Friday, April 29, 2011

News articles and links from April 29, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to Reconciliation

Report

From Environmental Protection – Friday, April 29, 2011

DELTA

What’s going on down there?

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record – Thursday, April 28, 2011

Survey: Help Assess Progress on Delta Vision

Announcement

From Delta Vision Foundation – Friday, April 29, 2011

FISHERIES

NID Water Project Aids Fish Migration

Story

From Yubanet – Thursday, April 28, 2011

COURTS

Scott River Public Trust appeal attracts more parties to suit

Story

From Siskiyou Daily News – Thursday, April 28, 2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

News articles and links from April 27, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

Flowing it all away

Story

From Hanford Sentinel – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Locals Discuss Water Issues

TV news

From KERO/TV – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Studying issue won’t solve it

Editorial

From Chico Enterprise-Record – Thursday, April 28, 2011

Water leaders plan for future shortages

Story

From Press-Enterprise – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

DELTA

Congressional, local leaders spotlight threats to Delta

Story

From Contra Costa Times – Thursday, April 28, 2011

From San Jose Mercury News – Thursday, April 28, 2011

Shining light

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

GROUNDWATER

Sacramento Valley Groundwater Quality Assessed in New Report

Press Release

From USGS – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

COURTS

Judge officially halts Shasta, Scott watershed permit programs

Story

From Siskiyou Daily-News – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

LEGISLATURE

Water agencies would be taxed under state bill

Story

From North County Times – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

CONGRESS

Denham slams administration’s ‘burdensome environmental agenda’

Story

From Sun-Star – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

News articles and links from April 27, 2011

Winter rains bring more crops to California farms

Radio program

From KPCC – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

California farms are set to have the best season in years, thanks in part to heavy rains this winter. Parts of the Central Valley where water was cut during drought years are getting bigger allotments.

Coalition response...In response to comments previously posted by dfb: Whether job loss totals were 6,000 or 60,000 at this point is irrelevant. The unemployment caused by water supply cuts was also the result of biological opinions from federal fish agencies that the courts found to be “arbitrary and capricious.” That is significant in the lives of people who lost their jobs as well as those farmers who lost everything, including their farms. The overreaching federal policy that caused much of this economic hardship is awful and yet you chose to ignore it. The drought played a role in reduced water supplies. No one argues that. The actions of federal biologists and their respective agencies are inexcusable.

Incidentally, as we enter one of the wettest years on record and all major reservoirs are nearly full, south-of-Delta State and federal water contractors are still receiving only 75 to 80 percent of their contract allotments, presumably because of the lingering effects of the biological opinions. That tells me that there’s more in play than just nature’s water supply.

WATER SUPPLY

Water shortages lead to record farmland losses

Story

From Ag Alert/CFBF – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Even during a recession that slowed urbanization, the number of irrigated acres farmed in California dropped by a record amount—and analysts said water shortages had a lot to do with the decrease.

McCloud dam spill to increase river flow

Story

From Record Searchlight – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Water will be rising late this week on the McCloud River between Lake McCloud and Lake Shasta, prompting kayakers to grab their paddles and fly fishermen to look for another place to cast their lines.

New Metropolitan Water District Presentation on Delta Costs

Blog

By Jeff Michael

From Valley Economy – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I was looking for recent MWD cost analysis on a canal, and found this Powerpoint presentation from a MWD committee meeting that was today. At the risk of reading too much into a Powerpoint without hearing the presentation, I found several parts very interesting compared to what I saw from MWD last year.

DELTA

North Delta parcel owners OK assessment hike to defend water rights

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Property owners in the northern half of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have approved a tax increase to defend their water rights in case the state pushes ahead with a plan to build a new tunnel or canal around the estuary.

Bill to sell Sacramento wastewater clears Assembly committee

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Sacramento’s sewage district could sell treated wastewater to help cover the cost of upgrading its sewage treatment plant under legislation that cleared its first legislative hurdle Tuesday.

FISHERIES

300,000 Chinook salmon smolts from Mokelumne River splash into strange, dangerous new world of Delta waters

Story

From News Sentinel – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

It was nearly noon. The time had come. They’d been swimming around in a giant stainless steel tank on the back of a truck for nearly two hours.

WATER USE

Temecula-area growers use technology to cut water use

Story

From Press-Enterprise – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

A handful of Temecula-area avocado and wine grape growers are now using soil moisture measurement devices wired to the Internet as part of a water district pilot program.

PROJECT REVIEW

State board denies Merced ID request to delay study

Story

From Merced Sun-Star – Wednesday, April 27, 2011

A request to delay studies on water quality and fish life and habitats by the Merced Irrigation District was denied by the State Water Resources Control Board last week.

Don Pedro Hydroelectric Project relicensing hearings

Announcement

During the relicensing process and other related activities, some participants will be urging Modesto Irrigation District to give up more water for environmental purposes. Hearings scheduled May 11 in Modesto and Turlock.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

News articles and links from April 26, 2011

Fishermen and farmers united for a healthy Bay-Delta

Blog

By Zeke Grader

From SF Chronicle – Monday, April 25, 2011

Coalition response...Here are two facts that have been skewed in this blog: 1. No drainage water from farms in the Westlands Water District is flowing to the Delta. No physical outlet exists today that would send drainage water from Westlands to the Delta. 2. There are about 600 family-owned farms in Westlands, averaging about 900 acres in size. Labeling them “agribusiness enterprises” paints a far different picture than the truth.

WATER SUPPLY

80-Percent Water Supply Allocation Declared for CVP South-of-Delta Agricultural Water Service Contractors

Release

From BOR – Monday, April 25, 2011

Report: Climate change worsens Western water woes

Story

From Fresno Bee – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Modesto Bee – Monday, April 25, 2011

From SD Union-Tribune – Monday, April 25, 2011

From SLO Tribune – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Ventura County Star – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Record Searchlight – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Desert Sun – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Climate shift means big change for valley

Story

From Modesto Bee - Monday, April 25, 2011

From Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Monterey County supervisors tackle water issues

Story

From Salinas Californian – Monday, April 25, 2011

Water will again be on the agenda for elected county leaders today when they are briefed on the status of the controversial water desalination project.

Columnist’s argument for water in Kern River lacks perspective

Viewpoint

By Richard Diamon, North Kern Water District

From Bakersfield Californian – Monday, April 25, 2011

Cost-Benefit Analysis, Rep. McClintock, and the PPIC

Blog

By Jeff Michael

From Valley Economy – Sunday, April 24, 2011

DELTA

Skeptics question effort to restart Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Brown’s team assures public on Delta

Story

From The Record – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

SAN JOAQUIN RIVER

Feds hint timeline might change on river restoration

Blog

By Mark Grossi

From Fresno Bee – Monday, April 25, 2011

FISHERIES

Court finds California coho protections wanting

Story

From SD Union-Tribune – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Fresno Bee – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Modesto Bee – Monday, April 25, 2011

From Record Searchlight – Monday, April 25, 2011

From SD Union-Tribune – Monday, April 25, 2011

UC Davis Delta lectures available now on YouTube

Videos

From Aquafornia – Tuesday, April 26, 2011

WATER TOUR

‘Wonders of Water’ tour offered by Yolo Flood Control District

Story

From Daily Democrat – Sunday, April 24, 2011

Monday, April 25, 2011

News articles and links from April 25, 2011

Is it about the alfalfa? Thinking like a river basin

Blog

By John Fleck

From Inkstain – Sunday, April 24, 2011

Coalition response...There are many solutions to the water dilemma confronting California and other states. To halt the planting of one or more crops might be one way to free-up some water supplies but such action also creates other problems. If alfalfa was no longer planted in our state, where would our dairy industry receive its primary food supply? Delivering alfalfa hay from other states would create a gigantic impact on the carbon footprint resulting for the hundreds of trucks that would be required to deliver the food supply from out of state. It could also have a significant impact on the price consumers pay for dairy products. I would hope the author’s research for his book material would consider these and other consequences.

WATER SUPPLY

California Farms Revive

Story

From Wall Street Journal – Monday, April 25, 2011

Quake risks for Auburn Dam

Letter

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, April 24, 2011

(scroll down)

Pump plant near the Red Bluff Diversion Dam proceeds apace

Story

From Tehama Daily News – Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sediment regulations rankle Scott Valley landowners

Story

From Capital Press – Friday, April 22, 2011

DELTA

Despite wet winter, state needs to move ahead with Delta plan

Viewpoint

By Sunne Wright McPeak

From Sacramento Bee - Saturday, April 23, 2011

GROUNDWATER

Scrutiny of a farm town’s water divides residents

Story

From LA Times – Monday, April 25, 2011

FISHERIES

Will wild salmon swim into Central Valley’s future?

Viewpoint

By Stuart Leavenworth

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, April 24, 2011

Congressional Leaders to Convene Farms & Salmon Summit

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media – Sunday, April 24, 2011

CONGRESS

H.R. 1604: Bad for Taxpayers and the Environment

Blog

By Cynthia Koehler

From EDF – Friday, April 222, 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

News articles and links from April 21, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

State boosts water supply for farms, cities

From DWR – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

From Modesto Bee – Wednesday, April 20,2011

From Fresno Bee – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

From Ventura County Star – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

From Contra Costa Times – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

From Western Farm Press – Wednesday, April 21, 2011

From News10 – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

From KGET17 – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

From CBS47 – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Report shows farmland declines in San Diego and Riverside Counties

Story

From North County Times – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Success Dam safety questioned

Story

From Porterville Recorder – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

FISHERIES

Salmon fishing may return to normal on the Sacramento River

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

CONGRESS

Ag industry decries over-regulation

Story

From Monterey Herald – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

News articles and links from April 20, 2011

If California no longer has a drought, what does that mean?

Story

From OaklandNorth – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Coalition response...The Governor’s declaration that California is no longer in a drought means that water supplies this year have improved to satisfy most water needs. Some farmers are receiving reduced water deliveries this year, resulting in unplanted acres and some farm worker jobs going unfilled.

Everyone needs to understand that declaration only refers to this year and not future years. History has proven that our state will once again be gripped in the throes of a drought. That is why it is important to increase both storage and conveyance to help offset California’s water needs in dry years.

WATER SUPPLY

Klamath drought plan distributes pain

Story

From Capital Press – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Water table up 7 to 10 feet

Story

From Porterville Recorder – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

GROUNDWATER

Time to speak out about new plan to manage ground water

Guest Opinion

By Shirlee Zane, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors

From Santa Rosa Press Democrat – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

DELTA

Water and farm groups say delta draft goes too far

Story

From CFBF/Ag Alert – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

BDCP Hosting Public Meeting

Announcement

From BDCP – Monday, April 11, 2011

Back to the Future with Jerry Meral and the BDCP

Blog

By Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla

From IndyBay Media – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

CONGRESS

Nearly 40 percent of House urges Clean Water Act guidance reconsideration

Story

From Western Farm Press – Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Measure would exempt water projects from key law

Story

From Fresno Bee – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

News articles and links from April 19, 2011

Delusion! Delusion! What Drought Is Over?

Blog

By Brian Fagan

From Huffington Post – Monday, April 18, 2011

Coalition response...Not sure where this writer gets his information but according to Department of Water Resources’ studies the use of groundwater by farmers and urban users totals only 30%, far from the writer’s claim of “most.” His claim that California cannot afford new reservoirs is short-sighted. New storage must be a part of California’s water future, along with improved conveyance.

WATER SUPPLY

Dams will save water

Letter

From Fresno Bee – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

California teetering on the brink?

Column

By Dick Little

From Paradise Post – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

GROUNDWATER

Farmers: Do your part on pollution

Column

By Bill McEwen

From Fresno Bee – Monday, April 18, 2011

DELTA

A Southern California fish with delta implications?

Blog

By Mark Grossi

From The Fresno Bee – Monday, April 18, 2011

More Dino-isms

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record – Monday, April 18, 2011

Delta landowners find court support

Editorial

From The Record – Tuesday, April 19, 2011

(Scroll down)

FISHERIES

Scientists begin fish study in Feather River

Story

From Oroville Mercury-Register – Monday, April 18, 2011

Fish rescue included endangered salmon

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Monday, April 18, 2011

Monday, April 18, 2011

News articles and links from April 18, 2011

Plenty of other misdirection in Delta

Viewpoint

By Brett Baker

From Contra Costa Times – Friday, April 15, 2011

Coalition response...How do you get “record revenue” from a farming region when nearly 500,000 acres go unplanted? The author falsely substitutes statewide crop production with a region that saw unemployment climb as high as 40%. Still, he attempts to discount the effect of reduced water deliveries despite fallowed acreage and job losses. Discussing California’s water problems is healthy. In order to find solutions that make sense it’s necessary to start by discussing the facts.

Too dammed expensive

Editorial

From Chico News & Review – Friday, April 15, 2011

Coalition response...This editorial is short-sighted and lacking in knowledge of who pays for what when it comes to water projects. “Beneficiaries pay” means the cost of construction is borne by those who benefit, a phrase that is linked to the proposed Sites Reservoir and Upper Temperance Flat. Reservoirs in California are commonly linked with public benefits, such as flood control, recreation and power generation. These public benefits are the responsibility of the State in relation to the State Water Project and, unfortunately, those payments have not been made in recent years. This lack of payments has resulted in farm water users subsidizing the public as they’ve been required to make the payments.

WATER SUPPLY

Milestones made toward a secure water future

Viewpoint

By Bill Marble, Woodland City Councilman

From Woodland Daily Democrat – Sunday, April 17, 2011

GROUNDWATER

New farm water rules mean more work

Story

From Chico Enterprise-Record – Sunday, April 17, 2011

DELTA

Delta planners need to get back on track

Editorial

From Chico Enterprise-Record – Sunday, April 17, 2011

Cortopassi driven by love for the Delta

Story

From The Record – Sunday, April 17, 2011

FISHERIES

SoCal’s “Drone” in the Delta

Blog

By Tom Philp

From SF Chronicle – Sunday, April 17, 2011

COURTS

IID prevails in protracted legal battle over water rates

Story

From IVPress – Saturday, April 16, 2011

RIVERS

Compromise on river cleaning or face flood of trouble

Editorial

From Salinas Californian – Friday, April 15, 2011

The Salinas River divided

Story

From Salinas Californian – Friday, April 15, 2011

Cleanup plan for New River due to emerge this summer

Story

From Desert Sun – Sunday, April 17, 2011

SALTON SEA

California Water: Pricing the Externalities

Blog

By John Fleck

From Inkstain – Saturday, April 16, 2011

LEGISLATURE

Wolk bill to reduce reliance on freshwater from Delta watershed moves forward

Press Release

From Wolk – Friday, April 15, 2011

CONGRESS

Bee ignores benefits and misrepresents costs of an Auburn dam

Viewpoint

By Rep. Tom McClintock

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, April 17 2011