Friday, June 17, 2011

News articles and links from June 17, 2011

Water Supply

The California Drought (2007-2009): Myth versus Reality

From SF Chronicle – Thursday, June 16, 2011

The flexible law of tough love

Blog

From Delta National Park – Thursday, June 16, 2011

Farm Jobs Lost? Blame Environmentalists! (Or Not.)

From NY Times – Thursday, June 156, 2011

How Calif. Farmers Finessed Impacts of Long Drought but Could Stumble in the Next One

From NY Times – Thursday, June 16, 2011

(The following Coalition response is posted to the above articles.)

Coalition response...The writing of this report pulls on multiple sources for information but the presentation of that information does not provide a complete portrayal of real life. For example, it speaks to the fallowing of acreage in Fresno, Kern and Kings counties while comparing those numbers to Tulare County. Water flows into these counties from different sources---Delta Mendota Canal and State Aquaduct for the three Westside counties and the Friant-Kern Canal and mountain rivers for Tulare. While drought affected farmers in all the counties, the environmental restrictions impacted the Westside counties, not Tulare.

Citing the downturn in the housing construction industry as the leading factor in statewide unemployment is factual. But to infer that it also is the primary cause in Westside communities such as Mendota is not accurate. In a March 30, 2009, article by Fresno Bee reporter Chris Collins, he writes “Normally during a tough farming season, unskilled workers on the west side can fall back on construction jobs. But with the sour economy, that is not an option.” In other words, it is the farm economy that drives unemployment in Mendota and other westside communities.

This report will likely bring smiles to those who wish to take water away from farmers who use this valuable resource to grow the food and fiber that we all rely upon. But the accuracy and value of it should be held to higher standards.

Courts

Judge denies bid to boost pumping

From Modesto Bee – Friday, June 17, 2011

Judge upholds limits on pumping from Delta

From The Record/AP – Thursday, June 16, 2011

(The following Coalition response is posted to the above articles.)

Coalition response...It is disappointing that the federal government will continue to shift water from farms and homes and allow it to flow to the ocean under the guise of protecting fish that are not listed under the Endangered Species Act. Even federal biologists are not surprised at the number of fish taken at the Delta pumps in the wake of this year’s wet conditions. The Pacific Institute in its most recent report cited that splittail surveys in two of the past three years prior to 2010 were zero. This supports the findings of the federal biologists. It’s too bad that the ‘higher-ups’ in the federal agencies are not listening to their own people who work day-in and day-out with these issues.

DELTA

First Administrative Draft of the Economic Sustainability Plan for the Delta

Blog

From Valley Economy – Thursday, June 16, 2011

Delta Vision 2011 Report Card Assigns Stern Grades to State and Feds

From California Progress Report – Friday, June 17, 2011

San Joaquin River Restoration Program supplemental draft water year 2012 interim flows environmental document available for public comment

From Aquafornia –June 17, 2011

Water diversions to blame

Letter

From Sacramento Bee – Friday, June 17, 2011

New report on the Delta

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record – Thursday, June 16, 2011

1 comment: