Environmental Water Caucus: A realistic plan for the Delta
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 7:30 amFrom the Environmental Water Caucus, this press release:
“In late 2009, the legislature created the Delta Reform Act which established a suite of requirements and basic goals for the Sacramento-San Joaquin-San Francisco Bay Delta. These included a more reliable water supply for California, protecting, restoring and enhancing the Delta ecosystem, and developing a legally enforceable Delta Plan to achieve these goals. The newly created Delta Stewardship Council has now produced a Delta Plan and a 2,300 page Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that fails to achieve these basic goals.
The Environmental Water Caucus (EWC) and our many affiliated organizations has responded with written comments to that proposed EIR and told the Delta Stewardship Council that they need to reissue an Environmental Impact Report that meets the mandates of the state legislature. This revised EIR should be fact based and clearly establish the specific actions that will put the Bay Delta and its declining fish and wildlife on the road to recovery. In a nutshell, here’s what the EWC said:
- “Water supply reliability” does not mean increased exports from the Delta, and is shorthand for a policy to increase Delta water exports for the benefit of San Joaquin Valley farming corporations and Southern California developers.
- The proposed Delta Plan is patently inconsistent with the increased Delta outflows recommended by the State Water Board for the health of the Delta.
- The EIR abrogates the Delta Stewardship Council’s duty to carefully evaluate and protect public trust resources.
- The proposed Delta Plan fails to enforce existing water quality laws.
- The provisions of the secretly negotiated Monterey Amendments need to be analyzed for their impact on water supply for Southern California.
- There is a complete lack of quantifiable data to evaluate the alternatives discussed.
- It is inconceivable that such a major undertaking as the Delta Plan so far contains no information on the costs of the alternatives; yet a Proposed Project has been selected with no references to costs or benefits.
- The Environmental Water Caucus’ superior alternative should be more accurately reflected in the EIR and then selected as the Proposed Project.
- The Draft EIR should be significantly revised into a legally compliant and enforceable Delta Plan.
Continue reading “Environmental Water Caucus: A realistic plan for the Delta” »
Commentary: ACWA’s propaganda effort tries to convince public to pay more for Delta infrastructure/canal
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 7:28 amFrom Burt Wilson at the Public Water News Service, this commentary:
“I ventured into a recent public meeting of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) at their Sacramento Headquarters to see what was going on. I expected to hear their views on the financing of the coming Water Bill. Instead, I listened in awe as Tim Quinn, ACWA’s Executive Director, unveiled a detailed political PR campaign designed to convince California voters that “since they are the public, it is in the public interest to invest money in upgrading the Delta infrastructure in order to maintain a reliable water supply.”
In other words: “Your money or your life!”
As it stands now, the Delta Stewardship Council is pushing a “beneficiaries pay” concept that would raise user’s water rates rather than add bonded indebtedness to the state budget. This is supposed to help Gov. Brown who doesn’t want such a large spending bill on the ballot along with his proposed tax hike.
Alex Breitler’s blog: Defending the Delta Plan
Posted by: Maven on February 8, 2012 at 8:26 amFrom Alex Breitler’s blog:
“Patrick Johnston was in an interesting spot Monday night.
Speaking before many of his own friends and acquaintances, the longtime Stockton resident and member of the Delta Stewardship Council defended a new plan for the estuary — a plan that doesn’t get a lot of love around here.
Johnston spoke before the Campaign for Common Ground, a grassroots slow-growth organization with which Johnston himself has been affiliated in the past. … “
Continue reading from Alex Breitler’s blog by clicking here.
Watchdog blog: Disinformation floods delta water war in California
Posted by: Maven on February 8, 2012 at 8:19 amFrom the Watchdog blog:
“Ready for another phantom “drought”? The National Resources Defense Council is. The NRDC’s bogus Delta Smelt lawsuit brought the court-ordered “drought” from 2007 to 2010.
Now the NRDC is launching a disinformation campaign to divert the public’s attention from the bigger water issues of the Sacramento Delta. On Sept. 16, 2012, U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger threw the case out of court as based on bogus science.
Gov. Jerry Brown declared the “drought” over in 2011. Yet water rates have risen anyway across the state as a result of the bogus “drought.” … “
Continue reading from the Watchdog blog by clicking here.
Can the California delta smelt survive our demand for water?
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 9:06 amFrom News10:
“When the federal government considers protections for threatened plants and animals, the Endangered Species Act requires that economic consequences for humans stay out of the equation.
But as the law nears its 40th anniversary, some wonder how much longer that tenet can withstand growing demand for land, water and other resources.
While the public supports protecting threatened plant and animal life, “at what point are they going to say, ‘Can we afford to do this and take care of ourselves?’” says Jason F. Shogren, professor of natural resource conservation and management at the University of Wyoming. … “
Continue reading from News10 by clicking here.
Doug Obegi: Myths and facts about California’s Bay-Delta Estuary – a follow-up to yesterday’s commentary
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 8:27 amFrom Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“We all know that our water comes out of the tap, but do we know how it got there? Many of us who work on California’s water issues weren’t surprised to learn that recent polling data released last week showed that the majority of Californian’s don’t know what the Bay-Delta is.
I’m guessing most everyone who reads this blog knows what the Delta is and why it’s important. But if you’re reading this and don’t know about the Delta, here’s a link to a short movie that NRDC produced that interviews fishermen and farmers about the Bay-Delta and why we work to protect this estuary. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dobegi/why_we_work_to_protect_califor.html.
And on Sunday, the San Francisco Chronicle published an Op-Ed I wrote on California’s water myths and facts (available online here). It’s impossible to fit everything you want to say and still meet the word limit, so there were a great many things that had to get cut. You also don’t get to include graphics, and I wanted to share three graphics that I think help tell the story. … “
Continue reading from Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Commentary: Dancing with disaster in the state Delta
Posted by: Maven on February 7, 2012 at 8:24 amFrom the Santa Clarita Signal, this commentary by Tom Campbell, president of the Castaic Lake Water Agency Board of Directors:
“Suppose your home has old, galvanized steel pipes that are starting to leak. What do you do? You re-pipe the house, of course — planning ahead to avoid a catastrophic failure.
You do the same thing as you contemplate natural disasters. One hopes you have an earthquake kit, with emergency water, food and other necessities. You plan ahead, so your risk of major consequences is diminished.
Now, think of California as one big house. There’s something missing from our earthquake kit — and, at the risk of mixing our metaphors, a major source of California’s water supply is in need of a “re-pipe” before something catastrophic happens.
It’s the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and while it may seem remote — out of sight, out of mind — it’s a vital source of water supply for 25 million Californians, including those who call the Santa Clarita Valley home. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.
This just in … Doug Obegi on California’s water myths and facts
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 9:14 amDon’t know how I missed this earlier (thank you, BD) … From the San Francisco Chronicle, this commentary by Doug Obegi:
“Over the past decade, fishermen, farmers, politicians and conservation groups have struggled over trying to balance how much water can be diverted from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta estuary with how best to protect California’s native fish. This year, California faces momentous decisions on plans to manage and restore the delta, and on whether to build a peripheral canal to divert water around the delta for cities and farms. Californians must make sure those decisions are based on facts.
Yet, pervasive myths about California water make it difficult for the public to make informed decisions. Here are three facts and three myths about the delta:
Can you tell truth from fiction? … “
Take the test and read the rest of Doug Obegi’s commentary by clicking here.
Report: Strengthening Delta levees critical to economy
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:51 amFrom the Sacramento Business Journal:
“Strengthening the levees of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is critical to the economic sustainability of the Delta and regional economy, a plan recently approved by the Delta Protection Commission concluded.
The Economic Sustainability Plan, approved Jan. 26, also found that seismic improvements near lowland Delta levees and vegetation on the water side of enlarged levees “is the most cost-effective strategy to achieve the state’s co-equal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration.” … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Business Journal by clicking here.
Randy Fiorini: Nostalgic trip down Delta drifts too far from the facts
Posted by: Maven on February 5, 2012 at 6:25 amFrom the Stockton Record, this commentary by Randy Fiorini, vice-chairman of the Delta Stewardship Council:
“Ah, the good old days! They always look better, if slightly out of focus, in the rear-view mirror.
San Joaquin County supervisors Larry Ruhstahler and Ken Vogel’s recent nostalgic comparison of the Delta 50 to 100 years ago with the Delta today does not accurately address the facts (“Exports fuel Delta’s problems,” Jan. 1, The Record). The supervisors suggest that the source of the decline is due to increased water transfers over the last several decades.
The fact is most scientists who have studied conditions in the Delta inform us that a multitude of changes have occurred in the past 50 to 100 years that have contributed to the decline in the Delta, and they must all be addressed. … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Michael Fitzgerald: Solving the Delta’s identity crisis
Posted by: Maven on February 5, 2012 at 6:21 amFrom columnist Michael Fitzgerald at the Stockton Record:
“In the latest installment of “Invisible Valley,” the saga of a region nobody pays attention to, a survey shows 78 percent of Californians don’t know what the Delta is.
Or where it is. Or who it is.
Mind-boggling.
Seventy-eight percent of the lotus-eaters in this state haven’t got a clue the Delta even exists.
Even as they drink it, fill their swimming pools with it and live on food that couldn’t have grown without it. … “
Continue reading this column from Michael Fitzgerald by clicking here.
Mark Lubell’s blog: Most people in California are clueless on the Delta
Posted by: Maven on February 5, 2012 at 6:17 amFrom Mark Lubell’s blog (from UC Davis Center for Environmental Policy and Behavior):
“Well, I’m stuck on a 7 hour layover at the Houston airport, en route back to California after giving talks on water governance at both Duke and University of Michigan. Both of these were very fun visits. So, after reviewing an interesting paper on IRWM in Southern California, I was browsing Aquafornia [ :) ] and came upon a story for this really interesting survey conducted by Probolsky Associates, I think paid for by the Southern California Water Committee.
Anyway, two several intriguing findings in this survey. First,when asked if they knew anything about the Delta, 86% of Southern California and 69% of the rest of the state’s citizens don’t know what it is. Wow. I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised but it is always shocking to see these types of numbers. Even in my water policy class, when I ask UC Davis undergraduate students where the water in Davis comes from (groundwater now, possibly Sac river surface water in the future), I would say only about 50% have a clue. I consider it a successful class when 90% know by the end of the quarter, and 75% remember it after the quarter ends! … “
Continue reading from Mark Lubell’s blog by clicking here.
Restore the Delta on the Delta Plan: Ambitious document, serious flaws
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:45 amFrom Restore the Delta’s blog:
“The big news this week with the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) is that everyone who wants to comment on the 2,000-and-some page Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Draft Delta Plan has until February 2 to do it.
Restore the Delta has commented in detail on some portions of the DEIR as part of comprehensive comments by the Environmental Water Caucus, and we have also associated ourselves with comments by South Delta Water Agency, the Central Delta Water Agency, San Joaquin County, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, California Water Impact Network, law firms representing commercial fishing and environmental interests, Local Agencies of the North Delta (LAND), and the City of Stockton. … “
Continue reading from Restore the Delta’s blog by clicking here.
Alex Breitler’s blog with more on the striped bass saga
Posted by: Maven on February 4, 2012 at 7:43 amFrom Alex Breitler’s blog:
“It was Jim Kellogg’s last meeting as president of the California Fish and Game Commission. He took advantage.
“Nobody’s got an answer on how this is done, or who declares it, so I’m going to declare the striped bass a native species of the state of California,” he said.
And a crowd of fishermen erupted in cheer. … “
Continue reading from Alex Breitler’s blog by clicking here.
Mountain Counties Water Resources Association submits comments on Delta Stewardship Council’s Draft EIR
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 8:45 amFrom the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association:
“Meeting the February 2, 2012 deadline for comments to the Delta Stewardship’s Draft Environmental Impact Report, the Association along with several members submit comments expressing serious concerns with the 5th Draft Delta Plan.”
You can read their comment letter here.
Fresno Bee News Blog: To the 22% who know what the delta is, I feel your pain; plus Alex Breitler with the link to the actual study
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 8:28 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“I must have read four stories about the survey released this week showing 78% of Californians had no idea what the delta is.
That’s the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta — in Northern California where the state’s two longest rivers meet and pour out to the Pacific Ocean. It’s the centerpiece of California’s fresh water supply and big environmental problems.
The other 22% of California argue about it every day. Sometimes twice a day. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
MORE: Alex Breitler has the link to the study plus some commentary on his blog.
Delta Conservancy issues first newsletter
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 8:04 amThe Delta Conservancy has started a newsletter. You can read the first issue here.
Sandhill cranes bring their trumpet and dance to the Delta each winter
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2012 at 7:31 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“Jesse Roseman, a nature preserve manager, stalks along a pond in search of a very big and rare bird that evolved wading in the primordial ooze that once covered much of the Central Valley.
“Listen. Their sound is not like any other bird,” Roseman says as he hears the eerie, reverberating cry of sandhill cranes calling out as they land in the Cosumnes River Preserve. “It’s an ancient bird. Some people call them living fossils.”
Sometimes called the “rib-eye of the sky” in states like Kentucky, where its hunting is allowed and where it thrives in wetlands, the sandhill crane population declined sharply in California in Gold Rush days, when the birds were sold like turkeys in San Francisco butcher shops. But in the past two decades, its population here has stabilized, with the help of new, crane-friendly farm practices that have helped preserve its habitat. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
California’s best-kept secret? Statewide survey finds 78 percent clueless about Delta
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 8:58 am
From the Stockton Record:
“Nearly four out of five Californians do not know what the Delta is, despite the fact that the estuary of 1,000 square miles provides drinking water for cities from San Jose to San Diego.
Asked in a new statewide poll to share what, if anything, they know about the Delta, 585 of the 750 people surveyed in late January said they hadn’t heard about it or didn’t know about it.
That’s 78 percent.
“I have not heard about it,” one respondent said. “If it is the bill about weapons control, it is (expletive). Every person in the world should have the right to keep and bear arms.” … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Dunno Much about Hydrology: Californians Clueless about Delta’s Role in Their Water, from KQED’s Climate Watch
RELATED: You can learn more about the Delta by checking out my slideshow: What is this place called the Delta? You can also learn more about the Delta by reading this article from Aquafornia’s Information Desk.
Photo of the Delta by the Department of Water Resources.
Delta’s Economic Sustainability Plan determines strengthening levees is critical to economic sustainability in the Delta; Seismic levee upgrades are lowest cost strategy for water supply reliability
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 8:55 amFrom the University of the Pacific Eberhardt School of Business and the Delta Protection Commission:
“The Delta Protection Commission approved the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which concluded that strengthening Delta levees is critical to economic sustainability for the Delta and regional economy. The study also found that seismic improvements to between 300 and 600 miles of lowland Delta levees and planting appropriate vegetation on the water side of enlarged levees is the most cost-effective strategy to achieve the State’s co-equal goals of water supply reliability and ecosystem restoration. The Commission approved the plan January 26.
The finding in the ESP is consistent with recently released results from the Department of Water Resources’ Delta Risk Management Strategy (DRMS) Phase 2 in which strategies focused on improving Delta levees had higher economic benefits and lower total costs than strategies that include a peripheral canal.
“Completion of the Economic Sustainability Plan is a significant milestone in the Delta Protection Commission’s efforts to help assure the protection and enhancement of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta,” said Sacramento County Supervisor Don Nottoli, Chairman of the Delta Protection Commission. “Most importantly, the findings and recommendations in the Economic Sustainability Plan demonstrate that protecting and enhancing the unique values of the Delta and its economy are consistent with the co-equal goals of water supply reliability for California and ecosystem restoration in the Delta.”
ACWA submits comments on draft Program EIR for draft Delta Plan
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 8:50 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“In comments submitted today on the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report for the fifth draft Delta Plan, ACWA expressed serious concern with the direction of the Delta Stewardship Council has taken to achieve the coequal goals in the Delta.
Acting on behalf of the Ag-Urban II Coalition, a diverse group of public water agencies, associations, cities and agricultural and business interests throughout the state, ACWA called the DPEIR’s analysis of the draft Delta Plan’s impacts “so flawed” that the document cannot provide a legally adequate basis for adoption. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
Visalia Times-Delta editorial: Ignorance of Delta bodes ill for state’s water
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 8:39 amFrom the Visalia Times-Delta, this editorial:
“Most Californians aren’t aware of the role the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta plays in the state’s water supply.
In fact, most Californians don’t even know what the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta is, according to poll results released by California public opinion research firm Probolsky Research at the Southern California Water Committee’s quarterly meeting this week. The pollsters found that 78 percent of people in California don’t know anything about the Delta. The percentage is 86 percent in Southern California, the state’s most populous region.
That is truly scary, because that means most people don’t know where their water comes from. They also aren’t aware that the Delta is one of the most ecologically fragile and vital features of California. And obviously they aren’t aware of the need to protect that key resource, both for the state’s water supply and its environmental health. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Visalia Times Delta by clicking here.
Valley Economy blog: Economic benefit-cost analysis vs. financial feasibility analysis: Clear definitions needed for BDCP discussions
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 8:36 amFrom the Valley Economy blog:
“As an economist, it was painful to sit at the Delta Protection Commission meeting last week and listen to Jerry Meral’s five minute answer to a question about benefit-cost analysis and the BDCP. My understanding is that there have been similar exchanges at various meetings. The problem isn’t just his answer, the questions are often unclear, and even Allison Huber’s failed bill wasn’t very clear about the analysis she wanted the LAO to do.
To keep these conversations simple in the future, I recommend the question be phrased in the future as a simple yes/no question that relies on the Department of Water Resources’ Economic Analysis Guidebook for definition of the terms. It’s not the only source for this, but it is pretty good, and it should be acceptable to Dr. Meral and the Resources Agency since it is their guidebook. … “
Continue reading from the Valley Economy blog by clicking here.
Delta Stewardship Council: The new Sherman’s March, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:44 amFrom the Manteca Bulletin, this commentary by managing editor, Dennis Wyatt:
““The Delta Stewardship Council is the Coastal Commission on steroids.” – Assemblyman Bill Berryhill
The natives, as they say, are getting restless.
And it is all due to a growing uneasiness about a mutant super-strain of government that the California Legislature created because they lack the ability, desire, and temperament to address issues of how 70 percent of the state’s water supply passes through the Delta and where it will end up.
The Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) was established as an autonomous form of overlay government much like the California Coastal Commission and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. The DSC is mandated by the California Legislature to reach goals that are described as “co-equal.” It supposedly will balance protecting, restoring, and enhancing the Delta ecosystem with the pressing need to establish a manageable and reliable water supply for California.
It sounds enticing until you realize the DSC was given broad guidelines to devise its governance plan. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Manteca Bulletin by clicking here.
California Spigot blog: California Delta as a National Heritage Area could help save its people
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:38 amFrom the California Spigot blog:
“Many people have their eyes fixed on the Delta’s natural resources: its water, its imperiled fish and the 750 or so species that live there or use it seasonally, like sandhill cranes. But there is another species that has lived in the Delta for 10,000 years. That would be human beings, and they also are imperiled.
Some 2,500 souls live in the Delta today, mostly farming families. Many have been there for generations, living in a time and place that seems from another era. Freeways stop at the borders of the Delta. So do gas stations. Main thoroughfares from the Bay Area to Stockton and Sacramento route drivers around the territory, not through it.
The area opens a window on California history, which is immediately apparent to anyone who drives over the Antioch Bridge onto highway 160 toward Sacramento. Soaring off the urban rim and onto the first island, the driver is hit first by a sweeping view of the Delta and then by a sense of being suddenly transported into the past. Yellow drawbridges, occasional tiny towns, narrow levee roads and green acres recall the 1950s, but in fact, the history is much older. … “
Continue reading from the California Spigot blog by clicking here.
Southern California Water Committee: Californians largely unaware of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
Posted by: Maven on February 1, 2012 at 7:26 amFrom the Southern California Water Committee:
“The majority of Californians have never heard of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta), according to poll results released by California public opinion research firm Probolsky Research at the Southern California Water Committee’s January 27 Quarterly Meeting.
While the Delta is the core of California’s water delivery system, as well as a key environmental resource, 78 percent of respondents in the statewide survey said they do not know what the Delta is. The survey results underscore the significant need to educate Californians throughout the state about the Delta.Key findings from the survey showed:
Statewide 78 percent said they did not know what the Delta is.
- 86 percent of Southern Californians did not know about the Delta.
- Nearly 70 percent of respondents outside of Southern California did not know about the Delta. … “
Continue reading from the Southern California Water Committee by clicking here.
Liberty Blog: X2 Ninth Circuit briefing completed (for now)
Posted by: Maven on January 31, 2012 at 7:52 amFrom the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Liberty Blog:
“Last week, the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Kern County Water Agency, State Water Contractors, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, and Westlands Water District filed this reply to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s opposition to the water users’ motion to dismiss NRDC’s appeal of last fall’s delta smelt X2 injunction. If the Ninth Circuit declines to grant the water users’ motion to dismiss, then expect to see further briefing on NRDC’s X2 appeal later this year. [Links available on click-through] … “
Restore the Delta’s blog reports from the Bay-Delta Conservation Plan meeting
Posted by: Maven on January 31, 2012 at 7:49 amFrom the Restore the Delta’s blog:
“The 3-hour January 25 Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) public meeting was devoted to presentations on eight chapters of the BDCP draft by consultants ICF International. Most of the time was spent on appendices to the chapter that analyze biological effects of the plan, and on public comments and questions related to those appendices. With an audience of 40-50 people, plus call-in participants, there were a lot of comments and questions.
Without getting into important technical issues raised by Delta supporters, here are some interesting points that emerged:
The South Delta turns out not to be a very good place for habitat for “covered” (endangered) species. Anticipated temperature changes will make the water too warm. However, that area will still be useful for fish passage and food production – for fish. When the consultant mentioned food production, she didn’t mean agriculture. … “
Continue reading from Restore the Delta’s blog by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Where there’s a will, there’s a way to pay?, also from Restore the Delta’s blog
Commentary: Delta over-pumping 2000 to 2006 caused Delta to be “in crisis” today
Posted by: Maven on January 31, 2012 at 7:44 amFrom Burt Wilson at the Public Water News Service (a blog, of sorts, but not really):
“What the water agencies do not want to let the people in on is that the Dept. of Water Resources (DWR) allowed the Delta to be over-pumped from 2000 to 2006 in order to allow the Metropolitan Water District to make up for its loss of much of its Colorado River allocation (See Graph). [Graph available on click-through.]
The graph, courtesy of the MWD, shows that from 1976 through 1998, the MWD received on average roughly 700,000 acre feet of Delta water per year. But in the year 2000 water deliveries doubled to over 1,400,000 acre feet. It dropped to 1,100,000 acre feet over the next year and then shot up to a high of 1,800,000 acre feet in 2004. … “
Continue reading this commentary from the Public Water News Service by clicking here.
No need to fast-track latest attempt at canal, says the San Francisco Chronicle
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:49 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle, this editorial:
“While most of the political chatter following Gov. Jerry Brown’s State of the State address last week focused on high-speed rail and his proposed tax initiative, the big issue quietly lapping the Capitol halls is water.
The state faces two deadlines in the next few months: approval of a plan to achieve the “coequal” goals of restoring the ecosystem of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and ensuring a reliable supply of water for export, and passing a bond to finance the delta restoration work.
The governor is fast-tracking the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a public relations moniker for the state and federal effort to restore the delta and provide more and better quality water to cities and farms. The plan, despite assurances that planners have made no decision yet, clearly will include a “conveyance” – either a canal or tunnel to move Sacramento River water around the ever-saltier delta to the water pumps south of Stockton. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Senator Lois Wolk continues to fight for Delta rights
Posted by: Maven on January 29, 2012 at 8:53 am
From the River News-Herald and Isleton Journal:
“Up for reelection in 2012, State Senator Lois Wolk continues to fight for Delta representation and equality within the legislature. The senator has a busy 2012 ahead, with several main goals and focuses to improve the fifth district she calls home.
Wolk’s main focuses includes working on legislation for the Delta, levees and flood protection. She plans to keep close track on the BDCP and the Delta Plan, and to tackle water bond issues.
“I think more and more people are becoming dissatisfied with the plan (BDCP), and I’m one of them,” said Wolk. “It was a plan that was put together years ago and the centerpiece of it is the canal. It’s a grandiose project that I think is a 19th century project. As the plan goes along, more ratepayers particularly in southern California are becoming very skeptical if this is the right answer. If it is, it’s going to take 25 years to get there. There is a lot that has to be done in the meantime.” … “
Continue reading from the River News-Herald and Isleton Journal by clicking here.
Photo of the Delta by the California Department of Water Resources.
Peripheral canal proposal, loss of home rule prompts SSJID to join battle against the Delta Stewardship Council
Posted by: Maven on January 29, 2012 at 8:51 amFrom the Manteca Bulletin:
“A coalition of cities, counties and other organizations worried about the perceived far-reaching political power of the Delta Stewardship Council are banding together to fight for preservation of home rule.
And they now have the South San Joaquin Irrigation District on board.
The SSJID board unanimously approved a resolution this week to join the Delta Initiative of Cities and Agencies of San Joaquin County to fight for the overall protection of both land use and water rights.
General Manager Jeff Shields, though, wanted to make sure that the interests of the district were adequately addressed before the board gave their final approval. … “
Continue reading from the Manteca Bulletin by clicking here.
Delta National Park blog: The other, still equal goal
Posted by: Maven on January 29, 2012 at 8:46 amFrom the Delta National Park blog:
“We may from time to time forget that SB 7X 1 has teeth, and includes “protecting and restoring the health of the Delta estuary, and its native fisheries” language as a co-equal goal of the legislation. And the implications of those teeth are starting to come into focus.
Via Aquafornia, this thought from the Met’s “Review of Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report.”
Additionally, the draft EIR states that the “no project” alternative, which is meant to analyze what will happen if no plan moves forward – in other words, the status quo – will result in greater water deliveries to export areas than will result from some of the Delta Plan alternatives the EIR is analyzing. It is troubling that the Council is analyzing Delta Plan alternatives that would reduce deliveries to export areas compared to the status quo, particularly given proposed BDCP investments and that such an approach will not meet the statutory goal of a more reliable water supply for the state.
Consider that last sentence for a moment. The key phrases, “reduce deliveries to export areas” and “more reliable water supply for the state” are negatively linked, misleadingly suggesting that increasing water supply is consonant with increasing its reliability, therefore trumping that other and equal goal. … “
Continue reading from the Delta National Park blog by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District on the Delta Plan
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2012 at 8:05 amSo what does Metropolitan think of the Delta Plan? It’s all outlined in this report to be presented at February 14th board meeting. Here is an excerpt:
” … the draft EIR states that the “no project” alternative, which is meant to analyze what will happen if no plan moves forward—in other words, the status quo—will result in greater water deliveries to export areas than will result from some of the Delta Plan alternatives the EIR is analyzing. It is troubling that the Council is analyzing Delta Plan alternatives that would reduce deliveries to export areas compared to the status quo, particularly given proposed BDCP investments and that such an approach will not meet the statutory goal of a more reliable water supply for the state. … “
Read the entire report at the Metropolitan website by clicking here.
Dan Bacher: Delta group blasts canal plan as ‘Brown legacy, green disaster’
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2012 at 7:58 amFrom Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org:
“In his State of the State address on January 18, Governor Jerry Brown confirmed what everybody knew anyway: the construction of conveyance (a peripheral canal or tunnel) to export more Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta water to corporate agribusiness and southern California is a huge priority for him.
“Last week, Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar – met here in Sacramento with those in my administration who are working to complete the Bay Delta Conservation Plan,” proclaimed Brown. “Together we agreed that by this summer we should have the basic elements of the project we need to build.”
“This is something my father worked on and then I worked on—decades ago. We know more now and are committed to the dual goals of restoring the Delta ecosystem and ensuring a reliable water supply,” he said. (http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17386)
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, took issue with his repetition of the canard about how the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) project “will ensure water for 25 million Californians and for millions of acres of farmland as well as a hundred thousand acres of new habitat for spawning fish and other wildlife.” … “
Continue reading from Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: Placer water agency concerned about impact of Delta plan: More water to flush Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could mean less for Placer County
Posted by: Maven on January 27, 2012 at 5:41 amGreetings! I’ve updated the site a little earlier than usual as I’m headed downtown to UCLA’s Future of Water in Southern California where I’ll be tweeting live from the conference all day. You can follow my tweets here: https://twitter.com/#!/Aquafornia If you’re attending, find me and say hi! And now this from the Auburn Journal:
“The Delta Plan is raising serious concerns with the Placer County Water Agency.
Board members have asked staff to submit agency concerns over the potential impacts on Placer County’s water supplies from plans to solve downstream water issues involving the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The water agency will be lodging its concerns in comments on a draft environmental impact report for the proposed Delta Plan and has been active on several fronts in bringing attention to perceived problems.
Water agency leaders focused much of their concern at a board meeting earlier this month on language in the fifth revision of the plan calling for “a more natural flow regime” in the delta. They fear it could dramatically impact areas upstream of the Delta, including Placer County. … “
Continue reading from the Auburn Journal by clicking here.
The Delta Caucus and current Delta initiatives
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 11:29 pmFrom the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation:
“The five county Farm Bureaus of the Delta (Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano and Yolo) have been working together since 2008, when we formed the Farm Bureau Delta Caucus to better leverage our limited resources to uphold core Farm Bureau values and policies. The caucus has been tracking and commenting on issues of importance to agriculture in the Delta.
In 2009, the California Legislature passed monumental legislation containing requirements that led to the formation of the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) and a water bond, which has not yet appeared on the ballot. The Delta Caucus is committed to working with other interested parties and to enlighten others on the broader impacts that will likely result from regulations dealing with Delta issues. … “
Continue reading from the San Joaquin Farm Bureau Federation by clicking here.
Delta Stewardship Council appoints new lead scientist; Dr. Peter Goodwin is internationally recognized expert in ecohydraulics
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 11:27 pmFrom the Delta Stewardship Council, this press release:
“Dr. Peter Goodwin, an internationally-recognized expert in ecohydraulics (the impact of management on aquatic ecosystems), ecosystem restoration, and enhancement of river, wetland and estuarine systems is the new Lead Scientist for the Delta Science Program.
In making the two-year appointment, DSC Chair Phil Isenberg said, “With his broad understanding of water-related science and engineering, and his background as a former CALFED Independent Science Board member, Peter will provide crucial knowledge and scientific leadership for the Delta Stewardship Program and the Delta Plan.”
“I look forward to helping build the scientific community and to search for the common truths on the many critical issues that face the Delta,” Dr. Goodwin said. “The development of the Delta Plan is clearly a project of critical importance to California that is helping set standards of how science can inform the making of policy.” … “
Continue reading this press release from the Delta Stewardship Council by clicking here.
Next congressman could be caught in the middle, says the Tracy Press
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 11:25 pmFrom the Tracy Press, this editorial:
“It looks like Tracy’s next congressman will have to pick a side in the Central Valley’s version of North versus South.
The North is San Joaquin County and above, and the South is the West Side of Stanislaus County and below.
The North relies on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to provide its $1 billion-a-year agriculture industry with its literal lifeblood — water. That means the idea of a peripheral canal to pump water around the Delta is an economic nonstarter. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Tracy Press by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: The Peripheral Canal – How much water? At what cost? Who pays?
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2012 at 8:43 am
From Bilingual News Weekly:
“Nearly two-thirds of California residents and the majority of agriculture get their water from the Delta and its tributaries, which surround Stockton in an intricate pattern of levees, rivers and farms. But the Delta faces multifaceted environmental problems, which have led to a crisis for fisheries, wildlife and water quality.
The peripheral canal has been touted as the solution to the Delta’s problems, but it’s questionable whether it can provide reliable water and protect the ecosystem.
The Bay-Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) has spent more than $150 million planning for some form of peripheral canal or tunnel-conveyance system, which would route water around the Delta rather than restoring it. The BDCP is funded by 23 South-of-Delta contractors who receive water from state and federal projects. … “
Continue reading from Bilingual News Weekly by clicking here.
Picture of white egret in the Delta by Big Stock Photos.
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