for the future.”
Fiorini, 56, of Turlock, has been managing partner of Fiorini Ranch since 1975 and managing partner of FarmCo since 2001. Previously, he was president of Fiorini Family Vineyards from 2002 to 2008 and owner of Farm Data from 1984 to 2000. Fiorini is past president and board member of the Association of California Water Agencies, past board president and director of Turlock Irrigation District Division #5, and past president and board member of the California Farm Water Coalition. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in fruit science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Fiorini is a Republican.
Isenberg, 71, of Sacramento, has served as president of Isenberg/O’Haren Government Relations since 2005. From 1977 to 2004, he was counsel for Miller, Owens and Trost, Attorneys at Law. Previously, Isenberg served as a member of the California State Assembly representing the 9th District from 1992 to 1996 and the 10th District from 1982 to 1992. From 1975 to 1982, he was mayor of the city of Sacramento. Isenberg served as chair of the California Marine Life Protection Act Blue Ribbon Task Force from 2004 to 2006 and served as chair of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force from 2007 to 2008. He is also a member of the Sacramento Valley Conservancy Advisory Board. Isenberg earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science and government from California State University, Sacramento. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Isenberg is a Democrat.
Nordhoff, 68, of Del Mar, was president and chief executive officer of Gen-Probe Incorporated from 1994 until his retirement in 2009. Currently, he serves as chairman. From 1992 to 1994, Nordhoff served as president and chief executive officer of TargeTech and, from 1988 to 1992, he was president and chief executive officer of American Biogenetic Sciences. From 1986 to 1988, Nordhoff was vice president of mergers and acquisition for Sterling Drug Company and from 1970 to 1986, he worked for Pfizer Inc. in the U.S., Europe and Asia. His last position at Pfizer was director of licensing and business development. Nordhoff earned a Master of Business Administration degree in international business and finance from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and political economy from Johns Hopkins University. Nordhoff served in the U.S. Navy from 1963 to 1967. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Nordhoff is a Republican.
Roos-Collins, 56, of Berkeley, has been director of legal services for the Natural Heritage Institute Since 1991. Previously, he served as deputy attorney general of the public rights division for the California Department of Justice from 1989 to 1991. From 1986 to 1989, Roos-Collins was attorney-advisor for the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He is co-chair of the Agricultural Water Management Council and a member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan Steering Committee. Roos-Collins is also director of the Pacific Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council and founding director of the Hydropower Reform Coalition. He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Princeton University. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $40,669. Roos-Collins is a Democrat.
The Delta Stewardship Council was created in SBX7 1 by Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), which established the framework to achieve the co-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply to California and restoring and enhancing the Delta ecosystem.
As created in the bill, the Delta Stewardship Council consists of seven members, four appointed by the Governor, one appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. The Chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission is a permanent member of the Council.
The Council is tasked with:
* Developing a Delta Plan to guide state and local actions in the Delta in a manner that furthers the co-equal goals of Delta restoration and water supply reliability;
* Developing performance measures for the assessment and tracking of progress and changes to the health of the Delta ecosystem, fisheries, and water supply reliability;
* Determining if a state or local agency’s project in the Delta is consistent with the Delta Plan and the co-equal goals, and acting as the appellate body in the event of a claim that such a project is inconsistent with the goals; and
* Determining the consistency of the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) with the co-equal goals.”
Science justifies California water limits
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 2:23 pm
From Reuters News:
“Federal limits on water that can be pumped out of a major river delta for California farmers are scientifically justified, a much-anticipated report said on Friday, a finding hailed by environmentalists in the state’s epic water wars.
But the National Academy of Sciences stopped short of handing a decisive victory to environmental interests over agricultural interests. The academy said further study was required and that threats to Chinook salmon, delta smelt and other endangered fish were not entirely caused by the pumping.
“The Academy of Sciences report clearly validates the biological opinions,” Ann Hayden, a senior water resource analyst for the Environmental Defense Fund, said of regulations devised under court order by federal wildlife biologists and issued in late 2008.
“It’s time to stop pitting the economic interests of farmers against fishermen and move forward to find solutions,” Hayden said. “We have pushed the Bay-Delta system to the brink of collapse and saving it — and the jobs that depend on it — is going to require increased cooperation among all interests.” … “
Continue reading this article from Reuters by clicking here.
Legal Planet blog: Delta NRC committee issues initial report
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 2:19 pmFrom the Legal Planet blog:
“The National Research Council’s Committee on Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta released its first report this morning (also available through the National Academies Press web site, with registration). On a quick review of the summary, the conclusions are unsurprising — the Committee finds that the provisions of the Biological Opinions for protecting Delta smelt and winter-run chinook salmon are scientifically justified and conceptually sound, but that there is a great deal of uncertainty about the precise triggers for pumping restrictions. Seems to me we already knew exactly that, but there’s no harm in having yet another authoritative voice say so.
The report makes several useful contributions to the ongoing management debate.
First:
The committee concludes that reversing or even slowing the declines of the listed species cannot be accomplished immediately. Even the best-targeted methods of reversing the fish declines will need time to take effect amid changing environmental conditions such as multi-year droughts and continued pressures on the system from other human-caused stresses. Especially for fishes whose populations are very low already, the effects of any actions will be difficult to detect at first, and detecting them will be made more difficult by the effects of other environmental changes and uncertainties inherent in sampling small populations.
Again, this was already well known among those working on the Delta ecosystem, but the big water users seem to have managed to obscure it in the public discussion with their loud and repeated complaints that it has not been proven that export restrictions are helping the fish. Inevitably, when a population has been allowed to dwindle to the extent these fish species have, recovery cannot be immediate, and even detecting positive effects will be difficult and may take considerable time. It is unreasonable to demand, and the ESA wisely does not require, that benefits be immediate or obvious. … “
Find out what else the Legal Planet blog thinks about the NAS report by clicking here.
Statement of the Coalition for Sustainable Delta on the NRC Bay-Delta report
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 1:14 pmFrom the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, this press release:
“The newly released findings of the National Research Council underscore the lack of sound science underlying the severe water supply curtailments imposed by the Biological Opinions and highlight the importance of “other stressors” in the decline of native fish species. The NRC found that while there is a conceptual justification for federal regulatory agencies to curtail pumping operations, there is limited scientific justification for how, when and to what extent those curtailments are imposed.
The lack of justification for levels of export reductions imposed on the state and federal water projects goes directly to the heart of the concerns and serious questions raised by farm and urban water users over the past two years. The report also concludes that the effects of non-export related “other stressors” such as contaminants and invasive species are in some cases “not only potentially very important, but also under-characterized.”
“The report raises serious questions and concerns for residents, farms and businesses in California that the impacts imposed by federal and state regulators may be far greater than they need to be,” said Michael Boccadoro, spokesperson for the Coalition. “Clearly, regulators will need to make sure they are not harming the economy and putting people out of work unnecessarily. This report underscores the need for federal and state agencies to justify their harsh actions to deny water for the residents, businesses and farms going forward.”
The Coalition looks forward to the NRC Committee’s ongoing work to fully consider alternative actions that will reduce the severe water supply curtailments imposed under the current Biops and their efforts to fully explore the myriad of other stressors which are having a significant and growing impact on the estuary and native endangered fishes. Equally important¸ the NRC’s findings underscore the urgency for California and Federal regulators to use their broad existing authority to tackle the immediate impacts of other stressors, such as toxic wastewater discharges and invasive predatory species, that we know are having a huge impact on the salmon and delta smelt.”
Center for Biological Diversity: Report finds Delta water pumping restrictions to protect fish “scientifically justified”
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 1:08 pmFrom the Center for Biological Diversity, this press release:
“SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— The National Academy of Sciences today released a peer-review report that validates recent federal “biological opinions” and federal actions, particularly seasonal reductions in water pumping, to protect endangered fish species in the San Francisco Bay-Delta.
“The Academy of Sciences report confirms that the best available scientific information demonstrates that unsustainable water diversions are a major factor driving salmon and other native fish in the Delta to extinction, and that restrictions on excessive pumping mandated by the Endangered Species Act are justified and necessary,” said Jeff Miller, conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity. “It is past time to restore sufficient flows to ensure the health of the Bay-Delta ecosystem.”
In 2008 and 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service issued biological opinions under the Endangered Species Act that required reduced water diversions from the Delta to prevent the extinction of delta smelt, Central Valley chinook salmon and steelhead, and green sturgeon. To keep the record amounts of subsidized water flowing, agricultural interests filed litigation, lobbied Congress, spread disinformation about the economic impacts of the restrictions, and attempted to downplay the effects of massive water diversions. Despite the biological opinions undergoing five peer reviews to ensure that they were based on the best available science, Senator Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., pushed for additional review, and Congress and the Interior Department asked the National Academy of Sciences to provide a further scientific evaluation of the actions in the biological opinions.
“With the smallest return of fall-run salmon ever recorded in the Sacramento River, it is now more clear than ever that we need to restore and maintain flows to the Delta,” said Miller. “The National Academy of Sciences report confirms that freshwater flows are essential to endangered fish, the fishing jobs dependent upon healthy salmon runs, and the whole ecosystem.” … “
Continue reading this press release from the Center for Biological Diversity by clicking here.
Academy of Sciences report validates biological opinions to save salmon, other fish
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 10:16 amFrom the Environmental Defense Fund, this press release:
“(San Francisco–March 19, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund praised the Academy of Sciences for issuing a report today validating the biological opinions that led to management actions last year to save salmon and other endangered fish, which reduced water deliveries to some farmers in the Central Valley.
“The Academy of Sciences report clearly validates the biological opinions,” said Ann Hayden, EDF Senior Water Resource Analyst and a member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan steering committee. “It’s time to stop pitting the economic interests of farmers against fishermen and move forward to find solutions. We have pushed the Bay-Delta system to brink of collapse, and saving it—and the jobs that depend on it—is going to require increased cooperation among all interests.”
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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.“
National Academies deliver mixed message on California Delta dilemma
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 10:10 amFrom the New York Times:
“A highly anticipated study of water diversions in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta has found federal efforts to protect endangered fish “scientifically justified” but added that problems facing delta smelt and chinook salmon are not entirely caused by thirsty farms south of the estuary.
With release of the study today, the National Academy of Sciences stepped into a battle over a pair of federal biological opinions that limit water for farmers to protect the fish. But what many had hoped would clear up controversy over water restrictions has been greeted as another mixed analysis of the region’s overlapping environmental stressors.
The National Academies’ National Research Council said the diversions ordered under the bi-ops from the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service are sound, but the timing of methods to protect fish from pumps on the south end of the delta — the water source for many farmers in the San Joaquin Valley — is “less well-supported” by science. … ”
Continue reading this article from the New York Times by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: NAS report backs biological opinions but still needs further study; also finds other ’stressors’ have hurt delta fish
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 7:37 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Controversial cuts in water for San Joaquin Valley farms appear to be scientifically justified but still need further study, scientists have concluded in a highly anticipated report to be issued today.
The National Research Council determined two federal agencies had a “sound conceptual basis” for their actions protecting Chinook salmon, delta smelt and other endangered fish. The conclusion undercuts a common farmer criticism.
But the 65-page report — the first of two the council is expected to produce — also may give some ammunition to those skeptical of pumping restrictions imposed by the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service.
Notably, the scientists determined that predators, pollution and other “stressors” accounted for some of the fish lost in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. That supports a complaint from farmers who say they’ve been held solely responsible for the fish losses, costing them water.
“Based on the evidence the committee has reviewed, the committee agreed that the adverse effects of all the other stressors on the [protected] fishes are potentially large,” the study’s summary conclusion states. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
From Mike Taugher at the Contra Costa County Times:
” … The National Research Council’s review was prompted by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who in September asked for it at the request of San Joaquin Valley farmers hurt by three dry years and the effect of new rules to prevent fish from going extinct.
The report, which was obtained by Bay Area News Group late Thursday, appears unlikely to do immediately what farmers were hoping for — ease regulatory restrictions and increase water supplies.
However, it does allow that factors other than water pumping could be having a large effect on dwindling fish populations, and the panel plans to look more thoroughly at those factors in a second report next year.
Of the new requirements, most were determined to be sound and justified, at least in concept. But the rationale behind some of the specifics in the regulations should be developed more thoroughly, the report says.
The report does not support assertions that the new regulations are not working because fish populations have not rebounded since they were put in place.
“The committee concludes that reversing or even slowing the declines of the listed species cannot be accomplished immediately. … “
Continue reading this story at the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
From the Los Angeles Times:
” … The protections, imposed under the federal Endangered Species Act, have recently grown stricter, compounding water shortages stemming from the state’s three-year drought.
Central Valley farm interests, some politicians and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which imports water from the delta, have sharply criticized the curbs as overly strict and unfounded.
But in its 64-page report, a committee of more than a dozen experts from around the U.S. found otherwise.
The panel acknowledged that the pumps that draw huge amounts of water from the delta and send it south are not the only factors hurting the delta environment. They called for more monitoring and studies and emphasized that “reversing or even slowing the declines of the listed species cannot be accomplished immediately.”
The committee also conceded that there was “substantial uncertainty” about where to set a key trigger for the pumping limits, which change according to delta flows, the location of the fish and other conditions.
But the experts repeatedly said that despite such reservations, the federal actions were “scientifically justified.” … “
Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Links for National Academies of Science report
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 7:36 amCutting to the chase for those of you on RSS:
You can download a copy of the National Academies of Science report here, courtesy of Water Wired.
More links and some commentary from Water Wired by clicking here.
Hey! Check out this nifty widget the NAS sent me (yes, me! Turns out someone at The National Academies reads Aquafornia :)!):
Secretary Salazar’s statement on National Academy of Sciences review of California Bay Delta water issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 7:30 amFrom YubaNet.com, this statement from Ken Salazar:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. Mar. 19, 2010 – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar released the following statement on the National Academy of Sciences’ scientific review of key questions on California Bay Delta water issues:
“I would like to thank the National Academy of Sciences for its first report, released today, regarding key questions relating to the California Bay Delta.
“In November 2009 the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce asked for an independent scientific review evaluating the status of the California Bay Delta, specifically as to how to protect this precious, complicated and unique ecosystem while also providing a reliable water supply for Californians. … “
Read more of Ken Salazar’s statement by clicking here.
National Academies of Science Report: Most federal actions to protect endangered fishes in California’s Bay-Delta ’scientifically justified,’ but additional clarification needed
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 7:26 amCLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT (COURTESY OF WATER WIRED)
From the National Academies of Sciences, this media statement:
“WASHINGTON — Most of the actions proposed by two federal agencies to reduce water diversions in the California Bay-Delta in order to protect endangered and threatened fish species are “scientifically justified,” but the basis for the specific environmental triggers that would indicate when water diversions should be reduced is less well-supported by scientific analyses, says a new report from the National Research Council that was requested by Congress and the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The California Bay-Delta region receives its fresh water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries, and the delta’s water ultimately flows into the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Tidal mixing from the Pacific Ocean also occurs, resulting in a brackish water ecosystem in many regions of the delta. In addition, pumping stations divert water from the delta, primarily for Central Valley agriculture and southern California metropolitan areas. The effects of an increasing population and the operation of the engineered water-control system have substantially altered the delta ecosystem, including its fish species.
In 2008 and 2009 respectively, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued biological opinions under the Endangered Species Act that contained “Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives” requiring actions to reduce the adverse effects of water diversions on delta smelt, Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, and green sturgeon. Those actions included restrictions in diverting water during certain periods, depending on environmental conditions. Congress and the Interior Department asked the Research Council to provide a scientific evaluation of the actions in the biological opinions.
For its study, the committee that wrote the report reviewed an action in the FWS alternative to protect delta smelt by limiting how much water is pumped from the delta to reduce reverse flows in the Old and Middle rivers, two branches of the San Joaquin River. The committee concluded that in winter, high reverse river flows from high levels of pumping probably adversely affect smelt. Therefore, reducing the high reverse flows to decrease mortality of smelt is scientifically justified. However, the data do not permit confident identification of when to limit reverse flows of the rivers or a confident assessment of the benefits fish receive by reducing reverse flows, the committee found. As a result, the implementation of this action needs to be accompanied by careful monitoring, adaptive management, and additional analyses.
Program to clean-up the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta begins
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 19, 2010 at 6:21 amFrom Capital Public Radio:
“California’s recycling agency began a $465,000 project today that will remove debris and abandoned boats from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The clean-up is a joint effort by CalRecycle, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department.
CalRecyle spokesperson Amy Norris says the cleaning is essential to preserve natural habitats and help the troubled waterway. … “
Continue reading this article from Capital Public Radio by clicking here.
Alex Brietler’s blog: Feds emphasize long-term Delta fix
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 18, 2010 at 6:47 amFrom Alex Brietler’s blog:
“The purpose of Tuesday’s media conference call with Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar was to discuss increasing water supplies to south San Joaquin Valley farms this year. But the feds made it clear they also want a long-term solution, and soon.
Asked if the U.S. Department of Interior favors a tunnel over a peripheral canal, Deputy Secretary David Hayes said that “certainly the tunnel is one of the alternatives that will be on the table. There will be other alternatives on the table. What we’re interested in is accelerating the analysis of those alternatives… We’re not in a position to make any decisions.” … “
Continue reading this post from Alex Brietler’s blog by clicking here.
National Academies of Science report on biological opinions to be released to the public on Friday, March 19th
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 17, 2010 at 8:00 amFrom the Office of News and Information at the National Academies of Science (hat tip to Matt Weiser’s twitter feed):
“Report on Calif. Bay-Delta Water & Environmental Management – Release March 19
The National Research Council will hold a one-hour telephone news conference Friday, March 19, to release a new report requested by Congress and the U.S. Department of the Interior that evaluates actions proposed by two federal agencies in the California Bay-Delta to protect endangered and threatened fish species.
In 2008 and 2009 respectively, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service issued “biological opinions” under the Endangered Species Act that contained Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) requiring actions to reduce the adverse effects of water diversions on delta smelt, Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, and green sturgeon. Those actions included restrictions on diverting water during certain periods, depending on environmental conditions.
The report examines those actions and whether there are RPAs that, based on the best available scientific data and analysis, would have less impact on other water uses, and would provide equal or greater protection for the listed fish species and their habitats. During its study, the committee that wrote the report met in January at the University of California, Davis, to gather information and hear presentations from scientists, management experts, and community members. “
I will post the report here as soon as it is made available.
This just in from the State Water Contractors: New analysis reveals massive water supply restrictions in attempt to protect fish
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 16, 2010 at 2:48 pmFrom the State Water Contractors:
“Sacramento, CA – The State Water Contractors, a statewide organization representing 27 public water agencies in California, released a new analysis today quantifying how regulatory restrictions, theoretically designed to protect endangered fish species, have severely impacted our state’s water supply. Clearly demonstrating the mounting water crisis and profound problems within our existing water delivery infrastructure, the regulatory restrictions imposed on California’s two major water projects – the State Water Project and the Central Valley Project – have cut a whopping 478,894 acre‐feet of water since January.
To put that in perspective, that amount of water would serve more than 3.8 million people for one year.
Looking at it another way, it was enough to refill San Luis Reservoir, one of the state’s primary water storage facilities that has been drawn down to record levels due to the three‐year drought and the fish restrictions. Total capacity for San Luis Reservoir is 2,027,835 acre‐feet and, as of Friday, March 12, the reservoir contained only 1,585,326 acre‐feet. Lake Oroville, the State Water Project’s main storage facility, is at below normal levels due to less than average runoff.
The state’s water projects have been controlled by regulatory restrictions (biological opinions for Delta smelt and salmon) for more than two years now, severely limiting the amount of water that state and federal agencies deliver, even in wet years.
“The amount of water that we’ve lost during the past two and a half months alone would have filled San Luis Reservoir. The ongoing restrictions are preventing us from recovering from the past three years of drought,” said Laura King Moon, assistant general manager of the State Water Contractors. “Between regulatory cutbacks and low runoff from the Sierras, we are looking at another bad year for water supplies.”
Meanwhile, the cutbacks have failed to boost fish populations. The State Water Contractors have called on the courts as well as state and federal agencies to consider the many other factors that have impacted fish populations in the Sacramento‐San Joaquin Delta (Delta). However, court action is not expected until the window to capture additional water supplies this year has come and gone.
“If we don’t address the other stressors that are hurting fish populations, we’ll never see their numbers rebound. The need to look at this comprehensively has never been greater,” added King Moon.
State and federal agencies have been working in conjunction with environmental organizations and water agencies to develop the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a comprehensive plan that will restore the ecosystem and reliable water supplies for the 25 million people, businesses and farms that rely on the Delta. For more information, please visit www.baydeltaconservationplan.org.
and this …. Statement regarding State Water Contractors’ new analysis of water supply impacts due to biological opinions
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 16, 2010 at 2:42 pmFrom the Southern California Water Committee:
“RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., March 16 /PRNewswire/ –
Background Information: The State Water Contractors, comprised of 27 public agencies that receive water from the State Water Project, released today a new analysis of current water supply impacts due to pumping restrictions directed by biological opinions that govern operation of our two primary water projects, the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. These restrictions, which don’t reflect other stressors on the system such as invasive species and environmental degradation due to wastewater discharges and pesticides, were triggered as a result of detecting a number of Delta smelt and salmon at the state water facilities.
Since January 1, 2010, more than 470,000 acre-feet of much-needed water from the State Water Project and Central Valley Project has been lost as a result of these cutbacks, or enough water to supply 3.8 million California residents for one year. For comparison purposes, Southern California city populations are listed below:
San Diego: 1,353,998
Anaheim: 348,467
Long Beach: 492,698
Bakersfield: 333,719
Santa Ana: 355,662
Riverside: 296,842“Public water agencies have been subjected to massive water supply cutbacks this year in an uncertain attempt to protect endangered fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. While we have welcomed recent rainstorms throughout the southland, our water agencies were prevented from delivering this water to our families, businesses and farms. All told, enough water for 3.8 million people was lost. That is a staggering statistic that merits the attention of our elected leadership.”
“We need a long-term solution that doesn’t pit water supply and eco-system needs against each other. We urge our state leaders to push forward with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan so that a more effective water conveyance system can be developed and approved for the Delta.”
Charles Wilson
Chairman, Southern California Water Committee
Established in 1984, the Southern California Water Committee is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, public education partnership dedicated to informing Southern Californians about our water needs and our state’s water resources. Spanning Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, San Bernardino, Imperial, Riverside, Ventura and Kern Counties, the SCWC’s members include representatives from business, government, agriculture, water agencies, labor and the general public. Visit us at www.socalwater.org and find us on Facebook.
On the Water Front blog: How much water does the Delta need? State board set to hold hearing
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 16, 2010 at 5:45 amFrom the Environmental Defense Fund’s On the Water Front blog:
“EDF supported the 2009 water policy reform package passed by the California legislature, but we have always maintained that the true test of the legislation will be how effectively its provisions are implemented. An early test of the legislation begins on March 22-24, when the State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”) will hold a public hearing to develop flow criteria for the Sacramento – San Joaquin Delta. The hearing is an immensely important opportunity for the SWRCB to determine how much water is needed in the Delta to restore and protect its natural resources.
The Legislation
The hearing is a central part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Reform Act of 2009 (“Reform Act’), one piece of the five water reform bills passed in November, 2009. The Reform Act established a new governance structure for state agencies responsible for the Delta with the goal of managing the Delta in sustainable way. The bill created a new Water Code §85086 that directs the SWRCB to, “pursuant to its public trust obligations, develop new flow criteria for the Delta ecosystem necessary to protect public trust resources.” … “
Continue reading this article at the On the Water Front blog by clicking here.
State Water Contractors: The Multiple factors contributing to Delta decline
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 16, 2010 at 5:33 amFrom AgLeader’s twitter feed, this from the State Water Contractors:
“This document reviews the highlights of the testimony submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board by the public water agencies served by the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. Page references to the source material are indicated in parentheses.
Predation
• Nine-out-of-ten juvenile salmon are being killed by predators before ever reaching the Delta. (main, 8)
• There is an estimated nearly one million striped bass in the Delta and the watershed and catch of large-mouth bass has quadrupled since the 1980s. Both are non-native fish that prey on young salmon; (main, 8-9)
• Research last year estimated that striped bass consumed 21 to 42 percent of endangered winter- and spring-run juvenile salmon, respectively. Other studies show the water projects took less than 3 percent. (main, 9) … “
Continue reading this document by clicking here.
Monday’s top of the scroll: As pro anglers leave, Delta’s focus turns to another bass
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 15, 2010 at 7:25 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“The great thing about the Delta, they say, is you don’t need a $50,000 boat and thousands of bucks worth of gear to land a real nice fish.
Not if you’re after striped bass. “He’s every man’s trophy fish,” said John Banks, 76. “You can catch him from the bank, you can catch him from a boat, you can catch him from the pier, and you might get a record 60-, 70-pound fish. The promise of a great catch is right there. That keeps a lot of guys going.”
This past weekend, elite tournament fishermen zipped across the Delta in pursuit of a different catch: the prized largemouth bass, which thrives in warm weed-choked back sloughs of the heavily pumped estuary.
But even as the pros cast their lines, locals were gearing up for a fight over a new attempt to eliminate protections for stripers – a fish that has suffered in the Delta as we know it today by losing much of the open-water habitat it needs. … “
Continue reading this article from the Record by clicking here.
This article is behind the paywall at the Stockton Record. Logging in (or registration) is necessary in order to read it. A free registration will allow you ten articles per month.
Water Wired: NAS report coming soon & Tim Quinn
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 15, 2010 at 6:59 amFrom the Water Wired blog:
“I wandered over to David Zetland’s Aguanomics blog and found his reference to a 10 March 2009 UCB talk given by Dr. Tim Quinn, Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies: California Water: Managing Crisis and Opportunity.
Here is a pdf of his slide presentation.
Among other things, Quinn comments on the Peripheral Canal and groundwater, so as we close the door on National Ground Water Awareness Week and await the report of the NAS Bay-Delta Committee I thought this post apropos. One year has not diminshed the relevance or importance of Quinn’s topic.
And speaking of the aformentioned report, we hope to release it to Congress and the agencies on 17 March, and to the public later that same day or on 18 March. Lest you think the report was not vetted, there were eight reviewers whose comments consumed about 27 pages. Virtually all of the comments dealt with minor issues. … “
Continue reading this post from the Water Wired blog by clicking here.
Fish restoration could be a catch for Rio Vista
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 14, 2010 at 6:42 amFrom the Vacaville Reporter:
“Rio Vista, long a hub for levee building and dredging in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, could find its next fortune in fish restoration.
Solano County’s smallest city is being courted by a who’s who of state and federal agencies that see a former U.S. Army property on the waterfront as an ideal home for Delta research. The latest proposal is for a federal fish-breeding project to raise “refuge” populations of several species in case they go extinct in the wild.
“It would be perfect for these uses,” said Rio Vista Mayor Jan Vick. “Nobody has any money for it yet, but we’re pushing because it’s becoming more urgent so research in the Delta can proceed efficiently.”
The property has been eyed for a joint state-federal science center. The city also wants public recreation and interpretive facilities on the site. … “
Continue reading this article from the Vacaville Reporter by clicking here.
Laura King Moon commentary: Changes needed to rules governing Delta smelt
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 13, 2010 at 8:08 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News, this commentary by Laura King Moon of the State Water Contractors:
“This winter, on certain days, it would take only two small fish known as delta smelt to show up at California’s two largest water projects to trigger pumping restrictions causing the loss of hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day. If two more smelt appear the next day, the pumps are cut more, and so on. Since Jan. 1, the State Water Project has lost nearly 370,000 acre-feet of water, enough to serve the residential needs of San Jose for nearly three years.”
This is how the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been implemented on a day-by-day, smelt-by-smelt basis for the water system serving 25 million Californians and the farms that grow half the nation’s fruits and vegetables. The “two-smelt-and-you’re-out” rule is among five layers of water-supply restrictions under the federal and state ESAs. The combined impact is shortage or near-shortage conditions for many regions of the state, regardless of rainfall.
The State Water Contractors strongly support long-term solutions to restoring Northern California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and rebuilding a reliable water system within the ESA. But these pumping restrictions are not rebounding fish populations. The emerging challenge is to address legitimate questions about these short-term rules while moving forward with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, an effort designed to put the Delta on a more-sustainable path. … “
Continue reading this commentary from Laura King Moon by clicking here.
On the Water Front blog: Putting the Cart Before the Horse: The Legislature calls out the Administration on rushing water decisions
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 12, 2010 at 5:29 amFrom the Environmental Defense Fund’s On the Water Front blog:
“If nothing else, Tuesday’s joint oversight hearing before the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife and the Senate Resources and Water Committees made clear that while the Delta package was enacted last year, the Legislature remains keenly focused on how that package will be implemented.
Assemblymember Jared Huffman honed in on the composition of the Delta Stewardship Council. He also raised a number of concerns regarding the role of the Department of Water Resources in getting out in front with a “Request for Qualifications” for consultants to craft the Delta Plan before the Council that is responsible for that Plan has even been selected. “We seem to be having an Al Haig moment – DWR is in charge,” he observed. Natural Resources Secretary Lester Snow offered that it was not the Administration’s intent to preempt the Council’s authority, but rather to ensure that things get moving so that when the Council is up and running it will have the option of moving forward more expeditiously, but of course it could start over if it chooses to do so. … “
Read more from the On the Water Front blog by clicking here.
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Recent Posts
- Saturday’s top of scroll: Science panel says Delta pumping restrictions are justified in California
- Senator Feinstein urges administration to respond to new National Academy of Sciences report on the Delta biological opinions; Calls for greater flexibility, robust adaptive management and integration of federal actions in the Delta
- Boxer statement on National Academy of Sciences’ review of Delta water issues
- Congressman Costa’s response to National Academy of Sciences review of Bay Delta water issues
- Score one for science, says SF Chronicle editorial on NAS findings
- Doug Obegi: National Academy of Sciences confirms that protections for endangered salmon and other species are “scientifically justified”
- Western Growers: 1st NAS Delta water study released, data lacking
- EarthJustice: Top scientists validate restoration plan for California salmon
- Remaining appointees to the Delta Stewardship Council named
- Hearings could set new course for Delta
- Barge-scale cleanup in the Delta
- Nunes on YouTube: “Water torture on Glenn Beck”
- Congresman Cardoza calls on government agencies to address predator fish that hurt Delta smelt and Valley agriculture
- PCL’s Green Roots blog: Californians ask “With 23,000 teachers receiving pink slips, how can we afford an $11.14 billion water bond?”
- Powerful state agency was weak when it came to the Delta
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