Monday’s top of the scroll: Water suppliers’ delta accord under scrutiny
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 8:12 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“California is moving at breakneck speed on a plan to build what could be huge tunnels under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to carry water from Northern California to Southern California and the Central Valley.
The final project may use a smaller tunnel or perhaps a canal around the delta, but the big tunnel approach is favored by those that would benefit most: the major suppliers of water for agriculture and for Southern California residents.
Those water suppliers have been granted significant control over the project in a recently signed agreement between the federal and state governments that has angered some Northern California public officials, who last week objected to the arrangement. … “
Continue reading from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
MORE (from Saturday’s coverage on Aquafornia):
- Press release: Public comments sought on BDCP Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
- Letter: Interior Department’s window for public comment does not satisfy California members of Congress
- Delta contract dispute forces feds to back down, from the Contra Costa Times
- Agencies announce comment period for public in Delta plan, from the Stockton Record
Delta Stewardship Council’s update on the DSC’s EIR process
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 8:03 amFrom the Delta Stewardship Council:
“Executive Officer Joe Grindstaff reported at October’s meeting of the Delta Stewardship Council that the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is almost complete, however more time is necessary to produce the type of draft EIR demanded by the complex and comprehensive Delta Plan. Grindstaff said that he expects the draft EIR to be released on Friday, November 4, 2011.
“It is imperative the draft EIR is prepared as thoroughly as possible,” said Grindstaff. “Producing the Delta Plan EIR is an enormous undertaking that has been done relatively quickly, and staff and consultants have been working nights and weekends for months to get it done.”
Grindstaff noted that hundreds of stakeholders have been involved in the open and transparent process of developing the drafts of the Delta Plan. These stakeholders have urged the Council to make the necessary effort to develop a thorough and responsible Plan. … “
Continue reading from the Delta Stewardship Council by clicking here.
MORE: Here is a Power Point from the council: Delta Plan Draft Program EIR: Status and summary of approach
Endangered Species Act survives challenge at U.S. High Court
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 8:00 amFrom Bloomberg News:
“The U.S. Supreme Court refused to limit the reach of the Endangered Species Act, turning away an appeal by three farms challenging the protection of a 2 1/2-inch long Northern California fish called the delta smelt.
The justices today left intact a federal appeals court decision that upheld the law as a valid use of Congress’s constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce. … “
Continue reading from Bloomberg News by clicking here.
MORE: The Liberty Blog has the Supreme Court order here.
Press release: High Court declines smelt case, but Pacific Legal Foundation’s “save our water” fight continues
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:59 amThe Pacific Legal Foundation has issued this response:
“”It is disappointing that the Supreme Court chose not to review the federal government’s intrusive and destructive Delta smelt regulations,” said PLF staff attorney Brandon M. Middleton. “But while we’re disappointed, we’re also determined. The legal fight against those regulations goes on, as PLF is active in other litigation over the federal biological opinions for the Delta smelt and other species. Those federal edicts were based on phony science, but their effect has been all too real: They’ve caused devastating water cutoffs that put businesses, farms, and communities on the endangered list.”
“We’ll also keep challenging the feds when they arrogantly ignore the constitutional limits on their power,” said Middleton. “The Delta smelt regulations are far from the only example of federal officials issuing regulations for local species without constitutional authority. We will litigate this issue until the Supreme Court ultimately agrees to take it up. This is a long-term battle to stop federal intrusion that robs people of their livelihoods and liberties, and undermines the basic framework of the Constitution.” … “
Read the full text from the Pacific Legal Foundation by clicking here.
Hetch Hetchy debate could drown Feinstein in 2012
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:43 amFrom the Examiner:
“If qualified, a local ballot measure in San Francisco calling for the restoration of the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park could play a decisive role in next year’s U.S. Senate race where the Democrat incumbent, Dianne Feinstein, already faces troubling poll numbers, a campaign finance debacle and a potential Republican opponent with a venerable California pedigree.
The expected 2012 ballot measure will ask San Francisco’s environment-leaning, progressive voters to right what has been called the greatest environmental wrong in the nation’s history by returning the Hetch Hetchy Valley to the National Park Service for the 8 mile long valley’s eventual restoration. … “
Continue reading from the Examiner by clicking here.
Mercury News editorial: Federal Delta water pact fails on every count
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:42 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News, this editorial:
“If California wants to make real progress on water policy reform, at least three major elements must be included: a balance between users’ needs and environmental protection, inclusion of all interested parties, and transparency.
A memorandum of agreement issued by the Interior Department appears to have violated all three principles.
Fortunately, it is being challenged by Bay Area members of Congress, including Reps. George Miller, D-Martinez; John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove and Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton. They signed a letter asking Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to rescind the agreement between the department and water agencies. Salazar should comply. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Delta National Park blog: Be careful what you wish for
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:38 amFrom the Delta National Park blog:
“Is the Delta Protection Commission trying draw an analogy between the Endangered Species Act and the Canal/Tunnel? I support the conclusions of their recent work, but I’m not sure that’s an analogy they should be making.
Via Aquafornia, I read the piece in the Manteca Bulletin about the Delta Protection Commission’s recently released draft Economic Sustainability Plan.
Cited in the Bulletin’s article is a quote from page 270, from which one might infer that people in the Delta don’t give a damn about Delta smelt … “
Continue reading from the Delta National Park blog by clicking here.
Inkstain blog: A bit of history – when US Colorado River water users feared Mexico
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:33 amFrom the Inkstain blog:
“There’s a tangent in Henry Brean’s Las Vegas Review-Journal story [link available on click-through] about desalination and Las Vegas this morning that provides a reminder of just how far we’ve come in the power structure surrounding the management of the Colorado River in the last century.
The main thrust of the story is a discussion of the possibility of coastal desal as an alternative to the controversial Las Vegas groundwater pipeline proposal. Pipeline opponents have been arguing that desal is a reasonable alternative – not directly, but through water swaps through which Vegas would fund coastal desal for California or Mexico water users, and get a share of their Colorado River water in exchange. … “
Continue reading from the Inkstain blog by clicking here.
Calfornia farmers face future of grueling water regulations
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:16 amFrom the Western Farm Press:
“Treading water took on new meaning for California’s already short-handed and aging array of professional agricultural consultants at the recent 37th annual California Association of Pest Control Advisers (CAPCA) conference in Reno, Nevada.
Speaker after speaker hammered home California’s burgeoning water quality regulations and the role Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) and Certified Crop Advisers (CCAs) will play in keeping pesticides and fertilizers, particularly nitrates, out of groundwater and surface water.
This only adds to the environmental responsibilities of these two professional groups as the state moves rapidly toward a virtual zero pollution policy that will mandate every farm and business in the state adopt a management plan to keep water carrying pollutants out of lakes, streams, creeks, irrigation ditches and just about any other water body in the state. … “
Continue reading from the Western Farm Press by clicking here.
Delta smelt: Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Sears has you covered – and just in time for the holiday season!
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 7:15 am
Just in time for your holiday shopping … Sears has you covered for the Delta smelt lover or hater on your gift giving list! Seriously … !
Baby bibs, key chains, even a snuggie for a beer can … and everything is surprisingly affordable.
Check out all the Delta smelt merchandise from Sears by clicking here.
Hat tip to John Fleck of Inkstain’s twitter feed!
Spectacular time-lapse video of Condit Dam removal
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:35 amFrom National Geographic (hat tip to the Water Sisweb!):
“For 98 years, the 125-foot high Condit Dam in southeastern Washington State held back the White Salmon River, creating a serene lake, but choking off the waterway to salmon. Wednesday, in an historic effort, the dam was dramatically breached, and ecologists hope the increased flow of water will restore the waterway to fish and other aquatic organisms, as well as the birds and mammals that rely on them. … “
Check out the video and continue reading from National Geographic by clicking here. (Note: The really cool part on the video starts at about 1:10 or so.)
Credit group backs water rights: American AgCredit donates $25,000 to support Russian River Grower Community water rights
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:31 amFrom California Farmer:
“American AgCredit, Santa Rosa, the nation’s 8th largest Farm Credit cooperative, has agreed to donate $25,000 to the California Farm Bureau Federation to support efforts to overturn the recently adopted Russian River Frost Regulation, passed on September 20th by the State Water Resources Control Board.
According to the regulation, beginning March 15, 2012, through May 15, 2012, any diversion of water from the Russian River stream system for frost protection purposes is unreasonable unless it is diverted in accordance with a board approved water demand management program (WDMP), which requires water users to prove that their diversions do not contribute to changes in stream stage that may strand young fish. … “
Continue reading from California Farmer by clicking here.
In Tiburon, fish lovers don’t worry about the ones that got away
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:27 amFrom the Marin Independent Journal:
“Aaron Paff knows his fish.
As a sophomore at Casa Grande High School in Petaluma, Paff has spent the last year studying the care and feeding of Chinook salmon. He and the other members of the Casa Grande United Anglers helped catch adult fish in the Sacramento River, obtain and fertilize fish roe and watch over the growing fry throughout the year, until the salmon had grown large enough to make their way in the ocean. … “
Continue reading from the Marin Independent Journal by clicking here.
Yosemite river plan could limit visitor access
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:24 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“On busy days, more than 8,000 cars pass through Yosemite Valley in the nation’s third most-visited national park. But, there are only 1,100 parking spaces.
The scarcity of visitor parking in the narrow glacial valley is just one of many challenges facing Yosemite National Park officials say as they launch their third attempt at a master plan to protect its heart, the Merced River.
After striking out twice with the courts, park officials are asking the public to do what $65 million spent over the course of 15 years and four park superintendents have failed to do — come up with a viable strategy to balance public access against the strict protections that come with the river’s 1987 congressional designation as “Wild and Scenic.” … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
Another run for flush-to-faucet water recycling
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:22 amFrom KQED’s Climate Watch:
“For the record: the route isn’t nearly as direct as the popular canine version. I tasted this water in Orange County and it’s fine — actually, a little “tasteless” since all the minerals had been removed from it as well. The engineering folks in both Orange County and LA’s Department of Water and Power will tell you that this recycled water has a “distilled” quality to it.
With the future of Southern California’s water supply in some doubt, municipal water managers are moving again toward the ultimate recycling strategy, which lingers in the public’s mind with such appetizing monikers as “toilet to tap.” … “
Continue reading from KQED’s Climate Watch by clicking here.
Water Replenishment District receives official designation as Groundwater Level Monitoring Entity for Central and West Coast sub-basins
Posted by: Maven on October 31, 2011 at 6:20 amFrom Water Online:
“The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) was notified today by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) that it has received official designation as the Groundwater Level Monitoring Entity for Central and West Coast sub-basins under the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring (CASGEM) Program. The CASGEM program is a statewide groundwater monitoring program that will make groundwater information readily and widely available. … “
Continue reading from Water Online by clicking here.
Sunday’s top of the scroll: Massive California farm-to-city water deal snared in litigation
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:17 am
From the Los Angeles Times:
“A 2003 water pact between the Imperial Valley and San Diego County was supposed to be good for both parties, and for California.
But the agreement — billed as the largest sale of water from farms to cities in the nation — is snared in litigation and the outcome is uncertain. No sooner had the pact been signed than it came under attack by environmentalists, farmers and the Imperial County Board of Supervisors.
One major point of contention is that the Salton Sea could become saltier and shrink if farmers reduce agricultural runoff into the sea because water is being sold to San Diego County. If the sea recedes further and becomes more saline, it could lead to massive fish die-offs, endanger migratory fowl and result in toxic dust storms. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
Modesto Irrigation District water deal stirs up debate
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:15 amFrom the Modesto Bee:
“When San Francisco came calling for some of the Modesto Irrigation District’s water, people started asking questions:
• Why can’t you get it from that big ocean next to your city by building a desalinization plant?
• Why can’t your Bay Area customers conserve more water?
• Wouldn’t you rather buy giant bags of North Coast river water that can be sent to San Francisco by tugboat?
The proposed sale of some of the MID’s Tuolumne River supply has stirred a vigorous discussion — no surprise with California water issues. … “
Continue reading from the Modesto Bee by clicking here.
Delta: $5.5B economic engine: Study IDs justifications for strengthening levees
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:13 amFrom the Manteca Bulletin:
“A sustainable Delta requires a sustainable levee system.
And that levee system protects 28,000 jobs and a $5.5 billion annual chunk of the California economy as well as the majority of the in-state natural gas production.
That’s the bottom line of a Delta Protection Commission study released this past week evaluating how various water solutions addressing environmental, farming and urban needs will impact the nearly 1,000 miles of meandering waterways that compose the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta. … “
Continue reading from the Manteca Bulletin by clicking here.
Oakland Tribune editorial: Delta water plan (BDCP) needs to be balanced, inclusive and transparent
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:09 amFrom the Oakland Tribune, this editorial:
“If California is to make real progress on water policy reform at least three major elements must be a part of the process: a balance between users’ needs and environmental protection, inclusion of all interested parties, and transparency.
Unfortunately, a memorandum of agreement issued by the Interior Department appears to have violated all three principles. That is why it is being challenged by Bay Area members of Congress, including Reps. George Miller, D-Martinez; John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove and Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.
They signed a letter asking Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to rescind the agreement between the department and water agencies. Salazar should comply with the request. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the Oakland Tribune by clicking here.
Dan Bacher: Representatives question short comment period for Delta plan (BDCP)
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:07 amFrom Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org:
“Five powerful Northern California Members of Congress today criticized the Department of Interior’s announcement of a only a brief window for public comment on a controversial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) relating to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build a peripheral canal or tunnel.
Today’s announcement by Interior said public comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2011, giving only a little over two weeks for people to comment on the agreement.
The U.S. Representatives have repeatedly called on the Interior Department to rescind the document, saying the MOA “was developed behind closed doors and gives water export agencies south of the Delta and in Southern California unprecedented influence over an important public process concerning California’s precious fresh water supplies,” according to a news release from Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA). … “
Continue reading from Dan Bacher at IndyBay.org by clicking here.
Column: Conservation of rivers key to protecting wild salmon
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:05 amFrom the Record Searchlight, this column by John Spencer:
“It’s now late October and the salmon are on the spawning runs in the top four rivers of the area: Sacramento, Feather, Trinity and Klamath. ….
I guess I don’t have to highlight to anglers that this is the prime time of the year for excellent angling. Whatever technique or conveyance you use, getting out there on one of the rivers now will provide rich rewards. The angling is just part of a whole symphony of fall colors, crisp air, migrating birds, good water conditions and plenty of fish to top off those wonderful days.
I always wondered how long this thrilling quality of fishing, especially salmon, will last under the patterns of development or changes, especially on the Sacramento River. … “
Continue reading this column from the Record Searchlight by clicking here.
Commentary: How climate change will hit home
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 7:01 amFrom the Sacramento Bee, this commentary by Mark Hertsgaard, environment correspondent for The Nation:
“My 6-year old daughter Chiara is a member of what I call Generation Hot. That’s the 2 billion people worldwide who were born after June 23, 1988, the day NASA scientist James Hansen’s testimony to the U.S. Senate put the world on notice that man-made global warming had begun and threatened to make Earth uninhabitable.
Since then, humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions have only accelerated. Now, the young people of Generation Hot are fated to spend the rest of their lives coping with the hottest, most volatile climate our civilization has ever known.
When I think of Chiara’s future under climate change, nothing concerns me as much as water. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Clean Water Act failing in new climate, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:53 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune, this commentary by Ryan P. Kelly & Margaret R. Caldwell:
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently gave California some tough love in the form of a ghastly report card on water quality along our coasts and in our rivers and streams: The state’s water pollution seems to have gotten much worse, with the number of polluted water bodies skyrocketing between 2006 and 2010.
Some of this change is due to more aggressive testing; the blame for the rest is solely our own. And while this news is bad enough on its own, what’s often not discussed is that all of that polluted water ends up downstream in the coastal ocean, already hard hit by decades of abuse. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
New water system nears; $7.1 million Elk Trail contract given to TICO Construction
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:49 amFrom the Record Searchlight:
“Residents of a Jones Valley-area neighborhood that has had impure water for decades soon will have a new water system now that Shasta County has awarded a $7.1 million contract to a local construction company to build it. “This is a big step,” said Pat Minturn, Shasta County’s Public Works director. “We’re over all the main hurdles.”
Elk Trail, a neighborhood of close to 400 residents south of Jones Valley, has had water problems for decades, Minturn said.
Seventy percent of its wells have poor water quality with excess traces of metals, he said. … “
Continue reading from the Record Searchlight by clicking here.
Grass Valley: Big water bills? Old meters likely to blame, officials say; Customers respond: ‘Rubbish’
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:47 amFrom The Union:
“Seven months after an Arizona company took over billing of Grass Valley’s water utility, some customers remain suspicious and even angry with what they say are inflated bills.
“There’s a whole lot of people who are upset about this,” said Judy Hodge, who has heard from neighbors on Brighton Street where she lives.
Trevor Hill, president and CEO of Global Water Resources in Phoenix, agreed the transition “has been a bit bumpy.” … “
Continue reading from The Union by clicking here.
Oakland Estuary: Funding, settling delay wetland
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:46 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle:
“Middle Harbor is a calm, picturesque expanse of water edged by beaches and parks, a quiet oasis amid the incessant shipping traffic along the Oakland Estuary.
The only problem is that it’s supposed to be a wetland.
The Port of Oakland promised when it embarked on one of the biggest dredging projects in Bay Area history to fill Middle Harbor with mud, sand and eelgrass seeds to create a 180-acre habitat for fish and birds. … “
Continue reading from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Tiburon: Students to release fish this weekend
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:45 amFrom Petaluma 360:
“Students in Casa Grande High School’s United Anglers program will help release 1,000 young steelhead trout into San Francisco Bay in a ceremony at the Romberg Tiburon Center for Environmental Studies on Sunday, Oct. 30.
It won’t be the same as the ceremony that was originally planned, however. The students had planned to help release 60,000 young Chinook salmon, but twice earlier this month vandals cut the zip-ties of the bayside nets in Tiburon, releasing the fish prematurely and depriving the students of the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and to cheer the release of the salmon. … “
Continue reading from Petaluma 360 by clicking here.
Santa Cruz City Council to review key water policy: Desal opponents to make pitch against costly plant
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:43 amFrom the Santa Cruz Sentinel:
“The City Council will take a closer look Tuesday at water policy guiding the next generation, plans that opponents of a proposed desalination facility say lack aggressive conservation and other measures that would dilute justification for the controversial plant.
Santa Cruz Desal Alternatives will make a 15-minute presentation before the council – the first of any great length during a year of advocacy work – to urge water swaps with nearby agencies, the establishment of a water-neutral development policy and the creation of more incentives for customer conservation. … “
Continue reading from the Santa Cruz Sentinel by clicking here.
Scientists question validity of PG&E study to determine background level of chromium 6 in Hinkley
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:41 amFrom the San Bernadino Sun:
“A scientist asked to review the scientific validity of groundwater sampling here said that the methods have produced data that is “completely worthless.”
Most of the wells used in the water samplings draw from both shallow groundwater, which would tend to have higher levels of chromium 6, and deep aquifers, which generally would have a lower level of the cancer-causing contaminant — or none at all, said James A. Jacobs, a geologist specializing in hydrology.
The mixing of the two water supplies has the overall effect of diluting chromium 6 concentrations, said Jacobs, a Fulbright Scholar who has practiced geology for 30 years and teaches sustainable remediation methods for soils and water at UC Berkeley. … “
Continue reading from the San Bernardino Sun by clicking here.
San Diego: Tunnel costs rose by $298 million over time
Posted by: Maven on October 30, 2011 at 6:38 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Before the San Diego County Water Authority approved building an 11-mile tunnel from Rancho Peñasquitos to the San Vicente Reservoir in 2005, the engineering firm estimated the project would cost $161 million.
The low bid for the San Vicente Pipeline came back at $198 million, so the board went with that. By the time water officials gathered for the ribbon-cutting six years later, the cost was pegged at $342 million. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Saturday’s top of the scroll: Press release: Public comments sought on BDCP Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 7:13 amFrom the Bay Delta Conservation Plan:
“The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) are announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on the “First Amendment to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) Regarding Collaboration on the Planning, Preliminary Design and Environmental Compliance For the Delta Habitat Conservation and Conveyance Program in Connection with the Development of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan” (BDCP MOA).
DWR, Reclamation, and several federal and state water contractor agencies (Public Water Agencies) developed a BDCP MOA intended to enable timely analysis of conservation and water supply measures developed in the BDCP and to address related financial matters.
The BDCP MOA is intended to replace in its entirety an earlier MOA signed by the same parties in March 2009. The MOA would not alter any of the fundamental roles and responsibilities of Reclamation, other federal agencies, or DWR with respect to preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the BDCP.
In addition, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the California Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Commerce are establishing a series of actions designed to enhance opportunities for public input into key issues related to the BDCP and the associated EIS/EIR process.
The BDCP MOA and information describing the MOA and the basis for the comment period are available on the BDCP website. Comments on the MOA may be submitted by e-mail to BDO@USBR.GOV or by mail to Bureau of Reclamation, Bay-Delta Office, 801 I Street, Ste. 140, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2011.”
MORE INFO:
- Click here for a white paper on the BDCP MOA.
- Click here for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan website.
Letter: Interior Department’s window for public comment does not satisfy California members of Congress
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 7:09 amReceived via email from Congressman McNerney’s office:
“Washington, DC – Today, the Department of the Interior announced a brief window for public comment on a controversial Memorandum of Agreement relating to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. This announcement follows the ongoing efforts of five Northern California Members of Congress who have repeatedly called on the Interior Department to rescind the document, noting that it was developed behind closed doors and that it gives water export agencies south of the Delta and in Southern California unprecedented influence over an important public process concerning California’s precious fresh water supplies.
U.S. Reps. George Miller (CA-7), Mike Thompson (CA-1), Doris Matsui (CA-5), Jerry McNerney (CA-11) and John Garamendi (CA-10) responded today that although a public comment period on the flawed agreement is an important step, it is insufficient to fix the problem. The Members reiterated that Interior must retract its support for the document and allow a minimum of 45 days for public comment, and that the process be opened up to include other key stakeholders left out of the discussions, including Bay Area, Delta and coastal communities, farmers, businesses, and fishermen.
In addition, the members encouraged their constituents to participate in the limited public comment period. Under today’s announcement, comments may be submitted by e-mail to BDO@usbr.gov or by mail to the Bureau of Reclamation, Bay-Delta Office, 801 I Street, Ste. 140, Sacramento, CA 95814. Comments must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 16, 2011.
The lawmakers who sent the letter responded today to the announcement:
“This is an important step, but there’s still a lot of work to be done before we can be sure that this process is fair, equal and transparent, and that this plan is good for the Bay-Delta and our communities. The failure of the Secretary to withdraw the Department’s endorsement of this flawed agreement leaves the special interests in the driver’s seat and the public interest in the back seat,” said Rep. George Miller, (CA-7).
“The Department of Interior has been pushing off the concerns of families and small businesses in the Bay Delta region for far too long. Its most recent response is completely unsatisfactory – giving these people just two weeks to weigh in on a project that is five years in the making,” said Rep. Thompson (CA-1). “I will continue to push the Department toward a contemplative, deliberate and open process that ensures that the Bay-Delta is restored and the needs of local communities are protected.”
“While I am pleased that the public will now be given an opportunity to give input on this MOA making the document more open and transparent, no one should have to ask for this type of disclosure on a project that will change our water system forever. The process must be transparent so that each region’s needs are appropriately represented. In regards to the Sacramento region’s needs in particular, we must ensure our flood protection needs are being met,” said Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-5).
“As it stands, the Bay Delta Plan has been crafted without the input of the people who reside in the Delta region. While this short period for public comment is a step in the right direction, this announcement falls short of what is needed. More must be done to make it a truly fair process. I will continue to stand with the families, businesses and farmers who oppose any BDCP that includes a peripheral canal,” said Rep. McNerney (CA-11). “Agriculture is the lifeblood of the Delta region, and a canal would devastate the local economy, turn our farms into salty marshes, and cost our region millions of dollars and countless jobs.”“The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is critical to sustaining the life of communities across California and is an ecosystem of national significance,” said Congressman John Garamendi (CA-10). “I have worked for decades to protect this vital resource by building consensus and including all stakeholders. By contrast, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan has been an exclusionary closed-door operation on a recklessly short time table. The current Memorandum of Agreement must be rescinded and a new agreement forged, so that all interested parties have equal standing in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan process. I join my colleagues in calling for an open, inclusive and deliberative process that protects the ecology of the Delta for all Californians.”
The lawmakers recently held a series of meetings with Interior Department and California officials to express their concerns about the Memorandum of Agreement that the Department signed with water export agencies, an agreement that was developed and signed without input from Bay-Delta stakeholders. The letter sent on Monday requested a written response from Secretary Salazar and explained that the process as it currently stands has established an unrealistic timeline for the completion of the plan and raises expectations of favorable outcomes for the water agencies that signed it. “
You can read the full text of the letter here.
News coverage: Delta contract dispute forces feds to back down
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 7:05 amFrom the Silicon Valley Mercury News:
“Bowing to complaints that big water customers have been given unprecedented control of a far-reaching Delta water plan, state and federal water officials said Friday they would open a new contract to public comment.
The pledge to accept comments falls short of congressional demands that the government rescind and rewrite the contract.
At issue is an agreement that clears the way for big farm and urban water agencies to invest another $100 million in planning for a hotly contested new aqueduct around the Delta. … “
Continue reading from the Silicon Valley Mercury News by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: Agencies announce comment period for public in Delta plan
Delta Plan will not meet Jan. 1 deadline; New date announced for Draft EIR release
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 7:01 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“The Delta Stewardship Council’s Delta Plan will not be completed by the Jan. 1, 2012 deadline, the council’s executive officer reported at a council meeting Oct. 27.
The draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the plan is now expected to be released on Friday, Nov. 4. At least two public hearings will be held to discuss the 2,000-page document, and the council may create additional opportunities to receive public comment, Executive Officer Joe Grindstaff said. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
Septic system rules return after hiatus
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 6:59 amFrom the Union-Democrat:
“State regulators have reinvigorated a decade-old plan to monitor many of the state’s 1.3 million septic tanks in an effort to prevent sewage from leaching into waterways.
The State Water Resources Control Board announced an amended policy this month that would place more-stringent regulations on septic systems that are situated near polluted water ways.
The original Assembly Bill 885 plan, proposed in 2000, would have placed restrictions on all septic systems, requiring homeowners to have them professionally inspected every five years at a cost of $300 to $500 per tank. The plan, however was met with a backlash from homeowners, who said the state-ordered maintenance was too expensive and unnecessary. … “
Continue reading from the Union Democrat by clicking here.
The new rules are drawing mixed reviews, reports the Record Searchlight:
“Revised rules for septic tanks got mixed reviews Friday during an afternoon workshop in Redding.
It was one of two held in Redding on Friday as the state Water Resources Control Board officials are traveling across the state holding public workshops.
The presentation drew 70 people inside the David Marr Theater at the Shasta Living Center. An evening presentation attracted 25 people. … “
Continue reading from the Record Searchlight by clicking here.
Water agreement should be rescinded, says editorial
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 6:54 amFrom the San Francisco Chronicle, this editorial:
“Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, and four other Northern California members of Congress want the federal government to rescind an agreement that gives Southern California water contractors undue influence over the future of the state’s water hub, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
A pay-to-play agreement is the antithesis of what the agencies and contractors are working on: a plan that respects the “coequal goals” of developing a more reliable water supply and protecting the health of the delta. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.
Restore the Delta’s blog: Questionable alliances
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 6:50 amFrom Restore the Delta’s blog:
“This past week, Restore the Delta learned that Laura King Moon, Assistant General Manager of the State Water Contractors, is on loan to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to assist with communications regarding the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).
Said Natural Resources Secretary John Laird in a letter to Jared Huffman, Chair of the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee, “ Ms. Moon’s history with the project, as well as her experience working with the many stakeholders concerned with the BDCP, will be a significant asset to DWR in achieving timely completion of this critical effort.”
We cried “Foul!” … “
Continue reading from Restore the Delta’s blog by clicking here.
MORE FROM RESTORE THE DELTA’S BLOG: Questionable alliances (2)
Peter Gleick: Bad science leads to bad policy, no matter your political beliefs
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 6:43 amFrom Peter Gleick at the Huffington Post:
“Anti-science mania is sweeping parts of the United States. This isn’t new — there is a long history of irrational, pseudoscientific, or downright anti-scientific thinking and political culture here — ironic, given how much our founding fathers like Benjamin Franklin valued science. Examples include creationism, moon-landing denialism, claims linking vaccines to autism, denials that tobacco causes cancer long after the science was in, and especially the denial of climate change and global warming. This anti-science mentality is especially discouraging given how vital America’s scientific and technological strengths are to our economic and political strengths.
For reasons that a political scientist or sociologist would have to explore, this is a problem especially of the Republican right. For example, it is most evident in the lockstep, ideological denial of the realities of climate change by nearly all of the Republican presidential candidates and congressional representatives. … “
Continue reading from Peter Gleick at the Huffington Post by clicking here.
Column: A tale told for the suckers
Posted by: Maven on October 29, 2011 at 6:41 amFrom the North County Times, this column by Timothy Miller:
“As adults, it’s important that we model appropriate language for younger generations. Therefore, if you are under the age of 21, or occasionally act like it, I discourage you from reading this column. It sucks.
I’m referring of course to the recent spat in Highland between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and members of Congress, alongside water officials. The dispute is over the Fish and Wildlife Service designation of a larger habitat for the Santa Ana sucker.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife: “You suck!”
Congress: “No, you suck!”
U.S. Fish and Wildlife: “No, you do!”
And on and on…
Currently, 8,305 acres of habitat currently exist for the blotchy, silvery fish. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
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