NRDC Switchboard: It is time to restore salmon to the San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on February 9, 2012 at 7:39 amFrom Monty Schmitt at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Last year marked the fifth year of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program and the two year anniversary of renewed river flows – the first since the 1940s when the operation of Friant Dam dried up the river and ended the historic salmon runs. Thanks to years of hard work on the part of state and federal agencies, farmers, conservation groups, water districts and other stakeholders, the San Joaquin River once again flows all the way to the sea.
The Restoration Program is now ready to achieve its most important objective: the reintroduction of salmon in 2012.
In preparation for reintroducing salmon, the Restoration Program successfully achieved many key milestones this year, including renewed flow releases, water supply benefits, successful salmon experiments, environmental plans and permits, and improved flood management. … “
Continue reading from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Salmon comes at a cost: San Joaquin River plans mean less fishing, more poaching
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2012 at 8:48 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Few people, if any, know the San Joaquin River as well as Louis Moosios.
The 36-year-old fishing guide, whose family owns 400 acres on the Madera County side, has been fishing, boating and swimming in the river since he was a boy.
Piloting his 14-foot aluminum skiff up river, Moosios keeps the 40-horsepower outboard’s throttle steady through a series of bends and side channels, and even across a small weir.
“I’ve snorkeled the entire river from [Freeways] 41 to 99 — that’s how you get to know every little turn, every little bush, every big rock and fish hiding spot there is,” Moosios says. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Bureau of Reclamation releases draft environmental documents for San Joaquin River flow modifications
Posted by: Maven on January 18, 2012 at 7:35 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation has released for public review a Draft Environmental Assessment and Initial Study on an agreement to provide two years of continued implementation of spring “pulse” flows for the San Joaquin River at Vernalis, Calif.
Reclamation previously contracted with the San Joaquin River Group Authority to help meet the base “pulse” flow objectives of the San Joaquin River Agreement. Reclamation is now proposing to enter into an agreement with the Merced Irrigation District to help provide spring “pulse” flows from Lake McClure to the Merced River. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Saturday’s top of the scroll: Dry season threatens farmers, return of salmon to San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 9:29 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Even though the wetter half of California’s winter is still ahead, it’s hard to ignore the historic dry spell taking shape.
The statewide snowpack is 15% of average for early January. This winter is mirroring the terrible 1976-1977 season — the driest time on record.
“I never recall a year when there were zero storms for this length of time,” said Randy McFarland, local historian and spokesman for many water districts. “I have the sense we’re seeing history in the making.” … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Fresno Bee News Blog: Frustrated farmer bans feds from crossing his land
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 6:10 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“A frustrated riverside farmer this week announced he would no longer cooperate with federal officials in the restoration of the San Joaquin. He’s not letting them pass through his west Valley property anymore to work on the river.
That could be a bad sign for the river restoration. If others follow, will it slow down the hard-fought restoration? I’ll be asking that question a lot in the next few months.
First, here’s why west-side farmer Jim Nickel is upset. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Dam near Dos Palos is key to restoring salmon run in San Joaquin River; Renovation of Sack Dam is behind schedule
Posted by: Maven on December 4, 2011 at 8:00 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“The fish-friendly makeover of the San Joaquin River is expected to start with a $35 million renovation at Sack Dam near Dos Palos in 2013.
That will be too late to meet a 2012 deadline for reviving chinook salmon runs in the river. It will be years before other similar projects will turn the river into a thoroughfare for salmon, as it was six decades ago.
But even without fixing the dam, federal officials may still return long-dead salmon runs to the river next year. They could just capture and haul the fish around dams.
And that worries west San Joaquin Valley farmers who have no say on a possible delay of the deadline. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Fresno Bee News Blog: San Joaquin River salmon restoration in a year? Really?
Posted by: Maven on November 30, 2011 at 7:02 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“After The Bee’s story Monday about state and federal efforts to guide migrating salmon in the San Joaquin River, a Valley farmer along the river said the vast restoration of the San Joaquin is not on schedule.
He’s worried about land next to the river on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. And he seems to have a point.
A landmark agreement signed in 2006 calls for salmon restoration to begin in late December 2012. The reviving of the long-dried San Joaquin and long-dead salmon runs is news around the country.
But small dams on the river need to be bypassed in some way. A vast stretch of the river channel may need to be rebuilt. The channel needs to be opened up in some places. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News blog by clicking here.
‘Blueway’ status: A vision for the San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on November 3, 2011 at 8:42 amFrom the Central Valley Business Times:
“The San Joaquin River, California’s second largest river in length but little seen by the average traveler or resident in the Central Valley, could be transformed into a recreational magnet, says the San Joaquin River Partnership, which has published the “San Joaquin River Blueway: A Vision for Public Enjoyment and Stewardship of the San Joaquin River.”
The 29-page color booklet outlines the vision for the San Joaquin River Blueway as a mosaic of parks, wildlife refuges, and other public access areas that create recreational opportunities on land and the river itself. … “
There’s a link at the bottom of the article where you can download the booklet and more. Continue reading from the Central Valley Business Times by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: San Joaquin River slated for ‘blueway’ status, from the Fresno Bee
San Joaquin River Restoration Program releases the final environmental document for Water Year 2012 interim flows
Posted by: Maven on October 1, 2011 at 6:51 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation today released the Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) to continue Interim Flows for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) for Water Year (WY) 2012. The document was prepared in accordance with requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and describes the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental effects of the WY 2012 Interim Flows Project and the No-Action Alternative.
WY 2012 marks the third year of implementing the Interim Flows Project. The document extends the project originally described in the WY 2010 Final Environmental Assessment/Initial Study (EA/IS) for an additional year. The Supplemental EA includes a review of the WY 2010 Final EA/IS, the Draft and Final Supplemental EA for WY 2011, synthesizes discussions and results where conditions have not changed and evaluates potential impacts due to implementation of WY 2012 Interim Flows in consideration of changed conditions or new information since approval of the WY 2010 Final EA/IS. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Doug Obegi: San Joaquin River Restoration Program receives 2011 Partners in Conservation Award from Interior
Posted by: Maven on September 27, 2011 at 9:13 amFrom Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“I am proud to announce that the San Joaquin River Restoration Program last week received the Department of the Interior’s 2011 Partners in Conservation Award, an award which recognizes conservation achievements that include the collaboration of diverse parties to achieve conservation goals.
In a press release issued by DOI last week, Secretary Salazar stated that the Partners in Conservation Awards “demonstrate that our nation’s greatest conservation legacies often emerge when agencies and citizens from a wide range of backgrounds come together to address shared challenges.” That rings true for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. … “
Continue reading from Doug Obegi at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Secretary Salazar selects the San Joaquin River Restoration Program for Partners in Conservation award
Posted by: Maven on September 22, 2011 at 8:17 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has selected the San Joaquin River Restoration Program as one of 17 recipients for the 2011 Partners in Conservation Awards for its outstanding conservation, collaboration, cooperation, and communication achievements. The award recognizes efforts towards the Department’s priorities of widespread engagement of youth, tribes, local communities and states, other federal agencies, business and industry, private for-profit and non-profit institutions, and private landowners.
The San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) is a collaborative and cooperative effort among individual land owners, nongovernmental environmental organizations, water users, and state and federal agencies to restore 153 miles of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam. Though the SJRRP partners have diverse and competing interests, they are able to work collaboratively to ensure sustainable management of the nation’s water and natural resources through establishment of clear commitments, diverse technical working groups, and a comprehensive public involvement program. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar jabs GOP on San Joaquin River pact
Posted by: Maven on September 20, 2011 at 8:20 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar took some shots Monday at Republican efforts to roll back environmental protections and repeal a historic agreement on river restoration in California.
The GOP majority in the House is floating a number of bills that would freeze or dismantle an array of environmental regulations, arguing that they strangle business and hurt the economy.
In a speech at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, Salazar took particular aim at a proposal introduced by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) that would increase water deliveries to Central Valley farmers, eliminate long-standing reforms to federal irrigation contracts and repeal a legal settlement that calls for increased flows and the restoration of salmon runs on the San Joaquin River. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Interior Secretary warns ‘A few members … in the House of Representatives are proposing a path to failure on the San Joaquin River’, from the Central Valley Business Times
Congressmen Cardoza and Costa write letter to Secretary Hayes regarding San Joaquin River Restoration Program
Posted by: Maven on August 10, 2011 at 8:59 amCourtesy of AgLeader’s twitter feed and posted at Scribd, this letter from Congressmen Cardoza and Costa regarding the San Joaquin River Restoration Program:
“Dear Deputy Secretary Hayes and Under Secretary Lubchenko:
This letter is of extreme importance and urgency. We are writing to express our concerns regarding a letter we received from Mr. Eric Schwaab, Assistant Secretary for Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), regarding the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP). Because the Department of Commerce and the Department of the Interior are settling parties in NRDC v, Rodgers and are coordinating the actions relative to the SJRRP, we assume Mr. Schwaab’s letter reflects the position of the Department of Interior as well.
Mr. Schwaab’s letter purports to continue a frank discussion of the issues surrounding reintroduction of salmon to the San Joaquin River. Unfortunately, the letter reiterates the same less than forthright and vague explanations we have heard from the Departments for many months. Given the considerable pressure on the program by some members of Congress and the need to obtain substantial sums to continue funding this program, Mr. Schwaab’s letter – which raises more questions than answers – does not serve the program well. … ”
Continue reading this letter at Scribd by clicking here.
San Joaquin River River restoration meets resistance in Congress
Posted by: Maven on July 15, 2011 at 8:11 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Ambitious San Joaquin River restoration plans are facing delays on the ground and renewed resistance on Capitol Hill. Already lagging, the river restoration efforts would stop altogether under legislation set for House approval today.
Underscoring their zeal, lawmakers on Thursday added a provision that blocks federal officials from putting salmon into the river.
“This is a program that has failed to show any positive results and has done more harm than good,” Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Atwater, said Thursday of river restoration efforts. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Barry Nelson: Be careful what you ask for – Eliminating federal funding for the San Joaquin River Agreement
Posted by: Maven on July 14, 2011 at 8:09 amFrom Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Among the many radical provisions in H.R. 1837 (Nunes, CA), is a proposal to shut down the consensus restoration of the San Joaquin River. That bill has a long list of opponents and has received a raft of criticism in the press. But another effort to shut down river restoration has received far less attention. Tomorrow, the House of Representatives is likely to vote on an Energy and Water Appropriations bill that, at the request of Congressman Nunes, would eliminate all funding in the federal budget for the San Joaquin River restoration program. The potential implications are far-reaching and show the careful balance in the bi-partisan restoration agreement. It’ll be no surprise that this proposal would harm the environment and California’s salmon fishing industry. But Congressman Nunes’ proposal would also harm the very water users whom he represents. … “
Continue reading from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Public comment period extended for San Joaquin River Restoration Program Supplemental Draft Water Year 2012 Interim Flows environmental document
Posted by: Maven on July 9, 2011 at 7:31 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation, this press release:
“The Bureau of Reclamation has extended the public review and comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft Supplemental EA/Proposed FONSI) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s (SJRRP) Water Year (WY) 2012 Interim Flows Project.
Written comments were originally due to Reclamation on Monday, July 11, 2011. With this 10-day extension, comments are now due to Reclamation no later than 5 p.m. (PDT) Thursday, July 21, 2011. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: Valley farmers lose little water to San Joaquinriver restoration
Posted by: Maven on July 7, 2011 at 8:49 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“East Valley farmers this year probably will lose very little if any water for the San Joaquin River restoration because of the wet winter, federal officials estimate.
For the last few months, excess water from snowmelt has been keeping the river flowing, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said. There has been no need to use water reserved for irrigation.
Last year, farmers gave up more than 200,000 acre-feet of water for the restoration. This year, federal officials estimate farm water will be tapped, at most, for about 20,000 acre-feet, depending on how much more snowmelt there is this summer. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Reclamation releases final EA/FONSI for recirculation of recaptured water year 2011 San Joaquin Restoration Program interim flows
Posted by: Maven on June 18, 2011 at 6:53 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation, this press release:
“The Bureau of Reclamation has released the Final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (Final EA/FONSI) for the Recirculation of Recaptured Water Year 2011 San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP) Interim Flows.
Reclamation estimates that up to 260,000 acre-feet of recaptured Interim Flows could be made available for recirculation back to Central Valley Project (CVP) Friant Division contractors as Class 1 or 2 supplies during Water Year 2011 (Class 2 is additional water, when available, beyond the firm amount of 800,000 acre-feet, or Class 1 water). This recaptured water would be available at South-of-Delta facilities for direct delivery to the Friant Division or through transfers and exchanges between Friant contractors and non-Friant contractors.
The federal action involves Reclamation entering into various delivery, transfer or exchange agreements to recirculate the recaptured water to the Friant contractors. The deliveries, transfers and exchanges would be completed through several potential mechanisms utilizing federal, state and local facilities. Friant contractors may transfer or exchange their water to non-Friant contractors, not in excess of the existing non-Friant contractors’ CVP contract allocations. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
San Joaquin River Restoration Program supplemental draft water year 2012 interim flows environmental document available for public comment
Posted by: Maven on June 17, 2011 at 8:26 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation today released for public review the Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment and Proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (Draft Supplemental EA/Proposed FONSI) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program’s (SJRRP) Water Year (WY) 2012 Interim Flows Project. The document was prepared in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
The Draft Supplemental EA/Proposed FONSI describes the direct, indirect and cumulative environmental effects of the WY 2012 Interim Flows Project and the No-Action Alternative. … “
Continue reading this press release from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: Feds, farmers talk damage from river restoration
Posted by: Maven on June 9, 2011 at 8:51 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“The Obama administration is quietly negotiating with a handful of California farmers who say San Joaquin River restoration efforts damage their land east of Los Banos.
The closed-door discussions could peacefully resolve a lawsuit filed nearly a year ago by Wolfsen Land & Cattle Co. and several associated families unhappy over side effects from river restoration. Some environmentalists, though, fear a potential settlement could undermine the river plan.
“We are concerned that if the result of the case is less water going down the river channel, that would threaten the restoration,” Natural Resources Defense Council attorney Jennifer Sorenson said Wednesday. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Public review period extended for San Joaquin River Restoration Program environmental document
Posted by: Maven on June 8, 2011 at 8:18 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have extended the public review and comment period by another 60 days for the Draft Program Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft PEIS/R) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP). Comments are now due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. The joint document describes the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of implementing the SJRRP. The SJRRP is being implemented by Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and DWR.
The SJRRP is a comprehensive, long-term effort to re-establish flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River to restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river and reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts from restoration flows. The SJRRP implements the Stipulation of Settlement (Settlement) in NRDC, et al., v. Rodgers, et al., that resolved more than 18 years of litigation related to Reclamation’s operation of Friant Dam. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
Congressman Cardoza sends letter to Hastings regarding H.R. 1837′s impacts to downstream landowners
Posted by: Maven on June 1, 2011 at 9:03 amFrom AgLeader’s twitter feed, a letter from Congressman Cardoza regarding H.R. 1837:
“Dear Chairman Hastings and Ranking Member Markey,
It has come to my attention that on June 2, the Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a hearing on H.R. 1837, the “San Joaquin Water Reliability Act”. As you are aware, I have been highly engaged on this issue of increasing water supply reliability to the San Joaquin Valley since I entered Congress. However, I am writing today to draw your attention to serious omissions within H.R. 1837 that will cause significant detrimental impacts to landowners along the San Joaquin River if the legislation advances as currently drafted. … “
Find out what Congressman Cardoza is concerned about in the rest of this letter at scribd.
Barry Nelson: The San Joaquin River Agreement and H.R. 1837 – A deal is a deal
Posted by: Maven on May 27, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Next Thursday, the House of Representatives Water and Power Subcommittee will hold a hearing on perhaps the most radical bill on California water issues I’ve encountered in my career. H.R. 1837, introduced by Congressman Nunes (R, Visalia), would block federal protections for the San Francisco Bay-Delta, its tributaries and its fisheries. It would pre-empt state water laws, overturn state water rights and undermine efforts to find solutions to the many challenges facing the Bay-Delta. One of its many remarkable provisions would overturn the consensus agreement to restore the San Joaquin River. … “
Barry Nelson ponders what the implications of violating the consensus agreement regarding San Joaquin River restoration would mean to the Bay-Delta negotations. Continue reading from Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Restoration deadline for San Joaquin River faces delay
Posted by: Maven on May 25, 2011 at 8:31 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Negotiations have begun to possibly push back the December 2012 deadline for re-establishing salmon in the San Joaquin River, federal officials said Tuesday in Fresno.
Major channel improvements – such as a bypass to get fish around Mendota Dam – are behind schedule. There may be funding problems as well because of the federal budget shortfalls.
The news emerged as the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation presented the draft environmental blueprint for the vast restoration of the river, which began last year with water releases from Friant Dam. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
RELATED: Public Review Period Extended for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program Environmental Document, press release from the Bureau of Reclamation
Monday’s top of the scroll: Swollen river raises Valley farmers’ restoration fears
Posted by: Maven on May 23, 2011 at 8:15 am
From the Fresno Bee:
“The swollen San Joaquin River is giving everybody a peek at the future, and it’s making riverside farmers nervous.
During this near-record wet season, the San Joaquin has been filling with runoff and seeping into farm fields near the river, swamping crop roots, and cutting into yields and profits. Farmers have expected this problem once or twice in a decade.
But by 2014, federal officials will ramp up releases from Friant Dam for the long-awaited restoration of the river, creating flows about as big as this year’s runoff. Farmers fear they will suffer these same losses most years. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Photo of San Joaquin River and Madera County farmland on March 21, 2011 by flickr photographer Silverback99.
This just in … Cardoza sends letter to OMB regarding funding for San Joaquin River Restoration
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 1:13 pmFrom Ag Leader’s twitter feed, this letter from Congressman Cardoza to the Office of Management and Budget:
“Dear Mr. Lew:
It has come to my attention that there is a significant funding shortfall for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP), a program administered by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation pursuant to a Settlement Agreement and Public Law 111-11. I have concerns with Reclamation’s ability to successfully implement the SJRRP within the schedule contained in the settlement agreement. … “
Continue reading this letter by clicking here.
Fresno Bee News Blog: Feds hint timeline might change on river restoration
Posted by: Maven on April 27, 2011 at 8:23 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“The sweeping environmental analysis for restoring the San Joaquin River was posted sometime on Good Friday, but some weirdness in the e-world prevented the media release from getting to me on email. It’s probably caught in the spam filter. I’ll check later. But finally on Tuesday morning, I have the release. And it is very interesting.
It hints possible changes in the timeline. Will salmon actually be swimming in the San Joaquin near Friant by December 2012?
Modifications of the river channel are behind schedule. … “
More from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
Aquafornia note: I’m voting for the spam filter, because I received the release at 4:31 pm on Friday and posted it here on Aquafornia on Saturday morning.
San Joaquin River Restoration Program environmental document available for public review and comment; Public meetings scheduled
Posted by: Maven on April 23, 2011 at 7:54 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation, more holiday reading:
“The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) have made available for public review and comment the Draft Program Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (Draft PEIS/R) for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP). The joint document describes the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of implementing the SJRRP. The SJRRP is being implemented by Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and DWR.
The SJRRP is a comprehensive, long-term effort to restore flows to the San Joaquin River from Friant Dam to the confluence of the Merced River to restore a self-sustaining Chinook salmon fishery in the river, and reduce or avoid adverse water supply impacts from restoration flows. The SJRRP implements the Stipulation of Settlement (Settlement) in NRDC, et al., v. Rodgers, et al., that resolved more than 18 years of litigation related to Reclamation’s operation of Friant Dam. … “
Continue reading this press release by clicking here.
Reclamation makes available “Recovered Water Account” water to Friant Division contractors
Posted by: Maven on April 7, 2011 at 7:56 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
“The Bureau of Reclamation announces the availability of 460,000 acre-feet of Recovered Water Account (RWA) water credits for Friant Division long-term water service and repayment contractors. This water is available as part of the water management goal of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program consistent with the Stipulation of Settlement (Settlement) in NRDC, et al., v. Rodgers, et al., and Public Law 111-11.
Recovered Water Account water is to be made available to the Friant Division long-term water contractors during wet hydrologic conditions, when water is not otherwise required to meet other obligations of the Secretary of the Interior. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
The Bay Institute’s World Water Day spotlight: State of the San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on March 22, 2011 at 9:22 amFrom the Bay Institute, posted at PR Newswire:
“Spotlighting the San Joaquin River for World Water Day, The Bay Institute will host a special event at Aquarium of the Bay on Tuesday, March 22. Leaders from The Bay Institute will be joined by Assemblyman Jared Huffman and Take Me to the River authors Coke & Joell Hallowell for discussions of restoration work on the San Joaquin River, as well as its importance to the entire Bay-Delta ecosystem and the individuals and communities that rely on it.
“Permanently restoring the San Joaquin River – the most degraded river in the entire watershed – is not only one of the best hopes for the future of California’s salmon runs in the face of climate change and other threats,” said Gary Bobker, program director at The Bay Institute and a member of the team that helped negotiate the settlement. “A living river is also a blessing for the people who live along the river, creating new opportunities for recreation and employment and improving the quality of people’s lives.” … “
Continue reading from The Bay Institute by clicking here.
Grant funds San Joaquin River restoration
Posted by: Maven on March 5, 2011 at 7:08 am(or at least part of it …. ) From the Fresno Business Journal:
“Armed with a $563,000 grant awarded recently by the Wildlife Conservation Board, local groups will work to restore wetland and riparian habitat on the San Joaquin River Parkway just east of Highway 41 in Fresno.
The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust is collaborating with San Joaquin River Conservancy on efforts to beautify the parkway contained in 22 miles of river in the rapidly urbanizing Fresno-Madera region. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Business Journal by clicking here.
Millions needed to return salmon to San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on February 25, 2011 at 9:16 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Reviving chinook salmon on the San Joaquin River will cost more than $20 million – which may sound like a lot of money for 40,000 fish. But this rare project will take years of work, scientists say.
Three-quarters of those fish will be spring-run salmon, a threatened species already in danger of extinction in California. In the San Joaquin, the fish will have to survive in the southernmost salmon fishery on the continent – where the water sometime gets a little too warm for them. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
NRDC Switchboard blog: House bill attempts to kill the San Joaquin River – again
Posted by: Maven on February 16, 2011 at 7:51 amFrom the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“The House Continuing Resolution (CR) released on February 11 contains dangerous and misguided provisions that gut protections for the environment, undermine public health programs and hurt the economy. A perfect example of the wrong-headed thinking in this legislation is the provision authored by Fresno Republican, Congressman Devin Nunes. His idea for helping America in these tough times is to undermine a landmark agreement between farmers, environmentalists, fishermen and the federal government to restore California’s second largest river, the San Joaquin. This provision to defund restoration and dry up the river would have broad negative impacts on the people of California. … “
Continue reading from the NRDC Switchboard blog by clicking here.
Transplant carries hope for salmon
Posted by: Maven on February 12, 2011 at 7:42 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“The future of the San Joaquin River may be buried hundreds of miles away in the gravel beds of four Northern California streams – pea-sized salmon eggs that snorkeling biologists might pluck one by one from the frigid flow.
Next year, officials hope to begin harvesting both eggs and baby fish to start the next key phase of restoring the San Joaquin, where threatened spring-run chinook salmon haven’t flapped a fin in 60 years.
The plan is, essentially, a massive transfusion of fish from the Feather River and Butte, Mill and Deer creeks in the north, to the San Joaquin near Fresno in the south. … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Note: This article is behind the paywall at the Stockton Record. Login or registration required to read it. A free registration will give you 10 article reads per month.
Fresno Bee News Blog: Is restoration making more SJ River water available?
Posted by: Maven on February 12, 2011 at 7:32 amFrom the Fresno Bee’s News Blog:
“Chris Acree, executive director of Revive the San Joaquin, has been talking about a revolutionary idea on the San Joaquin River restoration.
He says the water releases from Friant Dam for the restoration may actually be making more water available for farmers and others. That’s the exact opposite of what I’ve always heard.
Since 1988, farmers have dreaded this restoration, knowing they would have to give up irrigation water so the river could run again. The math seems simple enough. They give up water. The river runs year-round again. How could Acree be correct? … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee’s News Blog by clicking here.
Salmon set for revival on San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on February 8, 2011 at 8:46 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Late next year, a long-dead salmon run will be revived on the San Joaquin River with fish from all over the Central Valley, say federal officials.
The plan is to bring up to 100 breeding pairs of spring-run salmon to the San Joaquin near Fresno from as far away as Butte Creek and the Feather River Hatchery, north of Sacramento.
The details emerged Monday as officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service discussed preparations for the salmon restoration at a Fresno workshop. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Fish to the San Joaquin salmon runs will come from local streams
Posted by: Maven on February 2, 2011 at 8:30 amFrom the Oroville Mercury Register:
“In a few years, spring-run chinook salmon will be reintroduced to the San Joaquin River, which is believed to have once had the largest population of the now-threatened species in the state.
People in Northern California will be asked to give comments this week, during a public workshop from Thursday in Chico.
The plans call for using genetics from fish throughout the state, mainly from north valley streams.
More than 50 years ago, chinook salmon migrated from the ocean up the San Joaquin River to spawn. When Friant Dam was built in the 1940s for irrigation, rules did not require continued flow below the dam, explained Rhonda Reed, acting San Joaquin River Branch Basin chief for the National Marine Fisheries Service. … “
Continue reading from the Oroville Mercury Register by clicking here.
Reclamation: San Joaquin River Restoration Program revised Reach 4B project proposal and additional public scoping meeting
Posted by: Maven on November 23, 2010 at 6:35 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation, this press release:
“The Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources are revising their proposal to prepare a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) on the effects of the proposed Reach 4B, Eastside Bypass and Mariposa Bypass Channel and Structural Improvements Project (Project) under the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP). The revised proposal will include measures for the conveyance of Interim and Restoration flows and incorporation of fish habitat through Reach 4B and the bypasses. The Project is a component of the San Joaquin River Settlement (October 2006) (Settlement) and is located in Merced County.
The Proposed Action includes improving conveyance capacity in the San Joaquin River from the Reach 4B headgates near Washington Road to the confluence of the Mariposa Bypass with the San Joaquin River (generally referred to as Reach 4B1). The improvements will incorporate modifications to Reach 4B and the Eastside and Mariposa bypasses to allow for conveyance of Interim and Restoration flows. Improvements will also include the incorporation of fish habitat in Reach 4B and/or the bypasses and maintain the current flood operations and conveyance capacity of the system. Additionally, the Proposed Action may result in an opportunity for improvements to the existing flood system. … “
Continue reading from the Bureau of Reclamation by clicking here.
These salmon got an early start on SJ River restoration
Posted by: Maven on November 23, 2010 at 6:32 amFrom the Fresno Bee News Blog:
“Four or five fall-run salmon jumped the gun a little on the San Joaquin River restoration, showing up last week at Sack Dam (link will take you to a map), east of Dos Palos.
The state Department of Fish and Game verified the fish, saying they most likely
got through the Hills Ferry Barrier on the river at the confluence of the Merced River — 65 miles beyond Sack Dam. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee News Blog by clicking here.
Saving the San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on November 6, 2010 at 8:23 amFrom Mother Earth News:
“The following is an excerpt from A Force for Nature: The Story of NRDC and the Fight to Save Our Planet by John H. Adams and Patricia Adams, with George Black (Chronicle Books, 2010). Since its inception in 1970, the Natural Resources Defense Council has grown to include 1.3 million members and activists, and A Force for Nature tells of the organization’s challenges and victories in safeguarding our planet throughout the past four decades. This excerpt is from Chapter 20, “The Rule of Law.”
The San Joaquin is the second longest river in California. It rises among the snowfields of the Sierra Nevada, close to Yosemite National Park, and joins the Sacramento River 350 miles downstream to form the largest estuary on the West Coast. John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, likened the estuary, or delta, with its immense oak forests and wetlands and its teeming wildlife, to the Garden of Eden. … “
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