Saturday’s top of the scroll: A stronger and clearer Clean Water Act? or is it still clear as mud?
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 8:02 amThe Obama administration issued rules this week regarding which bodies of water would be covered under Clean Water Act regulations. Here are all the commentaries I could find. First off, the New York Times editorial thinks it’s a good thing:
“The Obama administration’s new guidelines for the Clean Water Act are an important first step in restoring vital legal safeguards to wetlands and streams threatened by development and pollution.
The guidelines are opposed by the usual suspects — real estate interests, homebuilders, farmers, the oil companies. They were welcomed, rightly so, by conservationists and others who have watched in despair as enforcement actions dropped and water pollution levels went up. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the New York Times by clicking here.
However, the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Liberty Blog feels decidedly different:
“The New York Times praises the Administration for proposing new Clean Water Act guidelines that the Times says will restore “vital legal safeguards” to “millions of acres of wetlands and thousands of miles of streams” threatened by development and pollution as a result of recent Supreme Court decisions.
What nonsense! The Supreme Court’s 2001 (SWANCC) and 2006 (Rapanos) decisions did not leave millions of acres of wetlands and thousands of miles of streams unprotected as the Times breathlessly claims. In fact, the Corps and EPA expressly state that the new guidance will “implement the Supreme Court’s decisions” and “is consistent with the principles established by the Supreme Court cases.” … “
Continue reading from the Pacific Legal Foundation’s Liberty Blog by clicking here.
Add to that, the Investor’s Business Daily says the new guidelines threaten the nation’s economy and freedom, and the National Corn Growers Association is worried, too.
Lompoc Record editorial: Solutions for future of water
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:44 amFrom the Lompoc Record, this editorial:
“Forget, for just a moment, the political elements of the global warming debate. Focus, instead, on the fact that climate change will drastically alter the lives for future generations of Californians.
That’s the baseline conclusion of studies mandated by Congress on the long-range effects of warming. The study does not go into the politics, only the mechanics of what is going to happen as the planet warms 5 or 6 degrees Fahrenheit between now and the end of the 21st century.
And here is what the experts say will happen:
There will be more rain and less snow, with snowpacks melting much earlier in the season. The result is that less water will be captured, rivers will flood briefly, then run nearly dry. Fish habitat will slowly disappear, as will reliable water supplies for most of Southern California. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Lompoc Record by clicking here.
Tahoe clarity improvement plan closer to reality
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:42 am
From the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“A plan to return Lake Tahoe to its historic levels of clarity has moved one step closer to reality—but not before prompting questions about its costs and timing.
The California State Water Resources Control Board approved a plan earlier this month to return the lake to 100 feet of clarity within 65 years by limiting pollutants. The plan, developed by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board and the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection, was forwarded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for approval. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Water agencies contribute to effort to save stranded fish in the Yolo Bypass
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:39 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“Agencies that buy water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are putting up $50,000 to help volunteers rescue fish stranded in the Yolo Bypass.
The rescue effort is being led by Tom Cannon, president of the Fishery Foundation of California. Since The Bee published word of his plan Thursday, he has lined up more than 100 volunteers to help move fish from ponds near the Fremont Weir back into the Sacramento River. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Natomas property owners overwhelmingly approve levee assessments
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:37 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“Property owners in Sacramento’s Natomas basin have voted overwhelmingly to pay higher taxes in order to finish a massive repair of levees protecting their community.
In results announced Friday, a proposed property tax increase passed with 84.5 percent approval in a vote-by-mail held by the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
North San Diego County: Rainbow Water District considers rate increase to cover reservoirs
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:33 amFrom the North County Times:
“The Rainbow Municipal Water District is considering ways to pay for mandated upgrades to reservoirs, with one proposed funding method —- a flat-rate increase —- pitting growers against homeowners who view it as unfair to those who use less water.
“We’re not the enemy,” avocado grower Don McNamara said during a district board meeting Tuesday that attracted about 70 people, including many homeowners who objected to a proposed rate increase.
District General Manager Dave Seymour said state and federal environmental groups have ordered the district to cover its four reservoirs to protect consumers from cryptosporidium. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
San Diego: Mayor calls for end to San Diego’s mandatory water restrictions
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:30 amFrom the San Diego News Room:
“Thanks to a deep snow pack up north, San Diegans are able to say goodbye to water police, announced Mayor Jerry Sanders Friday morning.
Along with Councilwoman Sherri Lightner, Sanders called for the lifting of the city’s mandatory water restrictions and congratulated San Diego residents for their conservationist efforts.
“Our citizens have responded in a truly historic way,” said Sanders. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego News Room by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Mayor proposes lifting water restrictions, from the San Diego Union-Tribune
Untreated groundwater in Imperial County normal, according to new report
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:24 amFrom the Imperial Valley Press:
“Groundwater in Imperial County is somewhat unremarkable, and that’s a good thing, said Michael Wright, a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey.
The federal agency, in coordination with the state’s Water Quality Control Board, has finished tests of the desert Southwest of California, and preliminary results were presented at a meeting Thursday.
The latest study of the groundwater, and one of the last to finish a statewide project, covered the Mojave and Colorado deserts, including Imperial County, Wright said. … “
Continue reading from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.
Pacific Swell blog: Western water’s wilder future in a changing climate
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:23 amFrom KPCC’s Pacific Swell blog:
“A federal law requires the Bureau of Reclamation to report on the future impacts a warming climate could have on Western water supplies. The goal? To clarify what we’ll have to work with. Too bad the limits of our present knowledge smudge the predictions a little: I don’t envy water managers.
Rec delivers water to 31 million people in 17 western states. A lot of ‘em are in California. “Impacts to water are on the leading edge of global climate change,” said Mike Connor, a commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. A federal law – the SECURE Water Act – recognized that. “Water is the lifeblood of our communities, rural and urban economies, and our environment,” said Secretary Salazar, “and small changes in water supplies or the timing of precipitation can have a big impact on all of us. This report provides the foundation for understanding the long-term impacts of climate change on Western water supplies and will help us identify and implement appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies for sustainable water resource management.” … “
Continue reading from KPCC’s Pacific Swell blog by clicking here.
Uranium mining and its potential impact on Colorado River water
Posted by: Maven on April 30, 2011 at 7:14 amFrom the WryHeat blog:
“There has been much concern and controversy about mining uranium near the Grand Canyon and its possible impact on water in the Colorado River, water that is used to supply drinking water in much of Arizona, California, and parts of Nevada.
There are over 1,300 known or suspected breccia pipes in the region, many of which contain uranium oxide as well as sulfides of copper, zinc, silver, and other metals. According to the Arizona Geological Survey, “Total breccia-pipe uranium production as of Dec. 31, 2010, has been more than 10,700 metric tons (23.5 million pounds) from nine underground mines, eight of which are north of Grand Canyon near Kanab Creek.” … “
Continue reading from the Wry Heat blog by clicking here.
This just in … Cardoza sends letter to OMB regarding funding for San Joaquin River Restoration
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 1:13 pmFrom Ag Leader’s twitter feed, this letter from Congressman Cardoza to the Office of Management and Budget:
“Dear Mr. Lew:
It has come to my attention that there is a significant funding shortfall for the San Joaquin River Restoration Program (SJRRP), a program administered by the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation pursuant to a Settlement Agreement and Public Law 111-11. I have concerns with Reclamation’s ability to successfully implement the SJRRP within the schedule contained in the settlement agreement. … “
Continue reading this letter by clicking here.
USFWS Blog: Incorporating climate change into planning California’s Bay-Delta Future
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 1:01 pm
From the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Open Spaces blog (hat tip to Matt Weiser’s twitter feed):
“As federal, state and local experts continue to examine the factors contributing to the recent decline of California’s Bay-Delta ecosystem, the effects of climate change have surged to the forefront of study.
The Bay-Delta (Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta-San Francisco Bay Estuary) is considered one of the most vital estuary ecosystems in the U.S. The Delta is at the crossroads of federal and state operated delivery systems that transport water from Northern California to agricultural and urban water users to the south. It’s a source of drinking water for approximately 22 million people while supporting an approximate $30 billion agricultural industry. The Delta and its watersheds also support several threatened and endangered species, and a popular recreational and commercial fishing industry.
But the Bay-Delta is in the throes of a well-chronicled crisis. … “
Continue reading from the Open Spaces blog by clicking here.
Dredging may be only option for exterminating invasive hydrilla plants
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 12:53 pm
From the Lake Scientist:
“Suction-based dredging could help to permanently remove invasive hydrilla plant “tubers” from Clear Lake in Lakeport, Calif. The non-native Hydrilla verticillata, which is considered the most problematic invasive aquatic plant in the U.S. by many aquatic weed scientists, can decimate fish and wildlife habitat. It has infested numerous southern states, along with California, Washington, and Idaho.
The proposed dredging project would take approximately five years, during which time the top 12 inches of sediment would be removed from areas on the lake bottom where the tubers have been discovered. Carolyn Ruttan, invasive species program coordinator for the Lake Country Department of Water Resources, said the hydrilla plants could engulf the entire lake within seven to eight years if left unchecked. She also noted that 365 of the invasive weeds have already been spotted in the lake since 2007. … “
Continue reading from the Lake Scientist by clicking here.
Cal Watchdog blog: SB 34 – Creature crawls from Delta lagoon
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 12:50 pmFrom the Cal Wachdog blog:
“A bureaucratic creature has crawled from murky waters of the Sacramento Delta.
What could be worse? The pork-laden $11 billion proposed California Water Bond, on the ballot in 2012, that does not include any new water storage and would usurp control of water from local water agencies? Or the “pernicious” $3.4 billion public goods water charge originally proposed by the California Public Utilities Commission?
This is California. So the answer is: Both! The union of the two creatures is SB 34, the California Water Resources Investment Act, by state Sen. Joe Simitan, D-Palo Alto. … “
Continue reading from the Cal Watchdog blog by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: BDCP, adaptive management headline Delta Council meeting
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:42 am
From ACWA’s Water News:
“The degree to which the Bay Delta Conservation Plan will inform the Delta Plan was a key topic of discussion at the Delta Stewardship Council meeting today in West Sacramento.
Council members heard an update on the BDCP from a panel which included Karla Nemuth, Natural Resources Agency program manager for BDCP, and Greg Gartrell, assistant general manager for Contra Costa Water District. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
NOTE: The meeting continues today. You can access the webcast by clicking here.
SOMEWHAT RELATED: Alex Breitler’s blog has a link to webcast of a MWD meeting where they discussed the BDCP and the peripheral canal.
Speakers at summit lash out at Delta threats
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:36 amFrom the Chico Enterprise-Record:
“The overwhelming sentiment at a Wednesday summit was that corporate farming interests and careless federal oversight are threatening the survival of the Delta ecosystem.
A collection of local and congressional representatives along with about 150 residents, gathered in an Antioch community center room decorated with salmon-colored balloons and blowups of Delta photos to bring attention to the threat they say water deliveries to the south bring to Delta-dependent farming and fishing communities.
“People can steal billions of dollars of water and nobody cares,” said water attorney Dante Nomellini, who moderated the event. “You steal a six-pack of beer from 7-Eleven, and you’re allowed to be prosecuted.” … “
Continue reading from the Chico Enterprise-Record by clicking here.
Managing California’s water: From conflict to reconciliation
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:27 amFrom Environmental Protection:
“The rapid decline of salmon and the steady increase in the number of endangered fish species show that a new approach is needed to manage California’s aquatic ecosystems, according to the book “Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation,” co-authored by Buzz Thompson, co-director of the Woods Institute for the Environment.
Published by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC), the book proposes moving away from the current strategy of taking desperate action to save one species at a time under the federal and state Endangered Species acts. Instead, the authors argue for a broader approach – creating better conditions for many species and addressing the multiple causes of ecosystem decline. … “
Continue reading from Environmental Protection by clicking here.
Commentary: Santa Ana Sucker: Balancing conservation efforts
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:25 amFrom The Hill’s Congress blog, this response to “Don’t blame the Santa Ana Sucker” commentary by Douglas Headrick of the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District:
“The Endangered Species Act isn’t an either-or proposition. It was developed to respect the needs of both human beings and wildlife. It also requires federal agencies to base their decisions and rulemaking on the best available science.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to follow ESA guidelines on both counts, however, when it recently expanded a critical habitat area for the Santa Ana Sucker to include every water pipeline, treatment plant and groundwater recharge pond along the Santa Ana River and its tributaries in some of the most heavily populated areas of inland Southern California.
This is a serious problem because the Service’s decision could translate into a net annual loss of enough water for 500,000 Riverside and San Bernardino county residents who need this water now.
What kind of respect for human needs or common sense is there in a decision that threatens water supplies – and the economy in general – for one of the nation’s most populated areas? … “
Continue reading this commentary at The Hill by clicking here.
Scott River Public Trust appeal attracts more parties to the suit
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:14 amFrom the Siskiyou Daily News:
“The battles over water, its uses and the resources within it continue in Siskiyou County, and one case has seen parties argue over whether water constitutes real property and what authority agencies have in managing groundwater.
The case County of Siskiyou v. Superior Court of the County of Sacramento stems from an appeal of a decision to keep another case, Environmental Law Foundation v. State Water Resources Control Board in the Superior Court for Sacramento County. … “
Continue reading from the Siskiyou Daily News by clicking here.
Nevada Irrigation District water project aids fish migration
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:10 amFrom YubaNet.com:
“A fish passage project that will allow fall run Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Trout to migrate farther upstream on Auburn Ravine Creek was approved Wednesday (Apr. 27) by the Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors. The project, planned for late summer, will be located below NID’s Auburn Ravine water measurement station, west of Highway 65 in the City of Lincoln. NID uses the station to measure flows to Lincoln, the Placer County Water Agency and South Sutter Water District.
NID Maintenance Manager John Kirk said the work will restore a 200-foot stretch of Auburn Ravine that is eroded and overgrown. The creek banks will be tapered back and transitional pools will be built into the creek bed. Gentle one- and two-foot steps will ease the upstream transition to the station’s existing eight-foot barrier. Carrie Monohan, Ph.D., NID’s consulting scientist on the project, said the project will open more than a mile of suitable upstream habitat to migrating fish. … “
Continue reading from YubaNet.com by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Water agency to contribute $250K for $800K fish ladder project, from the Grass Valley Union
Rolling on the river: Rafting trips may return to Calaveras County
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:06 amFrom the Stockton Record:
“One of the largest rafting outfitters in the United States is based in Calaveras County, yet there are no commercial rafting trips on any of the county’s rivers.
That may soon change as the federal Bureau of Land Management considers an experimental three-year program that would grant limited commercial permits to raft the Mokelumne River near Mokelumne Hill.
“It is something that has probably needed to happen for a long time,” said Jeff Horn, the lead outdoor recreation planner for the bureau’s Mother Lode field office. “It is a wonderful resource. The Mokelumne is a beautiful river.” … “
Continue reading from the Stockton Record by clicking here.
Selma: Can the city take over the water system from Cal Water?
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:03 amFrom the Selma Enterprise:
“Some Selma residents want the city to take over the water system from California Water Service, but city officials disagree on whether that’s financially possible. A recent water rate increase has sparked the takeover talk.
Buying out Cal Water could prove too expensive or impossible because of the sour economy, said City Attorney Neal Costanzo and City Manager D-B Heusser. Nevertheless, City Council Member Dennis Lujan remains convinced that it’s possible. At the very least, talking about a takeover keeps pressure on Cal Water to roll back the recent rate increase, Lujan said. … “
Continue reading from the Selma Enterprise by clicking here.
Snow melt making streams, rivers unsafe
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 8:01 amFrom the Porterville Recorder:
“A snowpack reported at nearly 200 percent of average is beginning to melt and as the temperature warms, that melting will increase, swelling local streams and rivers with fast moving, cold water.
Already this year an 11-year-old boy drowned in Sequoia National Park when he fell into a fast running creek last weekend.
“Not only is it high, it’s cold,” said Denise Alonzo, public affairs officer for the Western Divide Ranger District on Sequoia National Forest, of the water coming down off the mountains. … “
Continue reading from the Porterville Recorder by clicking here.
Santa Clarita: Lack of water standard unfair, says editorial
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:57 amFrom the Santa Clarita Signal, this editorial:
““Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over.”
It’s an old quote, but it hasn’t lost an ounce of truth over the years. There’s always a controversy to be had involving the most basic component of life on the planet.
For us here in the Santa Clarita Valley, it’s been the issue of chloride in the water supply: deciding how much is an acceptable amount, and who’s responsible for keeping that level.
In fact, the “acceptable level” of this naturally occurring salt varies from area to area within the state. And if the “powers that be” for our area decide the level’s not acceptable here, we could wind up footing the bill. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.
Santa Clarita: More river concrete not the answer, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:54 amFrom the Santa Clarita Signal, this commentary by Lynne Plambeck:
“Tuesday night, the City Council approved another 1,100 units and several hundred thousand square feet of commercial space in the Sand Canyon area. This is on top of the some 40,000 already approved, but unbuilt units in Santa Clarita. Supposedly, we need more housing, and building houses will create jobs.
What planet are they on? No one in his right mind is going to build houses in a market where they can’t be sold.
The only thing the council may have created Tuesday night was increased land value for the developer. This is dubious, since banks seem to have realized that public agencies will always say “yes” to developers whether the project is really feasible or not. It increases the property tax, and our city, like every other, is hungry for money. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Clarita Signal by clicking here.
The return of the L.A. river
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:46 amFrom the Huffington Post, this commentary by environmental lawyer Lisa Kaas Boyle:
“The City of Los Angeles has given the green light to an epic project, hoping to recreate itself with the help of a timeless star who has been in a state of semi-retirement, neglect and outright abuse for decades. That star is the Los Angeles River. Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will pay tribute to the Los Angeles River on April 30th with festivities designed to highlight her importance in both the history and the future of our city.
The Return of the L.A. River will be directed by The Los Angeles River Master Plan, a 2007 document that redefines our relationship with an underutilized natural beauty who has been forced to appear in the demeaning role of “our city’s largest storm drain” since the Army Corps of Engineers encased her in concrete in the 1930s. She’s not the first Hollywood star to regret having too much work done, and city leaders are hopeful that much of the damage can be corrected as she resumes an active role in the ecology and recreational opportunities of the city. … “
Continue reading from the Huffington Post by clicking here.
MORE LA RIVER NEWS:
- Thousands expected to clean up LA River this weekend, from KPCC, Southern California Public Radio
- The River as the Original Facebook of the L.A. Basin, from KCET Departures
Southern California: Levee alternatives study and the ‘Katrina West’ rhetoric
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:40 amFrom the L.A. Creek Freak blog:
“County of LA review of channel flood capacity reveals that portions of Compton and Dominguez channels fail to meet flood standards, which if unaddressed will result in FEMA decertification and increases in flood insurance rates for property owners next to the channels. And while the County’s engineers have been soberly preparing to address this through studies and planning, fear-driven spectres of disaster scenarios have also been hinted at by public authorities – forebodingly called ”Katrina West” by some.
…
Now, about this “Katrina West” rhetoric. Dan Rosenfeld, a deputy for Mark Ridley-Thomas, gives us its meaning: “(o)ne of Los Angeles County’s biggest concerns is the adequacy of the levees downstream in minority communities – the Katrina West phenomenon. … “
So what exactly does that mean in regards to flood control in L.A.? Find out in the rest of this post at the L.A. Creek Freak blog by clicking here.
Spouting Off blog: A reel opportunity
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:37 amFrom the Spouting Off blog:
“Earlier in the week, Frankie Orrala and James Alamillo gave a staff presentation in our office on the progress of the Pier Angler Outreach Program coordinated by Heal the Bay, EPA and the Fish Contamination Education Collaborative (FCEC). Frankie and James have run Heal the Bay’s program for eight years. Their achievements, along with the efforts of the outreach workers, have been nothing short of astounding.
To date, the program has educated nearly 100,000 anglers at eight different piers: Santa Monica, Venice, Hermosa, Redondo, Pier J, Rainbow Harbor, Belmont and Seal Beach piers. (Cabrillo Marine Aquarium educates Cabrillo Pier anglers). The risk communication efforts focus on the health risks of eating locally caught DDT-, PCB- and mercury-contaminated fish. The outreach workers encourage anglers to avoid the most compromised fish, and they provide fishermen with cooking methods if they choose to eat any contaminated catch. … “
Continue reading from the Spouting Off blog by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority ends mandatory restrictions; Poll says residents will continue to conserve
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:36 amFrom the North County Times:
“The San Diego County Water Authority voted Thursday to end mandatory water cutbacks imposed during the recent drought. The change is effective Friday.
The authority also said a poll indicates urban water users will continue saving water, even after the end of mandatory restrictions.
The authority supplies nearly all the water used in the county, sold at retail by its member agencies. In July 2009, the authority cut deliveries to the districts by 8 percent and to agricultural customers by 13 percent. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
Are San Diegans being overcharged on water rates? SD County Water Authority questions Metropolitan Water District’s extra charge
Posted by: Maven on April 29, 2011 at 7:34 amFrom San Diego’s Channel 10:
“The San Diego County Water Authority says customers who pay a water bill in San Diego County are overpaying.
County Water Authority officials said in 2011, every ratepayer in the county will see an extra $3 charge on every monthly bill — which adds up to $31 million this year.
However, County Water Authority officials said it is the Metropolitan Water District who is to blame for the extra charge. … “
Continue reading from Channel 10 by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: President Obama seeks to extend Clean Water Act protections: Proposal would replace Bush administration policies and resolve ambiguities in U.S. Supreme Court rulings
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:53 am
From the Los Angeles Times:
“More of the West’s small streams and wetlands would be protected by the Clean Water Act under an Obama administration proposal announced Wednesday.
The new guidance would replace policies of the President George W. Bush administration and clear up some of the legal murkiness created by two U.S. Supreme Court rulings that threw into question the reach of federal water pollution laws.
The draft, which the administration described as a step toward adopting a formal rule, would broaden federal jurisdiction over small tributaries, seasonal streams and nearby wetlands. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
SEE ALSO:
- EPA Issues New Clean Water Guidance for Comment, from ACWA’s Water News
- Obama Administration Affirms Comprehensive Commitment to Clean Water, press release from the Army Corps of Engineers
- EPA, Army Corps extend Clean Water Act coverage, from Environmental Leader
THE YAYS:
- A Shout-Out to Bureaucrats: Protecting Your Water, from the NRDC Switchboard blog
- Ducks Unlimited supports Clean Water Act restorations, from the Western Farm Press
- New Guidance Protects Previously Vulnerable Waters From Pollution, press release from Earth Justice
THE NAYS:
- Excuse Me, Is Your Mission Creeping?, from the Clarity Blog
- Congressman Jeff Denham issued this response (received via email): “This ‘guidance’ serves as nothing but a complete expansion of the Administration’s burdensome environmental agenda that has been suppressing California’s Central Valley economy for too long,”said Representative Denham (CA-19).“These rules will take land and water ways away from Valley citizens, farmers, developers and ranchers who are the drivers of the Central Valley economy. I am glad that Chairman Gibbs will be holding oversight hearings on this issue.”
Photo of the White House by flickr photographer Wally Gobetz.
Congressional, local leaders spotlight threats to Delta at Antioch summit
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:41 amFrom the Contra Costa Times:
“The overwhelming sentiment at a Wednesday afternoon summit here was that corporate farming interests and careless federal oversight are threatening the survival of the Delta ecosystem.
A collection of local and congressional representatives, along with about 150 residents, gathered in an Antioch community center room decorated with salmon-colored balloons and blowups of Delta photos to bring attention to the threat they say water deliveries to the south bring to Delta-dependent farming and fishing communities.
“People can steal billions of dollars of water and nobody cares,” said water attorney Dante Nomellini, who moderated the event. “You steal a six-pack of beer from 7-11, and you’re allowed to be prosecuted.” … “
Continue reading from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
After the event, Congressman Garamendi issued the following statement (received via email):
“State and federal authorities must craft a lasting water policy that works for all Californians, especially the people of the Delta. Hundreds of Delta farmers and Delta fishermen came to Antioch today to deliver a message to lawmakers: protect the Delta and the salmon or you’ll destroy our livelihoods. I will do all I can to make sure the Republican Majority in Congress, who have embraced a reckless policy of unlimited water extraction, understands that their goals would destroy thousands of jobs, threaten wildlife, and cripple major industries in California.”
MORE COVERAGE: Summit Looks For Solutions To Delta Depletion, KTVU TV
Water agencies would be taxed under proposed legislation: Money would go for projects, but agencies doubt results
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:33 am
From the North County Times:
“Retail water districts would pay a new tax under proposed state legislation to fund water-related supply, environmental and recreation projects. The size of the tax has yet to be calculated, but it would be significant.
A hearing is scheduled May 4 for the bill, Senate Bill 34, in the California Senate’s Governance and Finance committee. Since the bill would impose a tax, it requires two-thirds approval by the Legislature.
SB 34 was introduced in the Natural Resources and Water committee by state Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto. The influential legislator is perhaps best known as the author of California’s hands-free cellphone law. The water tax bill was approved April 12 by the committee on a 5-3 vote. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
MORE: Bill Proposing Assessment on Water Retailers Set for May 4 Hearing, from ACWA’s Water News
Flowing it all away: Kings County officials frustrated as lack of storage allows surging water supplies to be lost at sea
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:29 amFrom the Hanford Sentinel:
“Snowmelt is pouring out of the Sierra, the Kings River is surging and farmers are getting more water than they’ve had in years.
Happy times for Kings County, right? Not exactly. Kings may be out of a drought, but now it’s got the opposite problem – too much water and nowhere to put it.
Frustrated local officials are still dreaming of another dam on the Kings River. But because of political and economic roadblocks in Sacramento, it seems more unlikely than ever. … “
Continue reading from the Hanford Sentinel by clicking here.
Sacramento Valley groundwater quality assessed in new USGS report
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:26 am
From the USGS Newsroom:
“High concentrations of naturally occurring elements, including arsenic and boron as well as human-introduced compounds such as nitrate, were found in three aquifers studied in the Sacramento Valley. Scientists determined that concentrations of these substances in untreated water exceed state and federal health standards for drinking water. Scientists analyzed untreated groundwater from wells, not tap water, which is usually disinfected, filtered, mixed, and/or exposed to the atmosphere to create safe levels for consumption before it is delivered to consumers.
“This aquifer assessment reveals that groundwater quality is currently affected more by naturally occurring trace elements than by man-made compounds associated with human activities,” said George Bennett, a hydrologist and author of the U.S. Geological Survey report prepared in collaboration with the California State Water Resources Control Board. … “
Continue reading from the USGS by clicking here.
Wastewater treatment bill AB134 moves to Appropriations
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:25 amFrom the Sacramento Business Journal:
“A bill that could partially offset the high cost of upgrades to the region’s wastewater treatment plant passed out of the California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife Tuesday on a vote of 9-1.
Assembly Bill 134, authored by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Business Journal by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Amended Bill on Sac Regional Effluent Clears Committee, from ACWA’s Water News
Studying issue won’t solve it, says the Chico Enterprise-Record: Mother Nature may do us a favor with water, which would be helpful because our politicians are doing us no favors
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:15 amFrom the Chico Enterprise-Record, this editorial:
“We’ll cling to whatever shred of good news we can get when it comes to the West’s dismal water problems.
The good news: A study of long-term climate models predicts flows in the Sacramento River system won’t significantly change over the next four decades. The bad news: Many other major river basins in the West will suffer decreased flows, it is predicted.
In the Sacramento River basin, we know what that means — an increased reliance on our water. … “
Continue reading from the Chico Enterprise-Record by clicking here.
Hey, if things get bad, we could always try this: Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s Answer to Climate Change: Start Prayin’
Contra Costa Times editorial: A tough lesson for EBMUD
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:12 amFrom the Contra Costa Times, this editorial:
“With his ruling against plans to raise the Pardee Dam in the Sierra foothills, a Sacramento judge has delivered a welcome message to the East Bay Municipal Utility District: Consider cooperating with the Contra Costa Water Distinct on water storage.
Judge Timothy Frawley struck down EBMUD’s environmental impact report for water projects, including a proposed new dam on the Mokelumne River. He said it violates California’s environmental law and that EBMUD should have studied alternatives to building a dam that would have inundated a stretch of the Mokelumne that is popular with kayakers, swimmers and fishing enthusiasts. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Contra Costa Times by clicking here.
Alex Breitler’s blog on the BDCP’s plans for public participation
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:09 amFrom Alex Breitler’s blog:
“Here’s a document explaining the Bay Delta Conservation Plan’s new, and purportedly more open, approach. [Link available on click-through.]
Basically the plan is to form small working groups to address sticking points in the BDCP. The results of those discussions will be presented at public meetings in Sacramento; those public meetings will also be webcast. … “
Continue reading from Alex Breitler’s blog by clicking here.
RELATED: The Water Wired blog has links to power points from MWD on the BDCP and the Delta.
The West’s dams share a dirty secret: silt
Posted by: Maven on April 28, 2011 at 8:03 amFrom High Country News, this commentary:
“Soon after I moved to Colorado from the humid Midwest 20 years ago, I learned that a reservoir is not a lake. My family and I were eager to test our new canoe on the local reservoir, which I’d driven by a month earlier. Its dark waters lapped against a thick conifer forest. I couldn’t wait.
But by the time we got there in late summer, those waters had receded 20 yards from the shore. We had to slog through sucking layers of muck just to launch the boat. The canoeing wasn’t great, either: no branches over the water, no quiet little coves with minnows below and birdsong above, just bathtub rings of barren rock and soil and numerous silt bars that grounded the boat. Every time we got out to push, we sank up to our thighs. … “
Continue reading from the High Country News by clicking here.
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