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. … “
Continue reading from Mother Earth News by clicking here.
Farmer seeks payment over San Joaquin River seepage
Posted by: Maven on October 23, 2010 at 6:31 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Blaming underground water seepage from the restored San Joaquin River, farmer Jim Nickel says the federal government owes him $200,000 for tomato crop losses this year.
He is the second farmer to allege damage from the restoration, though he is working with the government on the problem instead of filing a lawsuit, as the first farmer did in August.
Federal officials have not confirmed a link between Nickel’s losses and the restoration. But they will pay for a drainage system to protect his land, saying they want to see how such a system performs. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Commentary/reubttal: San Joaquin River restoration must not harm adjacent farms
Posted by: Maven on October 23, 2010 at 5:49 amFrom AgLeader’s twitter feed, here is a commentary/rebuttal from the Fresno Bee by Chris White, General Manager of the Central California Irrigation District:
“Contrary to the recent article by Mark Grossi, the news is not all good concerning the program to study interim San Joaquin Restoration flows.
The same flows from Friant Dam that were supposed to be reaching the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are also seeping onto adjacent property, causing crop damage and in some cases, washing away crops and even destroying a levee. Federal officials overseeing the restoration efforts have so far chosen to not remedy the situation and have told farmers to file claims under the Federal tort Claims Act. … “
Continue reading this commentary by clicking here.
Costa & Cardoza send letter to Reclamation regarding San Joaquin River Restoration
Posted by: Maven on September 28, 2010 at 8:41 amCongressmen Costa & Cardoza have penned a letter to Michael Connor of the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the San Joaquin River Restoration program (hat tip to agleader’s twitter feed):
“Dear Mr. Connor:
It has come to our attention that numerous issues have arisen regarding the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. As supporters and advocates for the program, we are compelled to ask for your immediate attention to address these issues. These concerns fall generally within two categories: 1) Impacts to downstream landowners and local agencies adjacent to the river; and 2) water supply impacts to third party water users including CVP contractors on the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley. … “
Continue reading the letter by clicking here.
San Joaquin River restoration rolls along; River to start second year of its revival
Posted by: Maven on September 26, 2010 at 8:12 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Swept along by a drought-busting winter, the San Joaquin River restoration is getting good reviews at the end of its first year — even from one vocal farm critic.
The stormy season helped officials reconnect the long-dry river with the Pacific Ocean and ease fears of farmers who lost irrigation water for the restoration.
Some of the restoration water was recaptured and sent back to farms. Plus, farmers bought a bounty of cheap river water from excess snowmelt. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
San Joaquin River restoration summit is set: River’s future to be topic of Fresno gathering
Posted by: Maven on September 25, 2010 at 6:29 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“An array of scientists, government officials and land trust leaders will discuss the future of the San Joaquin River restoration, a nationally known project, next week.
The experts will take part in panel discussions at the San Joaquin River Conference on Friday at the Fresno Convention Center at 700 M St.
On Friday evening, there will be a concert at the Tower Theatre. River field trips guided by experts are scheduled for the next day. … “
Find out more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Farmers say Friant dam deal takes land
Posted by: Maven on September 10, 2010 at 8:50 amFrom the Capital Press:
“A group of California farmers is suing the federal government over a major river restoration project, seeking compensation for lost property and water rights.
The Wolfsen Land & Cattle Co. of Los Banos, Calif., and a dozen other farm companies claim a fish habitat restoration project on the San Joaquin River has deprived them of nearly 13,000 acres and associated water rights.
A spokesman for the U.S. Interior Department, which is administrating the project, said the agency could not comment on pending litigation. … “
Continue reading from the Capital Press by clicking here.
Saturday’s top of the scroll: Suit targets effects of San Joaquin River restoration: West-side growers cite new river flows, damage
Posted by: Maven on August 28, 2010 at 7:52 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“The first lawsuit in the San Joaquin River restoration has been filed by a west-side Valley farming family, claiming the replenished flows are damaging 13,000 prime acres, buildings and crops.
The Wolfsen family — which includes the Skinner and Mueller families — says the river has flooded, eroded and seeped into fields east of Los Banos.
A dollar amount for damages is not included in the case, which was filed Thursday in the U.S. Court of Claims in Washington D.C. An amount would be determined as the case proceeds. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Afternoon update: Friant farmers sue over San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act
Posted by: Maven on August 26, 2010 at 2:08 pmFrom the Marzulla Law Firm:
“Washington, D.C.,Today several farmers in California's Central Valley sued the United States to recover just compensation under the Fifth Amendment for the government's flooding and destruction of nearly 13,000 acres of prime agricultural land, buildings, and crops. The primary plaintiffs are the families Wolfsen, Skinner, and Mueller and their businesses.
The suit stems from the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act signed by President Obama last year, which directed the Secretary of the Interior to release Friant Project water into the San Joaquin River to aid salmon. Dry for over 60 years, the riverbed has gradually filled in and now is not able to handle all this water. The result is the flooding, erosion, and seepage giving rise to this suit. The suit also states that a significant portion of the released water is actually valuable agricultural property owned by these farmers. … ”
Continue reading this press release from the Marzulla Law Firm by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: San Joaquin keeps flowing toward Pacific
Posted by: Maven on August 20, 2010 at 8:58 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“On the Valley’s west side near Los Banos, something strange is happening this summer in the San Joaquin River — water.
The river has continued to flow to the Pacific Ocean throughout the first summer after an ambitious restoration effort began, sending a powerful signal about the project’s potential for success.
This end of the river has been dry in summer since Friant Dam was finished in the late 1940s. … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Measure to streamline regulations for salmon restoration on the San Joaquin River headed to the Governor’s desk
Posted by: Maven on August 20, 2010 at 8:51 am
From Senator Dave Cogdill’s office:
“Legislation by Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), Senate Bill 1349, which will help farmers, ranchers and other water users adhere to one set of standards by conforming state law with federal law for efforts to restore salmon to the San Joaquin River, is now headed to the Governor's desk.
The measure originates from a 2006 settlement that ended almost twenty years of litigation regarding salmon runs on the San Joaquin River. Wildlife agencies will begin reintroducing salmon to the river in 2012. However, discrepancies between state and federal law have created a problem for water users complying with the settlement.
“This measure balances the goals of restoring salmon runs to the river without imposing hurdles for water users to comply. I urge the Governor to sign this bill which will also save taxpayers money in the future,\” said Senator Cogdill.
Growers recovering losses from San Joaquin River: East-side farmers will get most of the water lost to historic river restoration
Posted by: Maven on July 3, 2010 at 8:30 am
From the Fresno Bee:
“East-side farmers will get back almost one-third of the irrigation water they gave up in the historic first year of reconnecting the dried San Joaquin River with the Pacific Ocean. Because of the wet winter, farmers also were able to cheaply buy back about another third of the water they lost. But water officials want more in the future, saying the economy of the eastern San Joaquin Valley depends on it.
“We have a lot more work to do,” said Mario Santoyo, an assistant general manager for the Friant Water Users Authority, representing east Valley farmers.
Farmers have long feared this year — refilling the river for the first time with water that has been used for irrigation for decades. By 2013, federal officials plan to begin bringing back salmon runs that died after Friant Dam was built in the 1940s.
But would farmers lose so much water that a swath of farmland would dry up along 1 million acres from Chowchilla to Arvin … “
Continue reading from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: San Joaquin River Restoration: Farmers want their water back…now they will get some
Posted by: Maven on June 23, 2010 at 8:09 am
From Sierra 2 the Sea:
“The restoration of the San Joaquin River is underway. After nearly two decades of litigation the river flows heading to the ocean sent down the mostly dry river bed amounts to 250,000 acre ft so far this year.
The long term plan is to restore a lost salmon fishery on this river that will take an average of 18% of the water that has gone to farmers after construction of Friant Dam. These restoration flows that began this water year are designed to bring the river back to life and provide a habitat where the fish can survive.
But farmers have long hoped they could recapture some of that water after its gone down the river and before it is lost to the ocean. “The settlement envisions recirculating all the water\” one way or another back to their fields and orchards says Friant Water Users general manager Ron Jacobsma. Easier said than done
Under the settlement between Friant Water Users and NRDC indeed the farmers are allowed to recirculate water back to the districts if they can figure out the plumbing. … “
Continue reading from Sierra2theSea by clicking here.
Photo of San Joaquin River below Mendota Dam by Aquafornia.
Bay Delta blog: A brief overview of Lower San Joaquin River flow objectives
Posted by: Maven on June 16, 2010 at 8:17 am
From the Bay Delta blog:
“For about a decade, experimental studies have been conducted on the lower San Joaquin River as part of the Vernalis Adaptive Management Plan (VAMP). The goal is to gather data about how changes to inflow and exports affect the survival of Chinook salmon smolts that migrate from the San Joaquin, through the Delta, and out to the Pacific Ocean. Along that migration path, salmon encounter a complicated obstacle course blocking their path to the sea, including predators and confusing reverse flows caused by export pumping. Improving our understanding about how salmon respond to this altered environment is necessary if once-abundant fisheries are to be restored.
Delta flow objectives and export limits have evolved over the years. A water quality control plan was issued in 1995 after the Bay Delta Accord, and it attempted to achieve, among other things, salmon doubling. The plan provided various objectives relating to operation of the Delta Cross Channel gates, outflow, exports, dissolved oxygen, and salinity. It also stated varying flow objectives for rivers, including the San Joaquin River at Vernalis. Pulse flows were to be provided to facilitate migration of salmon in the San Joaquin system. Depending on water year type, average flows from approximately April 15 to May 15 were set to somewhere between 3,110 and 8,620 cfs. Export limits during that same time period were generous: the larger of 1,500 cfs or a three-day running average of conditions at Vernalis. … “
Continue reading this post from the Bay Delta blog by clicking here.
Photo of San Joaquin River by Aquafornia.
Afternoon update: State Senate approves Senator Cogdill legislation to streamline regulations for salmon restoration on the San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on June 2, 2010 at 2:30 pmFrom the Office of Senator Dave Cogdill:
“The State Senate today unanimously approved legislation by Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Modesto), Senate Bill 1349, which will help farmers, ranchers and other water users adhere to one set of standards by conforming state law with federal law for efforts to restore salmon to the San Joaquin River.
The legislation stems from a 2006 settlement that ended nearly two decades of litigation regarding salmon runs on the San Joaquin River. Wildlife agencies will begin introducing salmon to the river in 2012. However, discrepancies between state and federal law have created a problem for water users complying with the settlement.
“This balanced measure is the result of close work with both the environmental community and water users. This legislation will provide a single road map to meet the goal of restoring salmon on the San Joaquin River in the fastest and most cost-effective manner,\” said Senator Cogdill.
SB 1349 now moves to the Assembly for consideration. A policy hearing date for the bill will be set within the next few weeks.
Senator Cogdill, who serves as the vice chair of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, has carried a number of bills over the past decade relating to water issues in the state. Recently, the Association of California Water Agencies named him “Legislator of Year for 2009\” for the comprehensive water supply legislation he authored that was signed into law last year. His bill, Senate Bill X7 2, the Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010 was the culmination of more than three years of efforts to reform California's aging water supply and delivery system.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: Federal salmon plans for San Joaquin River unveiled in Fresno; Many questions raised on the chinook plan
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2010 at 8:23 am
From the Fresno Bee:
“About 50 people listened Wednesday as federal officials made their long-awaited first announcements in Fresno about plans to restore chinook salmon runs in the San Joaquin River. But there were not a lot of answers to big questions.
Instead, people learned that this was just the first step in designing a specific plan to put fish back in the river by December 2012.
It was still a landmark meeting for restoring the river and salmon runs, which died off after Friant Dam was built in the 1940s.
Spring- and fall-run salmon disappeared in the San Joaquin after the dam was built. As part of a lawsuit settlement, federal officials last year began releasing water from Friant to refill dried portions of the river. … “
Continue reading this article from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
San Joaquin River flow closes rural road: It’s part of the restoration effort that began recently
Posted by: Maven on April 17, 2010 at 7:04 am
From the Merced Sun-Star:
“An old farm road will be flooded at the Eastside Bypass for an indefinite amount of time.
Dan McNamara Road was flooded because the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released water from the Fresno area Friant Dam, according to Merced County Public Works.
The water release is part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s San Joaquin River Restoration Program, said Pete Lucero, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s public information officer.
The goal of the program is two-fold, according to Lucero and the program’s Web site … “
Continue reading this article from the Merced Sun-Star by clicking here.
Photo of San Joaquin River by Aquafornia, taken two days ago while on the Central Valley Tour. This is in the vicinity of the road mentioned in the story.
San Joaquin River restoration story misses an important piece (or two), says the Fresno Bee News Blog
Posted by: Maven on April 2, 2010 at 6:57 amFrom the Fresno Bee’s News Blog:
“California newspapers have jumped on the story about the San Joaquin River connecting to the Pacific Ocean — San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many Valley cities have written about it.
I thought one clarification was in order for a story produced by the San Francisco Chronicle. The story said the river “is now flowing along its historic channels.”
That’s true for the most part, but there is a very important section where the river is not in the historic channel. … “
Find out where that is and why it is important from the Fresno Bee’s News Blog by clicking here.
And there’s another part to this deal that Valley farmers are wondering about, says the Fresno Bee’s News Blog:
“As the San Joaquin River flows increase during the restoration program, the buzz in farm country is all about the other half of the deal that was struck in 2006.
The two-part deal: Restore the San Joaquin River with water that would have been going to east Valley farms. And, once the water has been used for restoration, recapture some of it and bring it back to the farms. … “
San Joaquin River flowing through dry stretches
Posted by: Maven on March 31, 2010 at 7:31 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Six months after the court-ordered release of water from a Central Valley dam, the San Joaquin River is now reconnected with San Francisco Bay, a major development in the river’s long-term recovery and re-establishment of chinook salmon populations.
The river, 64 miles of which had been choked into a dusty wasteland after the Friant Dam was built northeast of Fresno in the 1940s, is now flowing along its historic channels, merging with the Merced River, pouring into the delta and emptying into the bay.
“People are kayaking, sunbathing with their ghetto blasters, swimming. Six months ago it was all sand,” said Chris Acree, director of Revive the San Joaquin, a Fresno nonprofit group that’s been working to restore the river. “It’s great to see the river running again.” … “
Continue reading this article from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
A River – and a Watershed – Reborn: Restoration flows reconnect the San Joaquin River to San Francisco Bay
Posted by: Maven on March 30, 2010 at 8:36 amFrom The Bay Institute:
“NOVATO, Calif., March 30 /PRNewswire/ — One year after President Obama signed landmark legislation to implement the restoration of the dewatered San Joaquin River, releases from Friant Dam have now reconnected the river : where significant stretches are dry in most years : to San Francisco Bay. The river flows, which began on February 1, 2010 and reached the lower river and the Bay-Delta earlier this month, were the second series of interim releases made pursuant to the 2006 restoration settlement agreement between the Friant water users and The Bay Institute and other environmental groups, which Congress and the President approved in the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009.
“Reconnecting the San Joaquin River to the Bay is the first step to restoring what was once the Central Valley’s greatest salmon run,” said Gary Bobker, program director at The Bay Institute and a member of the team that helped negotiate the settlement. “There’s a lot of hard work to be done in the next few years, but it will be worth it when salmon are again spawning in the river reaches above Fresno.”
For more than 60 years, major stretches of the San Joaquin were dewatered except in flood events, until an 18 year long legal and political battle by The Bay Institute and its partnering organizations resulted in a historic settlement agreement that requires releases to restore flows and fisheries to the river. … “
Continue reading this press release at PR Newswire by clicking here.
Flow a milestone for thirsty San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on March 17, 2010 at 7:16 am
From the Stockton Record:
“The San Joaquin River is flowing from Friant Dam near Fresno to the Delta, a symbolic milestone in a process to restore the normally dry stream.
The fact that it’s news that a river runs from the mountains to the sea says something about the history of the San Joaquin.
The last time this happened was 2006, but only because officials were desperately trying to flush swollen Central Valley streams and prevent a flood.
This is the first time in more than a half-century that the river has flowed uninterrupted in a non-flood year, officials said. The river apparently connected with itself late last week at the confluence of the Merced River.
“Dead and buried rivers don’t usually come back to life. This is an important moment,” said Bill Jennings, head of Stockton-based California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. … “
Read more from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
This article is behind the paywall at the Stockton Record. You will need to log in or register to read it. A free registration will give you ten article reads per month.
Friant Dam releases more water: Phase 2 of San Joaquin River restoration gets under way
Posted by: Maven on February 3, 2010 at 8:12 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Federal officials again began additional water releases from Friant Dam this week in the effort to reconnect the San Joaquin River with the Pacific Ocean.
The first releases were in October, but officials stopped the restoration flow in late November to allow scheduled maintenance at the Mendota Dam, 60 miles downstream of Friant Dam.
For decades, sections of the San Joaquin have been dried up downstream of Friant Dam, which was built in the 1940s for irrigation and flood control.
Under a 2006 agreement among farmers, environmentalists and federal officials, the river and long-dead salmon runs will be revived over the next eight years. … “
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Storms make dent in drought
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2010 at 7:53 amFrom the Valley Voice Newspaper:
“Tulare County – A series of storms that deposited less water in the Valley than expected, did come through with plenty of snowfall, and while no one is saying the three-year dry spell is over, things are certainly looking up.
Rainfall for the week in Visalia amounted to less than 2.5 inches, but the series of six storms left more than five feet of new snow at Farewell Gap at the 9,500-foot elevation above Visalia and nearly four feet of snow at Quaking Aspen at 7,200 feet above Porterville.
When the storms began, there was less than three feet of snow on the ground at both locations, but according to state Department of Water Resources sensors on Tuesday, there were 7.5 feet at Farewell Gap and 6.5 feet at Quaking Aspen.
Vic Hernandez, river operations supervisor, Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, said this year is certainly looking better than the past few years, but it is still too early to tell if the dry-spell is at an end. … “
Read more from the Valley Voice Newspaper by clicking here.
San Joaquin River flows stop below Mendota Dam
Posted by: Maven on November 21, 2009 at 8:07 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“The first revival flows of the San Joaquin River have stopped about 30 miles downstream of Mendota Dam, well short of fully refilling the dried riverbed.
Reconnecting the entire river probably won’t happen until next year, but federal officials collected a lot of information from monitoring wells during the seven-week experimental flow that ended Friday.
Officials believe a lot of water was lost in a section that has been mostly dry for the last half-century.
“As we sort out all the data, we’ll have a better feel for how much we lost and how the river reacted,” said Jason Phillips, restoration program manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “But there were no surprises.” … “
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Trip tests waters of revived San Joaquin River
Posted by: Maven on November 13, 2009 at 8:11 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“FLOATING ON THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER — My plastic kayak suddenly ran aground in a place where the San Joaquin River has flowed only a few times since the 1950s. But I was only briefly caught on a shallow gravel bar about 40 miles west of Friant Dam.
It was one of many unexpected encounters on an otherwise smooth float that began Wednesday with a monstrous barn owl and ended with an iPhone.
The kayak trip was an up-close peek at a section of the rejuvenated San Joaquin that not many people have boated over the last several decades because it usually is dry.
It will be months, if not years, before the river becomes fully navigable, but the day is coming when it might provide an important new recreation amenity for the Valley. But questions remain unanswered: Who will settle conflicts between power boats and kayakers Who will provide access points …”
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Going where the San Joaquin River flows
Posted by: Maven on November 12, 2009 at 6:49 am
From the Fresno Bee:
“The boat launch at Friant Cove is flooded with ankle-deep water, our first indication the San Joaquin River is no longer just a trickle.
(Oops. Someone forgot to plan for that.)
Thanks to court-ordered releases that began Oct. 1, the San Joaquin has been all over the news. It’s unfortunate, though, that most of the coverage centers on water politics instead of what a restored river can mean to those who live here.
Let farmers and environmentalists argue over flows. The rest of us should just go with it.
So that’s precisely what three of us did Monday, sitting in our kayaks as Gov. Schwarzenegger grandstanded for his water bond near Friant Dam.
Besides your humble narrator, the group included Eric Kaai, who manages Fishermen’s Warehouse, and Greg Talbot of Clovis, an overnight supervisor at Target who was operating on no sleep.
“I’ve always wanted to paddle the river but never had the chance to do it,” Talbot said. …”
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
San Joaquin River’s new flow faces legal glitch
Posted by: Maven on October 17, 2009 at 9:35 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
” The San Joaquin River's first pulse of restoration water moving slowly about 45 miles downstream of Friant Dam soon may hit a temporary block. Except this barrier is legal, not physical.
So far, the water flow to reconnect the dried river with the Pacific Ocean has gone without a hitch. The first release of water on Oct. 1 went nearly 40 miles in less than three days, passing north of Fresno in a part of the river that still has water.
The flow dropped to a crawl, as expected, beyond Gravelly Ford where water has not flowed regularly for several decades, federal officials said. They estimate it will reach the Mendota Dam late this month.
Owners of the dam, the Central California Irrigation District, want an agreement spelling out the details of operating it as new water flows through.
Water officials, who say talks are going slowly, say they may ask state officials to stop any water releases from Mendota Dam until federal officials complete the agreement discussions. …”
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Barry Nelson: Hope is a thing with fins
Posted by: Maven on October 16, 2009 at 6:58 amFrom Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard blog:
“Two weeks ago, the Bureau of Reclamation turned the valves on Friant Dam and sent a big shot of liquid hope down to the Delta. This hope came in two forms. First, the San Joaquin has suffered for years from excessive water withdrawals. Returning water to 60 miles of dry river bed starts the process of reviving one of California's great rivers and its salmon fishery. Given that the San Joaquin is one of the major tributaries of the Delta, restoring flows will help this beleaguered ecosystem as well.
But the restoration of flows offers another form of hope for the Delta. For two decades, the future of the San Joaquin River was the subject of a divisive political and legal battle, with NRDC leading the environmental and fishing community. The other side included farmers and cities that rely on San Joaquin River water. Many dismissed restoration as impossible. The debate was not always polite. But two years ago, after quiet and challenging negotiations, peace broke out. …”
Read more of Barry Nelson’s post by clicking here.
Aquafornia's Information Desk
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Aquafornia's Photos on Flickr
Aquafornia's Mission
Aquafornia's mission is to educate readers about the complex and often controversial issues surrounding water in California.
Aquafornia is affiliated with the Water Education Foundation, an impartial, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.
E-mail Newsletter
To receive email announcements from the Water Education Foundation, sign up here.
Web Resources
Agriculture
Climate Change & Water
Conservation
Current Conditions
Delta & SF Bay Resources
- Bay Delta Developments
- Bay Institute
- Bay-Delta Conservation Plan
- Delta Atlas
- Delta Protection Commission
- Delta Stewardship Council
- Delta Vision Foundation
- Delta WaterMaster
- Discover the Delta Foundation
- Restore the Delta
- San Francisco Bay and Delta (Access USGS)
- San Francisco Baykeeper
- San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science website
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Employment & Water
Environmental Organizations
Fishing Blogs/Organizations
Investing & Water
Landscaping
Legal Blogs
Legislative Committees - State & Federal
- California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife
- California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Water
- House Natural Resource Committee, Water & Power Subcommittee
- New State Water Legislation Mandates (KMTG)
- Senate Commitee on Environment & Public Works, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee
- The California Channel
Los Angeles River
Maven's Other Websites
News
Public Policy Organizations
Regional Water Associations
Salton Sea
Stormwater & Flood Control
Water Agencies
- ACWA – Association of California Water Agencies
- Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
- Contra Costa Water District
- East Bay Municipal Utility District
- Imperial Irrigation District
- Kern County Water Agency
- Long Beach Water Department
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Metropolitan Water District
- Municipal Water District of Orange County
- San Diego County Water Authority
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Sonoma County Water Agencies
- South San Joaquin Irrigation District
- State Water Contractors
- West Basin Municipal Water District
- Westlands Water District
Water Agencies - State & Federal
Water Blogs
- ACWA's Voices in Water blog
- Aguanomics
- Alex Breitler's Blog
- American Water Resources Assn. Blog
- Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard
- Bay Delta Blog
- California Water Blog
- California Water Wars blog
- Chance of Rain
- Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood
- Delta National Park Blog
- EDF's On The Waterfront
- Greed, Green & Grains
- Green Roots Blog (PCL)
- GrokSurf's San Diego blog
- Inkstain – jfleck
- Klam Blog
- L. A. Creek Freak
- On the Public Record
- Peter Gleick’s City Brights blog
- Restore the Delta's blog
- Southern California Water Committee Blog
- Spouting Off – Mark Gold of Heal the Bay
- State of the Planet Blog
- The California Spigot
- Thirsty in Suburbia
- Tom Philp's Blog
- Valley Economy Blog
- Water Cooler Blog
- Water Librarian's Blog
- Water SISWEB
- Waterblogged (Shawn McKinnon)
- Watering the Desert
- WaterWired
Water Information
News Article Archives
- Agriculture
- Aquafornia News & Exclusives
- Central Valley Project
- Climate change & water supply
- Conservation
- Delta Issues
- Desalination
- Development & Population
- Drinking Water & Bottled Water
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Drought, Weather & Snowpack
- Energy & Water
- Events
- Flood Control/Stormwater
- General Water Issues
- Groundwater
- History
- Indian Water Rights
- Infrastructure
- Innovative Ideas
- International Water Issues
- Invasive Plants & Species
- Investing in water
- Legislation – State & Federal
- Levees
- National water news
- Oceans & Beaches
- People in the News
- Politics of Water
- Recycled Water
- Regional Water Issues
- San Joaquin River Restoration
- State Water Project (DWR)
- Storage and supply
- Transfers
- Uncategorized
- Water Agency News
- Water Banking
- Water Quality
- Water Rights
- Weird & Wacky Water News
- Wildlife & Endangered Species