Assemblymember Yamada urges federal officials “Nothing about us without us”
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 2:45 pmFrom Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada’s office:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) attended a public meeting today hosted by the Department of the Interior to discuss California water challenges. The meeting accomplished 3 key pieces of reform:
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by six federal agencies reestablishing federal leadership on Bay-Delta issues.
• The Interior and Commerce Departments requested that the National Academy of Sciences conduct further scientific analysis of the Bay-Delta ecosystem.
• Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar called on Governor Schwarzenegger, Senate Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker Karen Bass to hold a special legislative session on California’s water crisis.“Today’s announcement of the California Bay-Delta Memorandum of Understanding among the U.S. Departments of the Interior, Commerce and Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Council on Environmental Quality, and the Army underscores the Obama Administration’s high-level focus on the Delta. My hope is that those most affected by changes to the Delta—many of whom are my constituents—will no longer be excluded from the discussions and negotiations on water policy and finance. In particular, I look forward to providing meaningful input during the near-term development of the Federal Work Plan led by this high-level federal team,” said Assemblymember Yamada.
The meeting today brought together federal, state and local representatives to discuss the water crisis in California. The meeting was attended by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Chair Nancy Sutley of the White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ), Senator Dianne Feinstein, and Congressmembers Mike Thompson and Doris Matsui, along with other state representatives and top Obama officials.
“I requested a special session on the state’s water crisis earlier this month while the Legislature was rushing to pass the six bill water package, including a water bond, by the end of Legislative Session. This package would have greatly impacted the Delta communities without including their representatives in the discussions. I was gratified to hear that the Obama Administration agrees that a special session is needed,” Yamada also said.
For further information on the meeting and to find associated documents, please visit www.doi.gov.
In addition, the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee will be holding an informational hearing on 2009 Delta/Water Legislation on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in Room 4202 of the State Capitol.”
Congressman Nunes confronts Secretary Salazar, Senator Feinstein and Rep. George Miller – demands action
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 2:17 pmFrom Congressman Devin Nunes:
“Earlier today, Secretary Ken Salazar held a public meeting in Washington DC to discuss California’s water crisis.
During the meeting, I was surprised to once again here Secretary Salazar reject the notion that we are experiencing a government-imposed drought (listen here). In my view, and in the considered opinion of those who are directly impacted by water shortages today, there is no question as to why San Joaquin Valley communities are suffering. That reason is a flawed system of regulation related to the Endangered Species Act and, more specifically, unjust priorities that have made a three inch minnow more important than human beings.
While long-term solutions are needed and I am not opposed to studies that would help achieve them, the people of the San Joaquin Valley are suffering and they need help now. For this reason, I have fought to gain support for Congress to temporarily grant California the same legislative relief New Mexico received in 2003 – namely, the short-term restoration of normal pumping operations from the Delta.
EDF applauds Obama officials’ plan to solve California water crisis with coordinated federal-state effort
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 2:16 pmFrom the Environmental Defense Fund, this press release:
“Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) welcomed announcements by Obama administration officials today emphasizing a coordinated federal-state response and leadership to solving California’s water crisis and urging the California Legislature to convene a special session on a package of water policy bills that EDF supports.
“Resolving the California water crisis requires exactly what we are seeing put in motion today: strong leadership and coordinated federal-state action,” said Elgie Holstein, vice president for Land, Water, and Wildlife programs for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and a former associate director of the Office of Management and Budget for Natural Resources, Energy and Science. “EDF and our partners stand ready to work with the Obama and Schwarzenegger administrations and legislative leaders at the federal and state level to reach a viable, scientifically based solution.”
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairwoman Nancy Sutley and other top Obama administration officials announced a series of actions the federal government is taking to deal with the water shortages and fisheries crisis. For example, six federal agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that reinvigorates involvement in California Bay Delta issues — including the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) — to help provide a reliable water supply, while restoring the environmental integrity of the Bay Delta. In addition, the Interior and Commerce departments have asked the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct additional scientific analysis of the California Bay Delta ecosystem and to help identify whether there are scientifically defensible alternatives to current water management plans in California.
“We also recognize and appreciate the important leadership role that Senator Feinstein is playing in seeking to resolve the crisis through helping to engage the National Academy of Sciences and promoting interim measures such as short-term water transfers,” added Holstein.
“We applaud the Obama administration’s commitment to a scientifically-rigorous and balanced approached to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan,” said Ann Hayden, a senior water resource analyst at EDF and a member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan steering committee. “We also welcome a rigorous scientific investigation by the National Academy of Sciences to assure that the Bay Delta ecosystem and the wildlife that it provides are protected as we consider major changes to how water is delivered in California.”
Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.“
Glass half full for California water, as administration seeks new science study
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:58 pmFrom McClatchy Newspapers:
“The nation’s most respected scientists should re-examine California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the controversial measures now protecting it, the Obama administration declared Wednesday.
In a nod to Central Valley residents and their increasingly angry congressional allies, the administration agreed to seek an independent review by the National Academy of Sciences. The study, announced at an often-heated public hearing Wednesday morning, would include a search for alternative environmental protections that might demand less sacrifice from farmers.
“This is a huge priority for the president and for me,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said. “We will do our part.”
Salazar’s promise, though, did not completely calm the Californians from both parties and many perspectives who are vehemently demanding more help with the state’s water shortage.
“Our farm workers are hurting,” Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez shouted. “How in the hell can you pay your rent? How are you going to pay your mortgage? (And) we just keep talking and talking.” …”
Read more from McClatchy Newspapers by clicking here.
Congressman George Miller: Republicans vote against expanded water supply for drought-stricken California
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:56 pmFrom Congressman George Miller’s office:
“WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) issued the following statement after congressional Republicans voted against his non-controversial legislation to provide alternative water supplies to California:
“When it comes to providing clean water to California, congressional Republicans have now shown their true colors. The legislation that the House voted on today would supply California with much-needed funding for alternative water supplies — but congressional Republicans just said no.
“The water projects authorized in this bill will provide 2.6 billion gallons of water per year for drought-stricken California, adding enough water to the system to meet the needs of 24,225 households. But 169 Republicans voted against it.
“Instead, congressional Republicans decided to pull the same old political games and showed a complete lack of understanding of the issues at hand – the measure they defeated today could have added significant water supplies to California’s Central Valley Project system.
“California is in the third year of a serious drought and we’re putting an inordinate amount of pressure on the Bay-Delta and on the water system as a whole. Finding solutions for these issues are too important for political stunts.
“We will bring up the bill again and pass it, but Rep. Nunes and his fellow obstructionists have delayed progress for California water issues – they have voted against jobs for Californians, they have voted against expanding water supplies, they have voted against developing new technology, and they have voted against expanding our economy. They have nothing to offer California but partisan stunts. They may have delayed this bill, but they will not defeat it.”
H.R. 2442, the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009, builds on a successful partnership that Congress has already authorized – adding six additional water recycling projects for the Bay Area that would provide 7.2 million gallons of water per day. Water recycling projects allow local water managers to treat wastewater and use the clean, recycled water for landscape irrigation and other uses, including at golf courses, and city parks.
For more information on the bill, go to: http://georgemiller.house.gov/news/2009/05/new_legislation_would_expand_i.html.
Gov. Schwarzenegger issues statement regarding draft Klamath hydroelectric settlement agreement
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:50 pmFrom the Office of Governor Schwarzenegger:
“Gov. Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement after negotiators released a draft Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement agreement that, when finalized, would result in the largest dam removal and river restoration project ever undertaken.
“Restoring the Klamath River is one of my top environmental priorities, and I am very happy to announce that the negotiating team has taken a tremendous step forward toward completing a preliminary agreement that will make possible the removal of the four dams blocking salmon passage. California has been a leader in bringing all 26 parties, ranging from Klamath Basin tribal governments to ranchers, and environmental groups to commercial fisherman, to the point where they will recommend the agreement to their organizations. The draft agreement not only addresses the unique needs of each of these very diverse groups, but also provides a framework for both environmental protection and economic growth in the region. There is no better example of how a unique group of stakeholders can work constructively for their collective benefit while also protecting and enhancing the environment.”
In November 2008, the federal government, the state of California, the state of Oregon and PacifiCorp signed an Agreement in Principle that took the first critical step down a presumptive path toward an historic resolution of Klamath River resource issues and the Klamath River dams.
To view the draft agreement please visit www.DOI.gov.”
Dan Bacher: Klamath Dam removal agreement unveiled today
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:48 pmFrom Dan Bacher, this commentary:
“In one of the largest dam removal projects in history, three Indian Tribes and 26 other parties released a tentative agreement today providing for the removal of four Klamath River Dam owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Company.
The agreement would remove Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2 and J.C. Boyle dams, opening up historic habitat above Iron Gate Dam to the migration of coho salmon, chinook salmon and steehead for the first time in many decades. Klamath Hydroelectric Relicensing Agreement, would provide a pathway that would lead to dam removal in 2020, following an analysis by the Secretary of the Interior to determine “whether dam removal is indeed to the benefit of fisheries resources and in the public interest,” according to a joint statement by a coalition of groups released early this morning.
The Yurok, Karuk and Klamath Tribes have supported the process to date, touting it as an historic opportunity to restore the Klamath, historically one of the great salmon and steelhead streams of the West. On the other hand, the Hoopa Valley Tribe has opposed the pact, calling the agreement an “Old West water deal.” Fishing groups have generally supported the process, while environmental groups and farming organizations are split over the process, with many supporting it and others opposing it.
“Once we decided to stop fighting and start talking, we realized the opportunities provided by collaboration and coalition building,” said Jeff Mitchell, council member for the Klamath Tribes of Oregon. “We haven’t seen salmon in our country for 90 years; this Agreement represents our best chance of finally bringing the salmon home.” …”
Continue reading “Dan Bacher: Klamath Dam removal agreement unveiled today” »
West’s water needs differ: As competing demands press water resources, states adjust rules
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:45 pmFrom Water World:
“States across the West are facing the same dilemma as Colorado: Too many people and not enough water.
Their circumstances may be different, but the app- roaches instructive for Colorado as it deals with what could become a crisis in the future.
Water officials from other states shared how they are coping at a conference sponsored by the Western State Water Council this week.
“Growth is coming to the West and we’re going to need more supplies than the Colorado River can give us,” Kay Brothers, deputy general manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority bluntly told the group.
Las Vegas has failed to cover its bets on water supply more than once, Brothers pointed out. Up until the 1980s, the city was growing at about 2 percent a year, and competing water districts figured they were covered well into the 21st century, and were actually trying to use more Colorado River water to broaden their claims. …”
Read more from Water World by clicking here.
Organizers lay out public process for North Coast’s marine life protection areas
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 12:43 pmFrom the Eureka Times-Standard:
“In what was billed as an educational workshop Tuesday, staff from the Marine Life Protection Area Initiative — designed to provide varying degrees of protection for offshore habitats and species — laid out the timeline and process for public involvement, but some remained skeptical that the North Coast would have its say.
A Red Lion Hotel conference room was standing room only at the beginning of the three-hour session in Eureka while simultaneous sessions were ongoing and connected in Fort Bragg and Crescent City. Others took part via an Internet-based “webinar” while a constant open conference call was available for participants via telephone.
The MLPA is designed to protect a range of California coastal habitats and the species that live in them and determine varying degrees of protection from no fishing to sport fishing only to limited sport and commercial fishing. …”
Read more from the Eureka Times-Standard by clicking here.
DOI Press Release: Secretary Salazar, Chair Sutley, Obama officials announce expanded federal response to California water crisis
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 10:25 am
“WASHINGTON, D.C.— The Obama Administration is fully engaged in a coordinated response to California’s ongoing water crisis, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Chair Nancy Sutley of the White House Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) and other top Obama Administration officials reported today at a public meeting with California state officials in Washington, D.C.
As part of the meeting, Secretary Salazar and Chair Sutley announced a series of actions the federal government is taking to deal with the devastating water shortages, including:
* Six federal agencies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that reestablishes federal leadership on California Bay Delta issues, including active involvement in on-going state efforts, such as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, to help provide an assured water supply while restoring the environmental integrity of the Bay Delta.
* The Interior and Commerce Departments are asking the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to conduct additional scientific analysis of the California Bay Delta ecosystem and help identify whether there are scientifically defensible alternatives to current water management plans in California.
* Secretary Salazar is urging Governor Schwarzenegger to convene a special session of the legislature to deal with the crisis at the State level.“In this third year of drought, with the California Bay Delta in a state of environmental collapse and California’s water infrastructure unable to meet the state’s needs, we need all hands on deck to respond to the growing water crisis.” said Secretary Salazar. “The federal government is now moving record amounts of water to areas that have been hardest hit, investing over $400 million to upgrade California’s water infrastructure, and – after eight years of neglect – reengaging as a full partner in California’s water future.”
“The Bay-Delta ecosystem is a critical environmental resource for California that helps sustain the state’s economy, health and well-being,” said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality. “By developing this multi-pronged approach, the Obama Administration is demonstrating its robust engagement in finding solutions to the Bay-Delta’s challenges in order to address both the short-term crisis and to promote a more sustainable future.”
“Using good science as our guidepost, we are committed to exploring every viable avenue and alternative to help Californians weather the drought, including gathering additional scientific information on potential water management alternatives that have a lower water supply impact,” said Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke.
Federal-State Action Plan on California Water
Under an MOU signed yesterday, the Departments of the Interior, Commerce and Agriculture, CEQ, Environmental Protection Agency, and Army Corps of Engineers will form a newly established Federal Bay-Delta Leadership Committee. The Committee will coordinate with the State of California and interested stakeholders and develop by December 15 a work plan of short-term actions. The plan may include:
* Developing an interagency science program to address key uncertainties in scientific information
* Expediting habitat restoration projects that are ready to move forward
* Taking an aggressive approach to addressing water quality threats
* Advancing measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change
* Coordinating processes for undertaking regulatory actions by federal agencies in the Bay-Delta including, but not limited to, the potential co-location of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service personnelNational Academy of Sciences Review
While reiterating confidence in the soundness of the science behind two biological opinions (biops) issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, Secretary Salazar and Secretary Locke agreed to pursue additional, independent review by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) of key scientific issues associated with the Bay Delta.
The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) process is analyzing a large number of scientific issues, including the impact that a variety of stressors are having on the Bay Delta. The Secretaries will be engaging with the State, stakeholders, and other parties who are interested in the BDCP to evaluate whether, if, and how a NAS review might assist in this effort.
Also, with regard to the biops, the NAS will be asked to evaluate whether there may be alternative, scientifically sound approaches for protecting endangered species that have more limited water supply impacts. The NAS may also be invited to explore how the two biops work together, for example by focusing on questions such as spring flows in dry seasons and fall flows in wet seasons. Given the need to move quickly on this subject, the Secretaries are willing to potentially explore getting an independent scientific opinion on this point through the CalFed science panel.
Special Session of California Legislature
Separately, in letters to Governor Schwarzenegger and California legislative leaders, Secretary Salazar praised the State’s leadership on devising solutions to the water crisis and urged them to convene a special legislative session this fall to ensure prompt enactment of a package of bills. Key components of legislation already introduced include:
* A Delta governance structure
* A Delta plan addressing needs for storage, conveyance and other necessary operational tools, as well as the BDCP
* Water conservation/sustainable management provisions
* Water use reporting requirements
* A Delta conservancy”
Where the Riled Things Are: Jon Stewart responds to Sean Hannity
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 9:34 amHere’s some comic relief … From Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show:
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Where the Riled Things Are | ||||
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Close the deal, says editorial: Effort on major water pact losing momentum
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 9:31 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“The Legislature is in danger of losing precious momentum toward a deal that would allow lawmakers to close out an otherwise unproductive year with a historic pact — a package of desperately needed water system reforms that have eluded California for decades.
It wasn’t pretty, but in the mad scramble of the last days of the regular legislative session in Sacramento earlier this month, lawmakers came tantalizingly close to agreement on measures to assure a plentiful water supply for the future and to restore the ecosystem of the severely threatened Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the centerpiece of the state’s waterworks.
The effort ran out of time, but top Democratic leaders were optimistic enough that they asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to call the Legislature back for a special session to finish the job. A top San Diego County water official said, “We’ve never been this close before.”
More than two weeks later and still no deal, still no special session. And significant differences remain. Key players continue to meet in Sacramento, but most legislators have returned to their districts or gone on vacation. Any agreement among negotiators would now have to wait until at least Oct. 13 to be ratified by the Assembly and Senate. …”
Read more of this editorial from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Water defiance: Let Los Angeles’ lawns be lush, says editorial
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 9:29 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News, this editorial:
“Last week, Valley Councilman Greig Smith announced that he was intentionally violating the city’s strict twice-a-week lawn sprinkling rules.
Smith said that, in fact, he runs his sprinklers three times a week for eight minutes each time. And though he’s been risking a $100 fine every week, his lawns, even in the harsh Northwest Valley heat of summer, have never looked better.
The announcement was a direct challenge to Department of Water and Power officials, a kind of throw down to get them to get to loosen the twice-a-week watering rules and let people reach mandatory conservation their own way.
In so doing, Smith became a champion for the hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Angelenos who have been quietly risking a fine to keep their landscapes from drooping, wilting and keeling over.
We should all rally behind Smith’s coming out as a water scofflaw and let the sprinklers run a third day every week. Or a fourth even, if that’s what it takes to keep the streets of Los Angeles looking like the streets of Los Angeles should. What does it matter what days we sprinkle our grass or trees or vegetables, so long as we don’t exceed water allotments or run the water during the heat of the day? …”
Mercury rising: Meadow Vista lake yields toxic traces of Gold Rush
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 9:27 amFrom the Auburn Journal:
“A toxic vestige of the Gold Rush era is getting some special attention at a foothills reservoir near Auburn.
Mercury, a byproduct of the gold-extraction process, is sitting in the mud and sand of countless rivers and streams throughout the Gold Country. Eating fish from mercury-laden waters leads to developmental delays in fetuses, infants and children.
The Nevada Irrigation District’s Combie Reservoir could soon be in the forefront of efforts to clean up mercury with a dredging effort that could process 200,000 tons of sediment and remove an estimated 100 pounds of mercury.
On Tuesday, district officials and the Canadian-based Pegasus Earth Sensing Corp. gave a demonstration of equipment that could separate out mercury without chemicals, also take out gold, and leave much of the cleaned material to be used as aggregate. …”
Read more from the Auburn Journal by clicking here.
Congressman Devin Nunes: Honesty is needed in water debate, not intimidation
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 9:16 amFrom the website of Congressman Devin Nunes:
“Washington, DC – Congressman Devin Nunes today issued the following statement:
Last week, I worked with Senator Jim DeMint (South Carolina) to move an amendment that would have temporarily restored water deliveries in California. The Senate defeated the effort with California’s Senators leading the opposition. Since that time, there has been a lot of discussion about the vote – including a dishonest campaign that must be challenged.
Firstly, the notion that the DeMint amendment was tantamount to Pearl Harbor – that it was a sneak attack – is pure fiction. Senator DeMint approached Senator Feinstein at 12:20 pm on the day in question and provided her the language of his amendment (see video). This gave Feinstein and her advisors approximately six hours to read the amendment’s ten lines of text before the vote (see video).
Secondly, it is not possible for anyone who claims to be involved in California water policy to be ignorant as to the needs of our rural communities and farms. Put simply, they need water. This requires a temporary restoration of normal pumping operations so that water can be delivered when it is needed. I have been calling for action in this regard for two years, have participated in numerous debates, and forced votes in the House on seven occasions.
Furthermore, organizations associated with agriculture from throughout California have pressed for immediate relief from the man-made drought. They have done so publically and they have done so privately with their Congressional delegation. These requests have been reported by the national media – including an hour long broadcast on the Hannity program.
Yet, despite these facts the Senator and her allies are today exerting pressure on California agriculture interests. Instead of working to provide California immediate relief, the Senator is trying to convince the people of our state that we need more studies and deliberation. Unfortunately, in the past “study” has been code for inaction or worse – additional water takings.”
Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s statement at Washington DC meeting
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 9:13 amFrom the website of Congresswoman Doris Matsui:
“WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) delivered brief remarks at the Department of Interior regarding Secretary Salazar’s plan of action to improve California’s water challenges.
Congresswoman Matsu’s statement, as prepared for delivery, is below:
“I stand in front of you as the Member of Congress from Sacramento and as a farmer’s daughter from the Central Valley. I understand that water is critical to our state’s economy and our way of life. There is no doubt that the opinions aired today will be varied, but after three years of drought, pumping restrictions, and lost jobs from the Valley to the Coast, it is clear that most in our state have an honest desire for a comprehensive solution to the Delta’s problems – a solution that keeps California’s agricultural economy strong and the Delta healthy, but one that does not ignore the needs of Northern California businesses, farmers, and residents.
“The Sacramento Valley is the upper part of California’s Central Valley, and it has a long agricultural tradition. It is also home to over 2 million urban residents, many of whom I represent, many of whom feel that they need to have a seat at the table, to be partners in a solution. In the quest for a solution, we cannot move so fast that problems in one part of the state are redirected to another. And we cannot move so fast that we don’t pause to ask the right scientific questions.
“We must understand that changes to one part of the Delta, will have impacts on another. Without recognizing all of the problems we are facing, there is a risk of trading an environmental concern in the southern Delta for another along the Sacramento River. History has shown that without thoughtful consideration, we will be back here in ten years worse off than we are now, and with a set of problems far more costly.
“Our state is in the third year of drought. Our water issues did not arrive over night and will not be solved overnight. Our rush to find a solution must be made on sound science and a full understanding of the issues at play, not easy talking points.
“In closing, I want thank you again for taking such a high level of interest in California’s water issues. We have come a long way in a year…and have a long way to go. Without a strong federal commitment I do not believe any solutions are sustainable for our state’s economy, water supply and our environment. As the Department continues to tackle this issue, I encourage you to travel the full state and take the position of Northern Californians into account.”
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Officials called to Washington DC conference on California drought
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:54 am
From the Associated Press:
“WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, attempting to show it’s helping California with its water crisis, has summoned state officials and interest groups to a conference on how to deal with a shortage that’s causing high unemployment and economic distress in the state’s farm belt.
Precipitation rates over the past three years in California have ranged from 63 percent to 78 percent of the state’s average. Compounding the problem, restrictions on water delivery were put in place to protect a native fish. The two factors have led farmers to idle more than a quarter-million acres and put thousands out of work.
The Interior Department says the drought is responsible for roughly three-quarters of the water shortage. Still, some lawmakers from the Central Valley are placing much of the blame on the federal government. That message has gained traction, particularly among conservatives who have equated the water restrictions to prioritizing animals above people. …”
Read more from the Associated Press by clicking here.
Check out the agenda for the meeting by clicking here.
Photo of Capitol Hill by flick photographer wallyg.
Utility agrees to terms removing Klamath dams by 2020
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:51 am
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
“In what is being touted as the world’s biggest dam-removal project, an agreement was reached Tuesday to remove four dams on the Klamath River and restore a 300-mile migratory route for California’s beleaguered salmon.
The tentative agreement was reached after a decade of negotiations among 28 parties, including American Indian tribes, farmers, fishermen and the hydroelectric company that operates the dams and distributes the water. The plan would set in motion one of the most ambitious efforts in U.S. history to restore the habitat of a federally protected species if it receives final approval by the parties in December, as expected.
The dams – Iron Gate, Copco 1, Copco 2 and J.C. Boyle – have blocked salmon migration for a century along the California-Oregon border and have been blamed for much of the historic decline of chinook and coho salmon and steelhead trout in the Klamath. Under the plan, the dams operated by the utility, PacificCorp, would be dismantled beginning in 2020.”
Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
From the Associated Press:
” … PacifiCorp will not bear the estimated $450 million cost of removing the dams. Oregon has approved $180 million in surcharges on state ratepayers. Another $250 million depends on California approving general obligation bonds.
“If the federal government and the states of California and Oregon sign onto this negotiated final settlement, then we will join with them and all the other stakeholder groups that may choose to sign the agreement,” PacifiCorp Chairman and CEO Greg Abel said in a statement.
The utility serves 1.6 million customers in Oregon, California, Washington, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming, and is owned by MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co., a unit of Warren Buffett’s Omaha, Neb.-based Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
“When the Klamath dams come down, it will be the biggest dam removal project the world has ever seen,” Steve Rothert, California director for the conservation groups American Rivers, said in a statement. “We will be able to watch on a grand scale as a river comes back to life.” …”
Read more from the Associated Press by clicking here.
Removal of dams may hurt fish, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:50 amFrom the Anderson Valley Post, this commentary by Frank Galusha:
“Last week, I reported that California EPA’s North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board had jiggered some science to achieve their desired outcome; namely the removal of four Klamath Dams.
I also complained about the failure of California legislators to include mitigation costs in the bill they are considering to fund the removal of these dams.
Now the Siskiyou Daily News has printed a letter from Siskiyou County Counsel Thomas Guarino that should be on everyone’s reading list. Take a look: http://www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/x1991986666/Guarino-to-take-dam-removal-letter-to-Portland
Certain stakeholders are determined to railroad this project through no matter what the consequences. Believe me it’s not for the fish!
Guarino’s letter does a great job of ripping up some of the rails down which this senseless juggernaut is heading. …”
And he has this to say about the Central Valley:
“In the Basin, the farmers are being bludgeoned. In the Central Valley, it’s the farmers and Westland’s Water that carries the big stick and uses it to their advantage in Sacramento and Washington D.C.
While I don’t believe this hinges solely on the survival of the Delta Smelt, I don’t want to see the Delta destroyed for many reasons, all of which are common sense. We have to stop destroying our environment even if it means progress has to take a different tack. When will we learn not to tread too heavily on the land as we did in the last century? It’s heartening to see some of our small town newspapers do a great job of exposing what’s going on…this paper included! …”
Read more of Frank Galusha’s commentary (remember these are only excerpts) by clicking here.
Bay-Delta to get renewed attention from Obama administration
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:50 am
From the Contra Costa Times:
“In her first remarks in California, the Obama administration’s top environmental regulator put San Francisco Bay and the Delta on a short list of nationally important waterways in need of restoration.
The estuary, a water supply for much of the state and key habitat for salmon and birds on the Pacific Flyway, has suffered a number of environmental blows dating back to the Gold Rush. Its problems have worsened, however, in recent years as fish — from the unsympathetic but threatened Delta smelt to commercially valuable salmon — have collapsed and set off an ecological and water supply crisis.
Chesapeake Bay, the Mississippi River Delta, Puget Sound and the Great Lakes also will receive renewed attention, said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.
“The Bay-Delta is an essential part of that work,” she said.
Jackson made the remarks Tuesday during the ninth biennial “State of the Estuary” conference in Oakland. Last May, President Barack Obama issued an executive order directing the EPA to take the lead in restoration efforts in Chesapeake Bay, where a 25-year cleanup effort has been acknowledged a failure.
“We haven’t seen the improvements we expected after 25 years (of restoration work on the Chesapeake),” Jackson said during a brief question and answer session with reporters after her speech. “And I’ll bet that sounds familiar to people around here.” …”
Read more from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Pumping cutbacks under review
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:48 amFrom the Hanford Sentinel:
“Representatives from several water agencies, including Westlands Water District, will meet Wednesday with U.S. Department of the Interior officials to review pumping cutbacks to the San Joaquin Valley, according to Westlands spokeswoman Sarah Woolf.
The Washington, D.C. meeting comes a month after California Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked the department to re-evaluate two “biological opinions” that restrict pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta to protect endangered fish.
Westlands Water District, Tulare Lake Basin Water Storage District and other agencies operating in Kings County receive delta water for farmers.
The two studies — a 2008 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service study that protects smelt and a 2009 National Marine Fisheries Service study that protects other species — have reduced water deliveries to growers by as much as 30 percent. …”
Read more from the Hanford Sentinel by clicking here.
On the Water Front blog: DWR puts it’s support for the ESA in writing
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:46 amFrom Ann Hayden at the Enviromental Defense Fund’s On the Water Front blog:
“After another week of attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act, EDF couldn’t be happier to see Lester Snow, Director of the State’s Department of Water Resources, put his support of the ESA in writing. See his letter to Senator Feinstein, Secretaries Salazar and Locke here (PDF). We’re hoping to hear the same commitment from Secretary Salazar at the public hearing tomorrow.”
Check out the letter at the On the Water Front blog by clicking here.
We don’t need Congress to produce any more sneak-attack water bills in California, says editorial
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:44 amFrom the Oakland Tribune, this editorial:
“Cooperation among competing interests on California water policy is notoriously difficult to achieve. Resorting to ambush amendments in Congress can only make that progress harder.
Evidently, that’s not a concept taken to heart by Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia. He helped to orchestrate an amendment to a $32 billion Interior Department funding bill in an effort to overturn two federal agency decisions that would reduce water deliveries to Central Valley farms.
The two biological opinions by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service are being used to guide protections for the Delta and threatened species, including salmon and smelt.
After failing in the House in multiple efforts to block funding for the biological opinions, Nunes maneuvered to get Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., to offer the amendment.
It is no surprise that the Senate rejected it by a 61-36 margin. Why Nunes or anyone else thought a measure by a South Carolina senator who had no involvement with California water policy had any chance of passage is puzzling. …”
Read more of this editorial by clicking here.
Colorado Governor says western water policies must change
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:42 amFrom the Fresno Bee:
“Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter says western states must work together on water issues if the region is to continue to grow.
Ritter told the Western States Water Council, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources and the Western Governor’s Association that western states need to work with local communities to ensure water is available before new development projects are approved.
Ritter said 19 states and 30 million people rely on water from Colorado, and states need to work together or face serious water shortages over the next few decades.
“You have to engage towns, cities and communities to consider how they grow. Water use planning and land use planning have got to go together,” Ritter told the conference Tuesday.
The council is an organization of representatives appointed by the governors of 18 Western states. The purposes are to promote cooperation, development and management of water resources. …”
Read more from the Fresno Bee by clicking here.
Floundering el ninos make for fickle forecasts
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:39 am
From YubaNet.com:
“Since May 2009, the tropical Pacific Ocean has switched from a cool pattern of ocean circulation known as La Nina to her warmer sibling, El Nino. This cyclical warming of the ocean waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific generally occurs every three to seven years, and is linked with changes in the strength of the trade winds. El Nino can affect weather worldwide, including the Atlantic hurricane season, Asian monsoon season and northern hemisphere winter storm season. But while scientists agree that El Nino is back, there’s less consensus about its future strength.
One of the characteristics that signal a developing El Nino is a change in average sea surface height compared to normal sea level. The NASA/French Space Agency Jason-1 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 satellites continuously observe these changes in average sea surface height, producing near-global maps of the ocean’s surface topography every 10 days.
Recent data on sea-level height from the Jason-1 and Ocean Surface Topography Mission/Jason-2 satellites, displayed at http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov/science/jason1-quick-look/ , show that most of the equatorial Pacific is near normal (depicted in the images as green). The exceptions are the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, which are exhibiting areas of higher-than-normal sea surface heights (warmer-than-normal sea-surface temperatures) at 180 and 110 degrees west longitude. …”
Read more from YubaNet.com by clicking here.
Water economist says we can invest, profit, help people
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:36 amFrom Business columnist Cheryl Hall at the Dallas News:
“Steve Hoffmann wants you to invest in “blue gold,” make a profit and help save mankind in the process. He’s talking about water, H{-2}O, the oil of the 21st century.
And the 54-year-old resource economist and investment fund manager has written a 303-page primer about just how to do that.
Hoffmann thinks Planet Water: Investing in the World’s Most Valuable Resource (John Wiley & Sons, 2009) is every bit as compelling as any business book on the market today.
“The global condition of our water resources has never been in more peril, nor have the investment opportunities ever been greater,” Hoffmann says.
Why?
There is no substitute for pure, life-sustaining water, and it’s getting harder to get by the day, Hoffmann says. …”
Read more of this column by clicking here.
Dueling economists: Measuring the employment impact of water reductions
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:30 amFrom Richard Howitt, Josué MedellínAzuara, and Duncan MacEwan of the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis:
“Reductions in water supply to the Central Valley of California have spawned a controversy among economists regarding employment effects in the state. Two recent statements of different viewpoints are in Howitt et al. (2009a; 2009b) and Michael (2009). Howitt et al. presents a comprehensive analysis of revenue loss from changes in agricultural production due to water shortages as projected by the Statewide Agricultural Production Model (SWAP) which is then mapped into job losses using a regional Input/Output model (REMI). Michael points out that the job losses per million dollars of agricultural output used by Howitt et al. from the REMI model are substantially more than those estimated by Michael from aggregate data, and an earlier study by Sunding et al. (2008) based on the IMPLAN model. This technical note re‐calculates the impacts sing a current version of the IMPLAN model and compares and discusses results in other reports cited by Michael.
A comparison of the IMPLAN and REMI models, and of the data on which they are based, shows that the original REMI model estimate of 35,000 is an incorrect over‐estimate. We re‐estimate job loss impacts at 21,000 total jobs lost, of which 16,000 are due to drought alone and 5,000 are due to environmental pumping restrictions. Additionally, we conclude that predictions reported by ichael of only 6,000 jobs lost significantly underestimates the total incremental employment impact of water shortages.
Circulated estimates of 6,000 jobs lost by Michael are based on assumptions about the labor market for which we find no empirical evidence. In addition, previous studies (Michael 2009, Sumner 2002, Sunding 2008) use an IMPLAN production function that is calibrated against old data which reduces the importance of agricultural contract labor. Michael uses IMPLAN to calculate total job losses on the order of 13,000 (direct, indirect, and induced), but, he assumes there is a large agricultural labor shortage sufficient to adsorb the drought effect on labor demand and the influx nto the agricultural labor supply from displaced construction workers. Using the labor supply shortage to imply a lower bound of zero he estimates agricultural jobs lost at 6,000. …”
If you understood all that and want to read more … ten pages more … click here.
Blog post: Matthew Fleischer hates your lawn
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:24 am
From Matthew Fleischer at the LA Flaneur blog:
“God I hate your lawn.
I’ve hated it ever since I learned the lawn was invented by effete British oligarchs as a way to simulate their carpets outdoors. I’ve hated it ever since I found out that Florida, the fifth wettest state, is running out of water because half the state is composed of sprawling, seasonal golf course villas that require year-round lawn watering. I’ve hated it since moving to Los Angeles and seeing that people don’t actually use their lawns for anything other than toilets for their toy dogs named Princess or Chanel.
But while my hatred of your lawn runs fairly deep, it rarely boils over. This story in the L.A. Times, however, had me ready to launch a Maoist lawn purge. …”
Read more of Matthew’s post by clicking here.
Alternative energy projects stumble on a need for water
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 8:08 amFrom the New York Times:
“In a rural corner of Nevada reeling from the recession, a bit of salvation seemed to arrive last year. A German developer, Solar Millennium, announced plans to build two large solar farms here that would harness the sun to generate electricity, creating hundreds of jobs.
But then things got messy. The company revealed that its preferred method of cooling the power plants would consume 1.3 billion gallons of water a year, about 20 percent of this desert valley’s available water.
Now Solar Millennium finds itself in the midst of a new-age version of a Western water war. The public is divided, pitting some people who hope to make money selling water rights to the company against others concerned about the project’s impact on the community and the environment.
“I’m worried about my well and the wells of my neighbors,” George Tucker, a retired chemical engineer, said on a blazing afternoon. …”
Read more from the New York Times by clicking here.
Santa Rosa ends water emergency
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:53 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“Santa Rosa’s City Council called an end to its declared water shortage Tuesday but urged residents to continue their water-conserving efforts.
Senior water resources planner Jennifer Burke said the city could no longer justify asking residents to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent because low water levels in Lake Mendocino — which triggered the emergency — are no longer a threat.
In February, Santa Rosa’s council declared the emergency in anticipation of water cutbacks. State water regulators would later direct the Sonoma County Water Agency to reduce its draw of water from the Russian River by 25 percent. The agency supplies water to 600,000 residents in Sonoma and Marin counties and Santa Rosa is its largest customer.
The state order, which ends Friday, was an attempt to ensure there is enough water in Lake Mendocino to sustain the fall upstream spawning runs of endangered salmon. …”
Read more from the Press Democrat by clicking here.
Santa Rosa considers steep water, sewer rate hikes
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:50 amFrom the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:
“When Santa Rosa residents and business owners open their city utility bills in January, they’ll likely see an 8 percent increase in water rates and a 7 percent hike in sewer rates.
And when they open those same bills in January 2011, they’ll see a second round of identical increases.
“These are hard numbers to swallow and hard news to hear,” said Robin Swinth, a member of the city’s Board of Public Utilities, which will take up the rate increase at 1:30 p.m. today at City Hall.
Two issues are fueling the steep rate hikes: substantial increases in the wholesale water rates charged by the supplier, the Sonoma County Water Agency, and the huge success of emergency water conservation measures, which results in plummeting revenues to support the city water distribution system. …”
Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.
South county levee fix could take years, cost multi-millions
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:47 amFrom the Chico Enterprise-Record:
“Restoring a 24-mile stretch of Feather River levee will require between $165 million to $265 million, years to complete and a vote by landowners in the area to impose a new tax on themselves.
According to a report presented Tuesday to the Butte County Board of Supervisors by the Sutter-Butte Flood Control Agency, the levee on the west side of the river from the outlet of the Thermalito Afterbay to Yuba City “appears to be deficient due to under seepage and or stability criteria.”
Bill Edgar, director of the agency — a joint powers authority including Butte and Sutter counties, two levee districts, and the cities of Biggs, Gridley, Live Oak and Yuba City — said the Army Corps of Engineers is in the process of conducting a “feasibility study” on what can and should be done to make the levee viable flood protection. …”
Problem is, the work wouldn’t likely be finished until 2020. Read more from the Chico Enterprise-Record by clicking here.
Oroville: Draft review calls sewerage arrangement dysfunctional
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:40 amFrom the Oroville Mercury Register:
“A draft review of wastewater service providers in Oroville calls the joint member agency dysfunctional and recommends the Sewerage Commission-Oroville Region to play greater role in management.
A municipal service review assesses the ability of government agencies to provide services to residents and users.
The review includes the wastewater treatment plant and the three collection agencies that comprise the joint powers authority called SCOR: the city of Oroville, Lake Oroville Public Utilities District and Thermalito Water and Sewer District.
The latter three member agencies collect sewage and convey it to the treatment plant operated by the sewerage commission.
SCOR management and offices are at the treatment plant on South Fifth Avenue. However, the manager has administrative authority over the plant but not over the member agencies. …”
Read more from the Oroville Mercury Register by clicking here.
A river will run through it
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:38 amFrom Stockton’s Record:
“Thursday something will begin that many thought would never happen: the rebirth of the San Joaquin River.
Small releases of water will be made from Friant Dam north of Fresno. It was construction of that dam that diverted and essentially destroyed the San Joaquin River.
It will take time, work and millions of dollars to bring the river back to life, but the fact that it’s even being attempted is nothing short of a miracle. That miracle was aided by a 2006 court settlement among environmentalists, south Valley farmers and the federal government allowing water flows from Friant.
Nobody really knows what will happen. Nobody knows when – or even if – salmon runs will begin again in the San Joaquin River. Nobody knows if the existing channel can handle the water, if its riverbanks and levees are up to the task. Nobody knows what water in the channel means to the water table under nearby farmlands. Nobody knows the cost, or what will need to be done or how long it will take. …”
Read more from the Record by clicking here.
Stanislaus County declared a disaster area
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:37 amFrom the Turlock Journal:
“The United States Department of Agriculture declared Stanislaus County a primary natural disaster area because of an ongoing drought. This declaration allows farmers and ranchers to apply for USDA assistance and emergency loans for losses directly related to the drought conditions.
Stanislaus was one of 21 counties named as disaster areas. Farm operators in 29 neighboring California counties also qualify for some natural disaster benefits. The drought declaration covers losses that occurred beginning Jan. 1.
The emergency declaration makes emergency loans available to qualified producers through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. Farmers, ranchers, and producers have to meet a list of criteria in order to qualify for a loan of up to $500,000 dollars. A few of those criteria are citizenship or permanent residency in the United States, a loss of at least 30 percent in crop production or a physical loss, acceptable credit history and an ability to repay loans. …”
Read more from the Turlock Journal by clicking here.
Coso breaks ground in Southeast Inyo
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 7:34 amFrom the Inyo Register:
“Coso Operating Company broke ground on its water pumping project for its geothermal power generating plant last Thursday. When the project is completed, water will be pumped from Coso’s Hay Ranch property, near Coso Junction, nearly nine miles to the geothermal plant. This water will be added to the geothermal reservoir that is drying up, due to evaporation and other factors. This geothermal reservoir is basically the hot water that is turned into steam, pressurized and used to turn turbines, which in turn creates electricity.
According to Coso, the additional water will help generate an additional 50 megawatts of power, enough to supply 50,000 homes. Coso also claims that it is at the industry forefront of producing clean, renewable energy in a relatively benign way.
Opponents of the project, such as the California Native Plant Society and the Sierra Club, claim that the facility is not necessarily “renewable” if water must be pumped and shipped to keep the plant on line. …”
Read more from the Inyo Register by clicking here.
State awash in questions over Delta plans
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 6:43 amFrom the Central Valley Business Times:
“The future of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and its supplies of fresh water used by 23 million Californians is being shaped in part by town hall-style meetings.
The fourth and final scheduled information session on the vast plan’s conservation features attracted about 150 into the audience at a hotel in Ryde in the heart of the Delta Tuesday evening.
The five-hour hearing was to take in comments about conservation measures.
But concerns expressed by residents included questions about how much water will be diverted from the estuary into canals to farms in the Central Valley and lawns in Los Angeles. …”
Read more from the Central Valley Business Times by clicking here.
Water customers use 12 percent less water in July and August
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 6:41 amFrom the Pasadena Star-News:
“Pasadena – Water users reduced their overall consumption by 12 percent in July and last month compared to same period last year, new figures from the city show.
The usage numbers, which included Altadena businesses and residents who get their water from Pasadena Water and Power, coincided with new rate hikes and restrictions limiting outdoor watering to three times a week.
The new policies are aimed at reducing water use by 10 percent over the whole year in order to avoid incurring high penalty rates by the Metropolitan Water District, the city’s main supplier.
While officials were encouraged by decreased usage in July and August, keeping that level of conservation up through the winter months will be difficult for customers, PWP Assistant Manager Eric Klinkner said Monday.
“We already tend to use water less in winter, and that water use tends to be more essential, so it is harder to cut back usage in those months,” he said. …”
Read more from the Pasadena Star News by clicking here.
Oceanside: Residents unhappy with proposed water rate hike: Typical increase may be $10.43 a month for water, $14.82 for sewer
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 6:39 amFrom the North County Times:
“A public forum Tuesday on a proposal to raise Oceanside water and sewer rates turned into a pointed critique of the regional agency that supplies most of Southern California’s water.
Several city residents demanded to know how the Metropolitan Water District could justify a plan that would boost pension benefits for the district’s 1,900 workers by 25 percent, while at the same time raising the rates it charges those who buy its water, including the San Diego Water Authority which supplies water to Oceanside.
Oceanside utility officials are proposing water rate increases of up to $10.43 a month for the typical single family homeowner with more than half of the higher bill coming from MWD increases the city would pass along to its customers. The City Council is scheduled to consider the rate increases at an Oct. 14 hearing. …”
Read more from the North County Times by clicking here.
Imperial County supervisors support water resource plan
Posted by: Maven on September 30, 2009 at 6:31 amFrom the Imperial Valley Press:
“After a nearly hour-long discussion and vote the Board of Supervisors will support the Imperial Irrigation District’s water resource management plan.
The board voted unanimously to send a letter of support to the IID Board of Directors with a request for both the county and IID to study possible groundwater resources.
The letter was a continuing commitment by the board to develop a long-range water plan, according to the letter sent to IID.
With signing the letter, the board would “simply be signaling an expression of support in accepting the findings of this draft and committing to a concerted effort between (the county and IID) to develop or augment the available water supply, specifically for industrial use,” said IID spokesman Kevin Kelley at the meeting. …”
Read more from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.
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