Delta groups and legislators plan rally for Tuesday, July 7
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 4, 2009 at 8:14 amFrom Dan Bacher, Restore the Delta and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance:
Local legislators will join hundreds of members of environmental organizations, sport fishing groups, farmers and community activists as they hold a rally at the State Capitol on Tuesday, July 7th, 2009 to voice concerns around a package of yet-unreleased water bills.
WHO: Senator Lois Wolk and other members of the California State Legislature
Rudy Mussi, Central Delta Farmer
Bill Jennings, Chairman, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Zeke Grader, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations
Robert Johnson, Contra Costa Delta Fisherman’s Group
Charlotte Hodde, Planning and Conservation League
Debbie Davis, Environmental Justice Coalition for Water
Steve Evans, Friends of the River
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta
*Spanish speakers will be presentWHAT: Delta Water Policy Press Conference and Rally
WHERE: California State Capitol, North Steps
Sacramento, CAWHEN: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 11:00 a.m.
The closed door negotiations on this water package are reported to include several contentious water issues including the governance structure of the Bay-Delta region, water storage and an updated version of the multi-billion dollar Peripheral Canal, which was overwhelmingly rejected by California voters in 1982. Participants will express the Delta’s need for a voice in these negotiations and the responsibility of the State Legislature to allow for a full and public debate on these important issues.
Joint hearing on several pending Delta & water bills to be held tentatively on Tuesday, July 7
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 3, 2009 at 6:42 amFrom the Delta E-News:
The Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee are currently scheduled to hold a joint hearing next Tuesday, July 7, on five Senate bills and one Assembly bill. Because of the ongoing budget crisis the hearing may be cancelled. If you plan to attend, please call the Senate committee office at (916) 651-4116 or one of the legislators noted below to make sure the joint hearing is still on.
The hearing is set to begin at 9 a.m. in Room 4202 of the Capitol. Bills slated to be heard are: Senate Bills 12 (Simitian: Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Clean Drinking Water, Water Supply Security, and Environmental Improvement Act of 2009); 229 (Pavley: California Water Commission: Bay-Delta); 261 (Dutton: Water use); 457 (Wolk: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta); 458 (Wolk: Conservancies: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy); and Assembly Bill 13 (Salas: Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Conservancy).
Join the Water Education Foundation’s Russian River Tour, August 6-7, 2009
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 29, 2009 at 6:34 am
From the Water Education Foundation:
SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Facing many of the same water management challenges common to western rivers today, the Russian River watershed has become a microcosm of innovation as local water agencies work to solve complex issues through programs for water conservation, fisheries management, water recycling and more. Learn about these efforts and see this unique watershed firsthand on August 6-7 for the Foundation’s Russian River Tour.
This 2-day, 1-night tour begins and ends in Santa Rosa, traveling from the headwaters to the mouth of the Russian River, stopping at a winery along the way and visiting the redwood forests on the banks of the river. Participants from last year’s tour said that seeing the locations firsthand and hearing from the stakeholders involved was an excellent way to learn about the environmental concerns and competing needs of this ecosystem.
Stops include visits to Warm Springs Dam, Lake Mendocino and Coyote Dam. A wide range of experts will discuss topics such as salmon and steelhead fisheries issues, conservation efforts in the Sonoma region, flood control along the Russian River, recycled water usages and more.
This tour is a must for water board managers and directors, consultants, journalists, water policy-makers, and anyone with an interest in the Russian River valley.
This tour is cosponsored by the Sonoma County Water Agency. Registration is $435 per person, single occupancy room; $360 each for two people sharing a room. For more information or to register securely online, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.watereducation.org/tours or call (916) 444-6240.
Fresno Bee columnist McEwen & Lloyd Carter to be on radio talk show today at noon - it promises to be ‘lively’ and you can listen over the internet
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 29, 2009 at 6:33 amFrom the Badlands Journal:
Bill McEwen, Fresno Bee columnist, is starting a talk show on KYNO. His guest on Monday will be Lloyd G. Carter, San Joaquin Valley water activist.
Time: Noon, Monday, June 29, 2009
Location: Radio KYNO, 1300 AM, Fresno, or hear it live on the Internet at: http://1300kyno.com.
Topic: Water and the environmentThey will come at the topic of the effects of drought and environmental law on the south Valley from different perspectives. McEwen’s June 25 column on the alleged hypocrisy of environmentalists on the Hetch-Hetchy/Tuolumne River issue. If environmentalists sued on behalf of salmon on the San Joaquin River and in the Delta, why not on the Tuolumne and Hetch-Hetchy, whines McEwen. Closer to the issue as framed by Westlands, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Valley representatives Jim Costa, Devin Nunes and Dennis Cardoza, and others, is the issue of “drought-related unemployment in the south Valley. The California office of the Endangered Species Coalition prepared a brief fact sheet of comparative figures on the problem, circulated to a number of environmental activists, including Carter to defend the Endangered Species Act against the Westlands/Peripheral Canal propaganda machine at Salazar’s Sunday town-hall meeting. The meeting will probably be livelier than a court hearing.
Read more from the Badlands Journal by clicking here.
Secretary Salazar, Senior interior officials and members of California congressional delegation to hold public hearing on water supply issues in Fresno on Sunday
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 26, 2009 at 7:29 am
FRESNO, CA - Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and members of the California Congressional Delegation will hold a town hall meeting on water supply issues and challenges facing California on Sunday, June 28, in Fresno, Calif.
Who: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor, and Members of the California Congressional Delegation
What: Town hall meeting on water issues in California
When: Sunday, June 28, 2:30 - 4 p.m.
Where: Fresno State Satellite Student Union, 2485 East San Ramon Avenue, Fresno, CA
Little Hoover Commission holds hearing this morning on water issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 25, 2009 at 8:33 amThe Little Hoover Commission will be holding a public hearing this morning; here is the agenda
Public Hearing on Water Governance
Thursday, June 25, 2009
State Capitol, Room 437
Sacramento
Public Hearing: 9 a.m.Water Management in California: Today’s Structure, Future Needs
1. Lester Snow, Director, California Department of Water ResourcesFederal Perspective: Central Valley Project and Water Management in California
2. Ron Milligan, Operations Manager, Central Valley Operations Office, U.S.Bureau of Reclamation
Water Management from a User’s Perspective and Other Agencies’ Roles
3. Roger Patterson, Assistant General Manager – Strategic Water Initiatives, The Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaArizona Model
4. Sandra Fabritz-Whitney, Assistant Director, Water Management Division,
Arizona Department of Water Resources
5. Sid Wilson, General Manager, retired, Central Arizona ProjectUtah Model
6. Dennis Strong, Director, Utah Division of Water Resources
Drought impacts to be discussed tomorrow at State Board of Food & Ag meeting in Mendota
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 23, 2009 at 12:15 pmFrom the State Board of Food & Agriculture:
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture will convene a meeting to discuss statewide drought impacts on Wednesday, June 24, 2009. The meeting will be held at the Mendota High School cafeteria, 1282 Belmont Avenue, Mendota, CA 93640, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
“The continuing impacts of water delivery limitations on San Joaquin Valley communities are dramatic,” said Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura. “We must create a long term solution that creates a reliable water supply for California.”
At the meeting, the state board will hear from city and county officials regarding impacts of the drought on Central Valley communities. As of May 2009, a study from the University of California, Davis estimates that Central Valley farm revenue loss due to drought is $630 million with 35,000 lost jobs and approximately 450,000 acres fallowed. Total income loss from the drought is estimated to be $830 million.
“There has been commentary that a water crisis does not exist and that the impacts in the Central Valley are minimal,” said Al Montna, President of the California State Board of Food and Agriculture. “As we visit Mendota, the epicenter of this regulatory drought, and hear from farmers and community leaders we hope to better inform this viewpoint.”
The California State Board of Food and Agriculture advises the governor and secretary of food and agriculture of findings as they impact agriculture and consumer needs. The board conducts forums that bring together local, state, and federal government officials, agricultural representatives, and citizens to discuss current issues of concern to California agriculture.
All California State Board of Food and Agriculture meetings are open to the media and general public.
Flood Management Tour shows participants real world solutions to California’s flood issues
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 22, 2009 at 7:48 amThe Water Education Foundation’s Rebecca Scott recaps the happenings on the recent Flood Management Tour:
Every conversation lately has revolved around the words “drought” and “conservation,” so the idea of large amounts of uncontrollable water may be far from the mind, but the reality of the fragile levee system and the menacing threat of floods in the Sacramento Valley is an ever-present critical issue that needs to be addressed now rather than later. The reality is oh so clear when you are driving on a levee looking down at the home of a family in Yuba County that lost their family member in the 1997 Feather River levee break.
The Foundation’s Flood Management Tour was May 7-8, and it focused on looking at the flood management system in the Sacramento Valley and the Delta. When organizing this tour, I had several people ask why in the world we were having a tour about floods in the middle of a drought. The answer could be shocking to some. It’s time to remove your head from the clouds: We live in a state
where 90 percent of natural disasters are flood related, and Sacramento and the Delta have the highest risk of flooding in the country. We are dealing with the Delta’s 1,100 miles of levees; subsidence, where land behind some of these levees is more than 20 feet below sea level; sea level rise; climate change and earthquake risk. If you see a levee just as a nice place to ride your bike on a warm day, you should have been on this tour because the projects and funding that are involved in keeping the levees structurally sound - and you from swimming - is unbelievable. I never knew that repairing a mile of levee could cost millions of dollars. Here is a recap of the sites we visited and just a few things we learned on this eye-opening tour.
CPUC Workshop: Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Collaboration in Water Re-Use this Wednesday
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 22, 2009 at 7:42 amThe California Public Utilities Commission is inviting all interested parties to attend a workshop this Wednesday on recycled water:
Our CPUC Policy and Planning Water Recycling Workshop, “Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Collaboration in Water Re-Use,” will be held next Wednesday, June 24, here at the CPUC at 505 Van Ness Ave., in San Francisco. As you will see, this is an unusual opportunity for the majority of the State’s water regulatory agencies, as well as both the water IOU’s and POU’s to explore collaborative opportunities for integrated water resource management through water re-use. For those unable to attend, the workshop will be webcast at http://www.californiaadmin.com/cgi-bin/cpuc.cgi .
For more information on the workshop, click here.
Tribes bring fish, fire, and traditional ways to Bay Area SalmonAid Festival
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 19, 2009 at 7:18 amFrom Dan Bacher:
Members of Klamath River Tribes are travelling to the San Francisco Bay Area this weekend with an unusual gift for the public: fresh Klamath salmon to be roasted by an open fire. Held at San Francisco’s Ocean Beach, Friday night’s traditional salmon bake kicks off the SalmonAid festival’s weekend of salmon celebration and information at Oakland’s Jack London Square.
“We do the Salmon Bake to demonstrate to the public that there’s still Native Americans in Northern California who depend on salmon as a primary resource,” said Karuk Tribal Cultural Biologist Ron Reed. Reed and other members of the Karuk, Hoopa, and Yurok Tribes will bake the salmon on wooden skewers surrounding an open fire – a tradition that is still handed down from elders to youth on the Klamath River. Although Klamath salmon runs are dwindling, tribal fishermen still harvest salmon for ceremonial and commercial use. By joining forces with commercial fishermen, conservation groups, and others concerned about native salmon stocks, Tribal members are building support for the removal of the lower four Klamath River dams.
Organized by out-of-work commercial fisherman and musician Mike Hudson, SalmonAid celebrates wild Pacific salmon with live music, sustainable seafood, and cultural activities. “Coming to the SalmonAid Festival shows our solidarity with all the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on salmon,” added Reed. Tribal members will also contribute cultural activities throughout the festival, including opening remarks, drumming, fish net hanging demonstrations, and more.
“It takes a movement to un-dam a river, and the Salmon Aid Festival helps us expand that movement beyond the Klamath to all of California and the West Coast,” said Klamath Riverkeeper Community Organizer and Yurok Tribal Member Georgiana Myers. Klamath Riverkeeper is working with Tribes, fishermen and others to remove four aging dams on the Klamath River that block struggling salmon runs from over 300 miles of habitat. A final Klamath dam removal deal is currently being negotiated and is due out this September.
Klamath River stakeholders are looking to the festival to inform Californians about the need to support Klamath dam removal – and to caution against tying the project to the construction of new dams and a peripheral canal in the Sacramento Delta as a proposed general obligation water bond would do. “The Klamath dam removal deal has received support from Oregon with Senate Bill 76, and now we need Governor Schwarzenegger to step up. California must support Klamath dam removal on its own merits,” added Myers.
More information on Klamath salmon and dams: http://www.klamathriver.org
More information on SalmonAid Festival: http://www.salmonaid.org
Reminder: Salmon Aid Festival this weekend! Click here for more info.
Klamath River Tribes will kick off SalmonAid with traditional salmon bake
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 18, 2009 at 7:35 am
From IndyBay.org:
As the kickoff to the 2009 SalmonAid Festival in Oakland June 20 and 21, the public is invited to a traditional salmon bake hosted by Klamath River Indian Tribes. This is the same type of salmon bake that was brought to the “Calling Back the Salmon Ceremony” on the Yuba River in 2007 and to Ocean Beach during the SalmonAid Festival in 2008, according to Jessie Raeder of the Source to Sea Collective.
The event will take place at Ocean Beach, San Francisco on Friday, June 19. The fire starts at 4:30 p.m.; fish will be ready to serve around 6:30 p.m. Look for the fire pit one block south of the intersection of Fulton Street and the Great Highway.
Participants will include fishermen, cooks, singers, and drummers from the Karuk, Yurok, and Hoopa Tribes. Tribal members are traveling from the Klamath River and invite Native community members from throughout the area, as well as the general public, to come down and share fish.
Although Klamath salmon runs are dwindling, tribal fishermen still harvest salmon for ceremonial and commercial use. By joining forces with commercial fishermen, recreational anglers, conservation groups and others concerned about native salmon stocks, Tribal members are building support for the removal of the lower four Klamath River dams.
“Members of Klamath Basin Tribes will be an integral part of the 2009 SalmonAid Festival, hosting a traditional salmon bake on the eve of the festival as well as demonstrating cultural activities throughout the SalmonAid weekend,” said Raeder.
Read more from IndyBay.org by clicking here.
Film highlights Ventura River watershed and how it affects people
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 18, 2009 at 6:36 am
From the Ventura County Star:
Before water makes it way through the labyrinth of pipes and canals and dribbles out your tap, do you know from which river it originated? Or where it goes when it disappears down your drain? If not, you’re not alone. “I think the majority of people do not know where their water comes from,” said Paul Jenkin, a local environmentalist and occasional filmmaker.
Jenkin, along with photographer Rich Reid, are trying to educate people on water, watersheds and why people should care about them. The pair made a 30-minute movie, “Watershed Revolution,” which premiers Saturday in Ventura. The filmmakers look at the Ventura River, the issues affecting it and the people trying to help it.
They hope the movie highlights the delicate balance of living in the desert that is Southern California with decreasing water supplies. “We like to surround ourselves with green lawns and we live in a desert,” Reid said.
Read more from the Ventura County Star by clicking here.
SalmonAid 2009 Festival this Saturday and Sunday
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 17, 2009 at 7:30 am
Coming up this weekend:
Salmon Crisis Unites Fishermen, Tribal Leaders, Environmental Groups - Festival to feature music, food, cultural demonstrations and education on wild Pacific salmon
Sustainable seafood requires a renewable source of fish, yet for the second year in a row you wont find local wild salmon on restaurant menus or in the supermarket. SalmonAid 2009 is a festival of food, music, and culture in which people from throughout the West Coast will gather to celebrate the iconic wild Pacific salmon and raise awareness and energy for solutions to this unprecedented salmon crisis.
The two-day event features an impressive line-up of musicians, delicious sustainable seafood, demonstrations from First Nation tribes, childrens activities, films, speakers, and more. Musical acts include Albino!, Zydeco Flames, and Mitch Woods and Big Easy Boogie among many others. Fine sustainable seafood will be prepared by an array of the West Coasts best chefs.
What: SalmonAid 2009
When: Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, Noon to 7pm (both days)
Where: Jack London Square, Oakland, CA
Admittance: Free!Photo Opportunities:
• Commercial salmon fishing boats and a 90ft Coast Guard Cutter
• Demonstrations and displays of salmon culture from native tribes including a Yurok ceremonial brush dance, a traditional fishing canoe, tribal dress and salmon regalia, and a demonstration of the making of tribal fishing nets
• Tribal blessing ceremony, giant inflated salmon, 10 musical acts, kids activitiesFor more information, go to: http://www.salmonaid.org/
Register now for the fun and informative Hetch Hetchy Tour on July 22-24
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 15, 2009 at 7:33 am
From the Water Education Foundation:
There are still seats available for the upcoming Hetch Hetchy Tour, July 22-24, and we wanted to give our Aquafornia readers a chance to register before it is full. Nearly a century after the completion of the Hetch Hetchy water system, the debate continues on whether to restore the Hetch Hetchy Valley, a geologic twin to Yosemite Valley, to its natural state. Hear from proponents and opponents of this issue and find out how this would impact the Bay Area water delivery system on the Water Education Foundation’s Hetch Hetchy Valley Tour, July 22-24.
On this three-day, two-night tour, participants will hear from a wide range of experts on both sides of this issue and more, including discussions on topics such as steelhead restoration and water supply. Participants will get a firsthand look at how the system operates, learn about the history and geology of the area and hear about current projects underway, such as the water-user funded capital infrastructure improvement projects in progress to improve the Bay Area’s water system infrastructure.
The tour travels from the urban San Francisco Bay Area served by the Hetch Hetchy Project to O’Shaughnessy Dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Stops include the Sunol Water Temple and lower Crystal Springs Dam. Co-sponsored by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the tour will begin and end at the BAWSCA offices in San Mateo. Restore Hetch Hetchy and Tuolumne River Trust will also participate.
This is a special opportunity for anyone interested in Hetch Hetchy issues and a must for journalists, water policy-makers, water board managers and directors, lawyers, and consultants.
Registration is $650 per person or $525 each for two people sharing a room. To register securely online, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.watereducation.org/tours or call 916-444-6240 for more information.
Exhibition: ‘Downstream: Colorado River Photographs of Karen Halverson’ at The Huntington Library, San Marino, California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 15, 2009 at 7:27 am
From Art Blart:
“To celebrate the expansion and reinstallation of the Virginia Steele Scott Galleries of American Art, The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens presents an exhibition of works from American photographer Karen Halverson’s Colorado River series, on view May 30 through Sept. 28, 2009. “Downstream: Colorado River Photographs of Karen Halverson” will be on display in the Scott Galleries’ Susan and Stephen Chandler Wing, inaugurating a new changing exhibition space that will highlight photography and works on paper that, because of the fragile nature of the medium, cannot be placed on permanent display.
The exhibition will feature 26 works from Halverson’s Downstream series as well as a sampling of images from The Huntington’s historic holdings related to the Colorado River region, including photographs from John Wesley Powell’s pioneering expedition down the Colorado in 1871 and a snapshot album compiled in 1940 by Mildred Baker, one of the first women to successfully navigate the river from Green River, Wyo., to Boulder (now Hoover) Dam.
Halverson (b. 1941) says she woke one wintry morning in 1994 convinced that she needed to photograph the Colorado River. An accomplished landscape photographer who had already spent 20 years exploring the American West, she embarked on a two-year encounter with the vast terrain along the river’s serpentine route.
Find out more about the exhibition in this post with plenty of pictures and photographer commentary from Art Blart - click here.
Adventure of the Week: Come together to celebrate the mighty American River in Auburn on Sunday (tomorrow)
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 13, 2009 at 6:36 am
From the Sacramento Bee:
The confluence of the American River near Auburn is where the north and middle forks of the river meet. The confluence is a metaphor that demonstrates how community life merges with the river as well.
“We’re celebrating the American River and the good things it provides for our communities,” says Eric Peach, executive director of Protect American River Canyon, one of the sponsors of the event.
Peach has a long list of why people ought to care: from the drinking water and electricity the river provides to the scenic watershed that spans thousand of acres and provides hiking and sightseeing. Peach has fond memories of a clean-up detail one year when he spotted a mother bear caring for three cubs near Auburn.
The river and canyons are simply breathtaking, he says. “Rivers are the lifeblood of our humanity, really,” he says. “It’s a really remarkable area once you explore it.”
The festival, in its 18th year, will be home to a “village” of fun with family-driven and educational activities.
Attendees will learn how to protect the area. They will get tips on recreational opportunities, including rock climbing and whitewater rafting near China Bar. Various music groups will perform. Children will have plenty of chances to showcase their artistic abilities.
Read more from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
DWR schedules San Diego drought response workshop for June 30
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 11, 2009 at 7:17 am
From the Department of Water Resources:
SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources will hold a San Diego workshop on June 30, 2009, to provide updates on drought impacts and response activities. Scheduled from 9:30 a.m. until noon, the workshop will take place in the Gallegos Room of Caltrans Building One at 4050 Taylor Street in San Diego,
California Water Facts
Water year 2009 is California’s third consecutive dry year, with water years 2007 through 2009 representing the 12th driest three-year period in the state’s measured hydrologic record, based on the 8-station precipitation index. Water years 2007-09 also mark a period of unprecedented restrictions in State Water Project (SWP) and federal Central Valley Project (CVP) diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to protect listed fish species, a regulatory circumstance that significantly exacerbates the impacts of hydrologic drought for customers of those water projects.
Presently, SWP deliveries to project contractors in Southern California are expected to be 40 percent of contractors’ requested amounts.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Delta smelt biological opinion released in December 2008 called for measures that would, on average, result in an estimated 20 to 30 percent reduction in SWP and CVP Delta diversions. Subsequently, statewide precipitation for January 2009 was only about one-third of average, making it the 8th driest January on record. These conditions, coupled with statewide reservoir storage at that time of only about 65 percent of average, led to the Governor’s proclamation of a statewide water shortage emergency in February 2009.
Statewide reservoir storage has increased, reaching 80 percent of average in May. Statewide runoff for water year 2009 is projected to be 70 percent of average, an improvement over the 53 and 58 percent of average experienced in water years 2007 and 2008, respectively. Storage in many of the state’s groundwater basin is decreasing, as evidenced by groundwater level data collected by the Department in response to the Governor’s emergency proclamation.
Within Southern California, drought impacts include reduction in storage reserves intended to provide a buffer against shortages. Local water agencies are responding to reduced water supplies through actions such as voluntary and mandatory water conservation programs.
Reductions in imported water supplies have caused significant cutbacks for growers participating in Metropolitan Water District’s interim agriculture water program, affecting avocado and citrus acreage particularly in San Diego and Riverside counties.
Previously, California’s last multi-year statewide drought occurred in 1987-92. By the third year of that drought, statewide reservoir storage was about 40 percent of average and did not return to average conditions until 1994. The State Water Project terminated deliveries to agricultural contractors and provided only 30 percent of requested urban deliveries in 1991, the single driest year of that drought.
For background on droughts and drought preparedness, see:http://www.water.ca.gov/drought/.
The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.
Event: Sustainable Fisheries Reality Tour, June 13 at the Point Arena City Hall
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 10, 2009 at 12:29 pmSaturday, June 13, Point Arena City Hall, 11 A.M. on…
Sustainable Fisheries Reality Tour!Hosts: Recreational Fishing Alliance, Mendocino County Fish & Game Advisory Committee, Mendocino Seaweed Stewardship Alliance, local fishermen and seaweed harvesters–the people who bring you ocean food and protect the wild, clean ocean!
Eleven A.M., City Hall–Reception! Music by Sharon Garner & Billy Schieve Trio, Seafood, DVD Shows and Exhibits, Information!
Noon-3 p.m., City Hall:Town Testimony, Public Officials Speak, Press Conference!
Community and Public Officials Speak About Impacts of State Marine Life Protection Act “Marine Protected Areas” scheduled to be adopted in August by the California State Fish & Game Commission.LEAD SPEAKERS: Craig Bell, Mendocino County Fish & Game Advisory Commissioner; Jim Martin, Recreational Fishing Alliance and Fish & Game Advisory Commissioner; Allan Jacobs, community activist; John & Barbara Stephens-Lewallen and Larry Knowles, Mendocino Seaweed Stewardship Alliance; Other community members impacted by new proposed MLPA “Marine Protected Areas”
PUBLIC OFFICIALS CONFIRMED TO DATE: Speak at 1 p.m.
David Colfax, Fifth District Supervisor, Mendocino County
Fred Euphrat, Principal Consultant, CA Legislative Joint Committee on Fisheries & AquaculturePress Conference is at Two p.m.
Early Riser Special–9-10:30 A.M., Lighthouse Point Road, Stornetta Public Lands: Abalone Diving and Seaweed Harvest at Minus Tide!
–Jim Martin speaks on sustainable abalone & the MLPA
–John Lewallen talks about thirty years of sea palm trimming at the proposed new “Sea Lion Rock Marine Reserve,” a no-take zone!Free Admission to All Events!
Contributions for Expenses Acceptedcontact: John & Barbara Stephens-Lewallen, (707)895-2996,
Event: California Parched - The Future of Water Policy in California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 5, 2009 at 6:31 amFrom The Commonwealth Club (I think)…
With climate change, misuse and pollution already threatening the water supply, California is additionally facing a water shortage this season. Join experts and insiders in discussion of rationing, privatization and how to protect our state’s most precious resource.
Walter Bishop, General Manager, Contra Costa Water District
Charles Hoppin, Chairman, State Water Resources Control Board
Richard Howitt, Professor and Department Chair, Agricultural and Resource Economics, UC Davis
Mike Taugher, Environmental Reporter, Contra Costa Times - ModeratorLocation: Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette
Time: 5:30 p.m. check-in, 6:30 p.m. program
Cost: $12 members, $18 non-members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Tickets: 415-597-6705 or http://www.commonwealthclub.org
Online auction: Get a deal and help out the Water Education Foundation at the same time
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 5, 2009 at 6:23 am
From the Water Education Foundation:
Summer is upon us, and these days it’s important to find ways to have fun without breaking the bank. The Water Education Foundation’s online auction is a great way to get good deals on some great trips and more this season, and at the same time help generate funds for the Foundation’s popular Water Leaders program. This year, forget the socks or the tie for Dad and go with one of these gift ideas instead.
Each item has a minimum bid requirement. Just select the item that you want to bid on, enter your bid amount and email address, and let the auction begin!
________________________________________Enjoy dinner with your favorite person and watch the sun set over the Bay at the Spinnaker Restaurant, known for its panoramic views of the San Francisco skyline and Sausalito waterfront.
Click here to bid…
________________________________________A day trip for two rafting on the South Fork of the American River, courtesy of O.A.R.S.: Outdoor Adventure River Specialists. American River rafting on the South Fork near Sacramento offers classic California whitewater. Nestled in the Sierra Nevada foothills, the California American River provides an ideal balance of adrenaline and fun.
Click here to bid…
________________________________________The Best Western Executive Inn in Los Banos, California is offering a one-night stay in a room with a king-sized bed. Hunting and fishing is just 2 miles away, and the Inn is also 10 miles from Fore Bay Golf Course, and 15 miles from the National Wildlife Refuge and Stevinson Golf Course.
Click here to bid…
________________________________________
Enjoy a Reno getaway for two and ride in comfort courtesy of All West Coachlines. They will drive you up and drive you home AND upon your arrival in Reno you will receive $10 cash and $5 in food money.
Click here to bid…
________________________________________
Just visit www.watereducation.org/auction or click on the above links and any of these can be yours. And remember to check back throughout the year for new items like golf packages, sporting event tickets, gift baskets, spa visits, and more!
Saturday’s top of the scroll: Draft Delta Vision Foundation report card for governor, Legislature mixed; Final ‘report card’ to be announced at Monday meeting
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 30, 2009 at 8:40 am
From the Contra Costa Times:
Six months after recommending sweeping changes to address California’s water problems and an ecosystem crisis in the Delta, a task force appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says the governor has not responded to their report and lacks a comprehensive policy to address the problems.
The draft “report card” released by Delta Vision gives state leaders, including the governor and Legislature, mixed grades saying they have made only modest progress in following through on the task force’s recommendations.
And it notes that the Bay Delta Conservation Plan being pursued aggressively by the governor and many of the state’s biggest water agencies “would not satisfy a single one of the seven goals recommended in the Delta Vision Strategic Plan.”
More from Mike Taugher at the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
The final report card is set to be announced at a meeting on Monday. Here’s the announcement from the Delta Vision Foundation:
The Delta Vision Foundation (formerly the Governor’s Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force) will hold a public meeting in downtown Sacramento to release a mid-term Report Card on the state’s performance in shaping policy to restore the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and ensure a reliable water supply for California. The Report Card assesses the progress of the Governor, the California Legislature, and specific policy proposals to adopt and implement key recommendations and strategies identified in the Delta Vision Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan, released November 2008, is designed to ensure long-term sustainable management of the Delta.
WHEN: Monday, June 1, from 10am to 3pm
WHERE: California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Conference Center
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814WHO: Members of the Delta Vision Foundation, including:
- Phil Isenberg, Chair
- Monica Florian
- Richard Frank
- Thomas McKernan
- Sunne Wright McPeak
- William Reilly
- Raymond Seed, Ph.D.
- John Kirlin, Executive Director
- Associated stakeholders
Directions to the CSAC Conference Center:
The CSAC Conference Center is located at 1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor between K Street & J Street. The entrance to the center is located between the Pyramid Restaurant patio and Smith Gallery across from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament main entrance on 11th Street. The building has a black awning with gold diamonds.
For more information about the Delta Vision Foundation, visit www.deltavisionfoundation.org.
Jeff Kightlinger of Metropolitan Water District and Charles Trevino of Upper San Gabriel MWD to speak at Pasadena Sierra Club meeting June 3rd
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 30, 2009 at 7:22 amFrom the Pasadena Star News:
Jeff Kightlinger, general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Charles Trevino, a district director of the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, will present “The Challenge of Meeting Southern California’s Future Water Needs: Can It Be Done Without Additional Damage to the Natural Environment?” at a Sierra Club meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena.
More from the Pasadena Star News by clicking here.
Public invited to regional forums on Central Valley flood management
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 27, 2009 at 7:26 amFrom the Department of Water Resources:
Sacramento - The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct a series of Regional Forums to gather and share information about the Central Valley Flood Management Planning Program. Representatives from businesses, water agencies, government agencies, California Native American interests, environmental organizations, community groups, conservancies, and the general public are strongly encouraged to attend.
The Central Valley Flood Management Planning Program is a State-led program to help improve understanding about our mutual flood risk and to inventory and assess the current flood protection system. This program will also develop the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, which will include recommendations for action to improve integrated flood management in the Central Valley.
Regional Forums will be conducted on the following dates and at the following locations:June 3 Chico Masonic Family Center
1110 West East Ave
Chico, CA 95926June 4 Modesto Center Plaza – San Joaquin Room
1000 L Street
Modesto, CA 95354June 8 Walnut Grove – Ryde Hotel
14340 Highway 160
Walnut Grove, CA 95690June 9 Los Banos – Merced College Campus (Bldg A)
22240 Highway 152
Los Banos, CA 93635June 10 West Sacramento – City Hall Galleria
1110 West Capitol Avenue
West Sacramento, CA 95691Registration at each Regional Forum will begin at 1:00 p.m. A presentation will begin at 1:30 p.m. followed by breakout sessions at 2:15 pm. The breakout sessions offer participants an opportunity to provide input on Regional Conditions; Environmental Stewardship; Levee Evaluation; and Planning and Public Engagement. The first Forum will conclude at 4:30 p.m.
Registration and the presentation will be repeated again at each location at 6:00 p.m. The evening session will be concluded by 7:30 p.m. Both sessions are open to the public.
DWR invites partners and interested parties to fully engage in developing content for the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan. Through the Regional Forums, DWR will lay the foundation for ongoing public engagement in, and broad support for, the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan.
Visit www.water.ca.gov/cvfmp for further information.
About DWR
The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.
California water expert to address 6th annual Riverside County Water Symposium; Eric Garner, managing partner of Best Best & Krieger, talks about future of water law, policies
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 27, 2009 at 6:38 amFrom Best, Best & Krieger:
RIVERSIDE, Calif. _ Countries experiencing similar drought conditions as California have drastically altered their laws governing the life-sustaining resource.
With California’s ongoing dry spell and environmental restrictions on water supply, will the state follow suit? Well-known California water expert Eric Garner will talk about legal challenges facing California and its water supply during the annual Riverside County Water Symposium this Thursday in Palm Springs, Calif.
“California will be facing significant challenges to its long-established water law and policies as it navigates a future with increasing demands for water,” Garner said.
Garner, attorney and managing partner of Best Best & Krieger, is chair of the International Bar Association’s water law committee. He is also a co-author of California Water II, widely viewed as the definitive text on the historical, legal and policy issues surrounding the state’s water supply.
When: Thursday, 1:10 p.m.
(Symposium runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
Where: Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA
More information: www.rivcoh2o.comBest Best & Krieger is a full-service law firm, with public agency and private clients, that focuses on environmental, labor, education and municipal law with offices in Indian Wells, Irvine, Los Angeles, Ontario, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego and Walnut Creek. For more information, visit www.bbklaw.com
A night at the Emmy’s: Water Education Foundation documentary a winner
Posted by: Rita Schmidt Sudman on May 26, 2009 at 8:32 am
From the desk of Rita Schmidt Sudman, director of the Water Education Foundation:
On May 16 I had the honor of attending the 38th Annual Northern California Emmy Awards ceremony in San Francisco. The Foundation’s sponsored program, Salt of the Earth: Salinity in California’s Central Valley, presented by KVPT, Valley Public Television in Fresno won a regional EMMY from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for best writing of a documentary. Major funding and technical advice for the documentary was provided by the Foundation with additional assistance from the California State Water Resources Control Board and the California Water Institute.
This gala formal event – held on the hottest day of the year in San Francisco – was held at the very glamorous and old-world Palace Hotel. My husband, John, and I took the train from Sacramento and arrived at our hotel and had to convince the clerk to let us check in early so we could change for the event in time. John forgot his dress shoes and was all set to wear his
hiking shoes to the event until he talked to our grown daughter Suzanne, who served as a quick marriage counselor, and convinced him to get to Macy’s right away and get a new pair of dress shoes.
As we arrived at the lovely reception, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s woodwind and string quartet greeted us in the Gold Ballroom. While I was excited to attend the ceremony, the night was bittersweet because for personal reasons our producers, Karen Christian and John C. Davis were not able to attend. We were seated at a table towards the back of the room, and as I watched all the winners accepting I noticed they were all seated toward the front – so I thought surely this meant we weren’t going to win. Salt of the Earth was also nominated for best informational program, so once the winner for this category came and went – and it wasn’t us - I thought, “well, that’s it” – I was so surprised to hear our program called out!
It was a long way from the back of the room to that big stage and the last thing I wanted to do was trip over my dress on my way to giving the acceptance speech, so I made my way gingerly through the maze of tables until I reached the stage so I could say these few words:
“W
hen we were children we learned of a land called Mesopotamia, and because of lack of water and poor agricultural practices, the land salted up and became unproductive, and it is now a place we call Iraq. So thank you for letting us shed some light on a problem that also affects California’s great Central Valley. And thanks for the team who helped us on this great documentary.”
The night was topped off by dancing in the Gold Ballroom. It was an honor to be there and I truly am so proud of everyone who worked to make this documentary a success.
Delta Vision Foundation to grade state progress on Delta and water policy; Sacramento event will focus on policy and proposals linked to Delta Vision Strategic Plan
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 22, 2009 at 8:19 amFrom the Delta Vision Foundation:
The Delta Vision Foundation (formerly the Governor’s Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force) will hold a public meeting in downtown Sacramento to release a mid-term Report Card on the state’s performance in shaping policy to restore the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta and ensure a reliable water supply for California. The Report Card assesses the progress of the Governor, the California Legislature, and specific policy proposals to adopt and implement key recommendations and strategies identified in the Delta Vision Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan, released November 2008, is designed to ensure long-term sustainable management of the Delta.
WHEN: Monday, June 1, from 10am to 3pm
WHERE: California State Association of Counties (CSAC) Conference Center
1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814WHO: Members of the Delta Vision Foundation, including:
- Phil Isenberg, Chair
- Monica Florian
- Richard Frank
- Thomas McKernan
- Sunne Wright McPeak
- William Reilly
- Raymond Seed, Ph.D.
- John Kirlin, Executive Director
- Associated stakeholders
Directions to the CSAC Conference Center:
The CSAC Conference Center is located at 1020 11th Street, 2nd Floor between K Street & J Street. The entrance to the center is located between the Pyramid Restaurant patio and Smith Gallery across from the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament main entrance on 11th Street. The building has a black awning with gold diamonds.
For more information about the Delta Vision Foundation, visit www.deltavisionfoundation.org.
Capitol rally today to call for action on water: Local water leaders to gather on east steps as part of ACWA Conference
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 20, 2009 at 7:50 am
From ACWA, this press release:
Hundreds of local water leaders and stakeholders will gather on the East Steps of the State Capitol [today] to call for action on long-term solutions to the state’s water supply challenges.
The rally, organized by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), takes place as water agencies around the state confront an array of challenges, including a third consecutive dry year and restrictions on water deliveries to protect fish species in the Delta. ACWA and its members are urging lawmakers to act on a comprehensive set of solutions that includes investments in the state’s water infrastructure, conservation, ecosystem restoration, water recycling and other strategies.
Legislators and key stakeholders will address the crowd and help raise the visibility of the water issue. Confirmed speakers include Assembly Members Michael Villines (R-Clovis), Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael), Anna Caballero (D-Salinas) and Senator Dave Cogdill (R-Fresno).
ACWA President Glen Peterson will speak on the need for comprehensive solutions as well.
WHAT: Rally for Action on Water Now
WHEN: May 20, 2009, 1:30 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: State Capitol, East StepsThe rally coincides with ACWA’s 2009 Spring Conference & Exhibition this week at the Sacramento Convention Center and surrounding hotels. Prior to the rally, ACWA members will march en masse from the Sheraton Grand Hotel to the Capitol.
Conference: Micropol & Ecohazard 2009: 6th IWA/GRA specialized conference on assessment and control of micropollutants/hazardous substances in water, June 8-10
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 19, 2009 at 6:43 amFrom the Groundwater Resources Association & the International Water Association:
Micropollutants (also referred to as emerging contaminants, trace organic compounds, microconstituents, contaminants of emerging concern, etc.) include pharmaceuticals, ingredients of personal care products, biocides, fluorinated compounds, disinfection byproducts, nanomaterials and industrial additives. The presence of these compounds in wastewater, surface water, sediments, soils, groundwater and drinking water presents numerous technical and institutional challenges to society and environmental and public health professionals.
In June 2007, the Micropol & Ecohazard 2007 conference in Germany provided an international platform for drinking water and wastewater engineers, environmental chemists, water and wastewater utility managers, hydrogeologists, and ecotoxicologists to discuss the effects of micropollutants and their removal in natural and engineered water systems.
Because of the tremendous success of the 2007 conference, the International Water Association (IWA) has partnered with the Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRA) to invite you to attend Micropol & Ecohazard 2009 to be held in June 2009 in San Francisco, California. This three-day international event is the first comprehensive conference to profile the latest developments in the detection, risk assessment, treatment and regulation of micropollutants in all environmental media by the world’s top experts.
In addition to two concurrent oral sessions, poster/exhibitor opportunities and social activities, we are pleased to have several of the world’s leading experts as plenary speakers. We are expecting over 400 attendees from all over the world.
The conference is scheduled for June 8 through 10 in San Francisco. Find out more by clicking here.
Register now for the Water Education Foundation’s Hetch Hetchy Tour, July 22-24
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 18, 2009 at 8:16 amFrom the Water Education Foundation:
Discussion of removing dams is happening all over the West, and the Water Education Foundation’s Hetch Hetchy Tour, July 22-24, is an opportunity to see first-hand a water system involved in a restoration debate and hear the experts speak on many important topics including fishery and water supply issues.
Nearly a century after completion of the gravity-fed Hetch Hetchy system transporting water from the Tuolumne River to the Bay Area, there is interest in possibly restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley, a geologic twin to Yosemite Valley, to its natural state. This would have enormous implications for the cities that rely on this water – and this debate will be the focus of this tour. In addition, participants will learn about the water-user funded capital infrastructure improvement projects underway to improve the Bay Area’s water system infrastructure.
Restore Hetch Hetchy, a nonprofit organization seeking to return the Hetch Hetchy Valley to its natural condition, will also be participating in the tour.
This 3-day, 2-night tour travels from the urban San Francisco Bay Area served by the Hetch Hetchy Project to O’Shaughnessy Dam in the Hetch Hetchy Valley. The tour is a must for water policy-makers, water board managers and directors, lawyers, consultants, journalists, and anyone interested in Hetch Hetchy issues. The tour is cosponsored by the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.
To learn more about the tour and register online, visit the Water Education Foundation website at www.watereducation.org/tours. Register now to ensure your place on this educational and fun tour.
State of the Sacramento River Watershed Forum: Creating a shared vision
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 12, 2009 at 2:25 pm
From the Sacramento River Watershed Program:
The future of California is joined at the hip with the Sacramento River…
… says UC Davis geologist, Dr. Jeff Mount. Please join Dr. Mount and other top water leaders for this exciting event! Learn from the experts about the state of the Sacramento River Watershed and its role in California’s future. Get the latest news on the hottest topics including:
* How are Global Warming and the Drought affecting the Sacramento River Watershed? How do we better plan in this uncertain climate?
* Using a watershed approach to Flood Management… can we make it work?
* How will a Delta Solution affect the Sacramento River Watershed? California?
* Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Planning: drought, climate change, water supplies… How to make IRWM work at the regional and watershed level.
* Latest on the Salmon Crisis… What’s to blame? What’s the solution?
* How do we create a Shared Vision for the Watershed? Share your questions, make recommendations, and provide feedback on how to improve conditions and create the best future for the Sacramento River Watershed and its communities.Doors open at 8:00 AM. A “Local, Home-Grown” Informal Reception will immediately follow the Forum Program featuring locally grown food and beverages.
Sponsorship Opportunities! Learn about the amazing benefits and recognition possibilities that come with the Forum’s sponsorship opportunities!
Showcase Your Work! There will limited space to showcase your organization or company’s work in the Display Booth area. Contact Mary Lee Knecht at marylee@sacriver.org to reserve a spot!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Capital Plaza Ballroom
1025 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CAHope to see you on May 14th!
Reclamation to host 8th annual ”Get W.E.T.” event at Folsom Dam’s American River Water Education Center
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 11, 2009 at 6:25 amFrom the Bureau of Reclamation:
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office will host the 8th Annual “Get W.E.T.” (Water Education Today) event on Saturday, May 16, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American River Water Education Center (ARWEC) located at Folsom Dam. The “Get W.E.T.” event is sponsored by numerous Federal, State, and local government agencies; water districts; and various water-related and non-profit organizations. Hundreds of visitors are expected.
“Get W.E.T.” is a free, fun, family-oriented event that includes interactive educational displays designed to encourage water appreciation and conservation and demonstrate the dynamics of the American River. It also encourages responsible water use and inspires an appreciation of water as a vital natural resource. Families can enjoy a variety of games and activities that illustrate a number of ways to easily save water at home. Participants who visit all of the booths and get their “passport” stamped will be awarded a special prize. Garden tours, hydro-rockets, magic shows, music, and more will be available for visitors to enjoy during their “Get W.E.T.” visit. Other water awareness activities available include: the bubble booth, water safety obstacle course, solar and robotics demonstrations, water tasting test and purification demonstrations, and Water Whiz Quizzes. Food and drinks will be available for purchase at the event.
There is direct access to ARWEC from the American River Bike Trail.
Directions to ARWEC from Interstate 80: From Sacramento, take I-80 east toward Reno; exit onto Madison Avenue, East; after several miles, Madison turns into Greenback Lane; turn left onto Folsom-Auburn Road; pass through Folsom Lake Crossing intersection and turn right at the next light.
Directions to ARWEC from Highway 50: From Sacramento, take 50 East toward Lake Tahoe; exit at Folsom and turn left onto Folsom Boulevard; after crossing the bridge over Lake Natoma, Folsom Boulevard turns into Folsom-Auburn Road, pass through Folsom Lake Crossing intersection and turn right at the next light.
Central Valley Tour gives participants a first-hand look at all sides of the complex issues facing the Central Valley
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 7, 2009 at 7:32 am
Have you ever wondered what it’s like on a Water Education Foundation tour? Read on as the Foundation’s Rebecca Scott gives a firsthand account of all that happened on the Foundation’s tour of the Central Valley:
The Foundation’s Central Valley Tour was April 15-17, and what a time to visit the San Joaquin Valley! The very same week thousands participated in the Latino Water Coalition March for Water, and the papers were rife with stories of water shortages, cutbacks, and 40% unemployment in some of the hard-hit Valley communities. In addition to legal pumping restrictions in the Delta, some of the problem is due to continuing dry year water shortage. Climate change may even be part of this crisis. Add to the mix, the long-term ecological crash of salmon populations in the San Joaquin River and the recent passage of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement bill, which involves releasing more water down the river to restore a salmon fishery, and a more complete picture of a Valley in need of water comes into focus.
This was the opportune time to visit the Valley and hear the stakeholders tell their stories of how these issues are affecting them. Staring out the window of a bus brings you closer to a reality that many of us only understand from reading the descriptions in the articles of the morning paper or on Aquafornia. Discussing the Valley’s issues while sipping a cup of coffee in the office kitchen is quite different than stepping off the bus into a field with the soil crusted white from salt build up to hear a farmer talk about his stressed irrigation system.
When you have a chance to speak to a general manager about a water district’s operations and concerns, hear a farmer talk about his land that has been fallowed or look at miles of dry river bed where no fish exist there is a realization that the issues are too complex to assign labels of right and wrong.
Every person has a story with hardships, hard work, compromise and success; and as Peter Vorster from The Bay Institute would say, there are also the fish, and someone has to tell their story.
A solution is needed for the complex water shortage issues in the Valley, and, of course, it won’t be simple. One obvious part of the solution is compromise. We must work together and take into consideration the many stories involved. After listening to the speakers on the Central Valley Tour, I felt a sense of hope that we are capable of finding solutions. Every presentation included solutions for challenges in the past, some of which are quite inventive and extraordinary.
Little Hoover Commission to hold hearing on water governance today
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 23, 2009 at 8:23 amThank you, Wes, for sending me this link! From the Little Hoover Commission:
On Thursday, April 23, 2009, the Little Hoover Commission will conduct a public hearing on water governance. The hearing will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 437 of the State Capitol in Sacramento.
In this study, the Commission is examining the management and governance of California’s water supply. At this hearing, the Commission will learn about the current conditions surrounding the state’s water supply, its management and issues related to it.The Commission will hear an overview from a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Davis. The chair of the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force will speak on lessons for water governance that stem from its two-year Delta study. The assistant general manager for the nonprofit organization State Water Contractors will discuss transparency and accountability. A senior consulting attorney
for the Environmental Defense Fund will discuss balancing environmental needs and ensuring the role of public interest. Finally, a water policy advisor with the Planning and Conservation League will look ahead to future management of water resources.There will be an opportunity for public comment at the end of the hearing. The Commission also encourages written comments.
All public notices for meetings are on the Commission’s Web site, www.lhc.ca.gov.
If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please contact Stuart Drown at (916) 445-2125 or littlehoover@lhc.ca.gov by Thursday, April 16, 2009.
Ski and snowboard through Memorial Day at Mammoth Mountain
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 21, 2009 at 8:02 amFrom YubaNet.com:
While nearly all other resorts across the country are closed or closing soon for the season, Mammoth Mountain is just gearing up for amazing spring skiing and boarding conditions. Mammoth has a longstanding history of one of the longest skiing and boarding seasons in the world and expects to stay open through Memorial Day and into June or even later if conditions permit.
Excellent snowfall throughout the 2008/09 winter season has led to an extraordinary snowpack at the eastern Sierra Nevada resort. Mammoth has received 460 inches of snowfall to date including nearly 12 feet of snowfall in February 2009 alone. Mammoth currently has a base depth of 8-13 feet of packed snow ensuring skiing and boarding for many weeks to come.
Mammoth has long been a haven for springtime skiers and boarders thanks to a peak elevation of 11,053 feet. Such elevation helps keep a consistent snowpack at the resort far longer than most other resorts.
Officials say the 22-foot pipe and the spring terrain park will be open right up until the last day. Find out more from YubaNet.com by clicking here.
Water Education Foundation announces new Flood Management Tour, May 7 & 8
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 20, 2009 at 7:39 amFrom the Water Education Foundation:
The Water Education Foundation is offering a new Flood Management Tour, May 7-8.
With the Sacramento Valley and Delta having the highest risk for flooding in the country, flood management continues to be a critical issue. This tour will visit flood control structures that have protected the Sacramento area for the last 80 years, as well as explore new flood control planning for the whole Central Valley, floodplain development and levee stability and maintenance issues. The tour will also cover the issue of urban and non-urban levees and new approaches to levee safety such as setbacks and adjacent levees.
This 2-day, 1-night tour begins at the American River and travels along the Bear, Feather and Sacramento rivers into the Delta to view Sacramento’s flood management system. The tour is a must for water policy-makers, water board managers and directors, lawyers, consultants, journalists, and anyone interested in flood management in the Sacramento area. If you work with a stakeholder conservancy or a flood, reclamation or water district, don’t miss this special opportunity!
The tour is cosponsored by BROWN and CALDWELL, CH2M Hill, GEI Consultants, HDR, ICF Jones & Stokes, MBK Engineers, MWH and PBS&J. Additional assistance provided by RD 1500, SAFCA, Sacramento River West Side Levee District, Sacramento Valley Landowners Association and Sutter Butte FCA. The tour begins and ends in Sacramento.
To learn more about the tour and register online, visit the Water Education Foundation website at www.watereducation.org/tours. Register now to ensure your place on this educational and fun tour.
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Aquafornia is affiliated with the Water Education Foundation, an impartial non-profit organization, whose mission is to create a better understanding of water issues and help resolve water resource problems through educational programs.
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