Thursday, June 30, 2011

News articles and links from June 30, 2011

Water supply

When Beliefs Conflict with Facts: Rep. Jim Costa and the California Drought

Blog

By Peter Gleick

From SF Chronicle – Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Coalition response...This report did use “real data” but it was used in such a way to hide the effects felt by those impacted by water delivery restrictions. From Page 59 of the report (yes, I read more than just the Executive Summary) it states: “...job losses were concentrated in sectors not related to agriculture. In fact, the proportion of agricultural jobs has either remained stable or increased in areas facing the greatest reductions in federal and state water deliveries. This finding directly contradicts claims that water shortages caused agricultural job losses.” The report conveniently uses employment numbers for multiple years and fails to look solely at those years when Westside communities were most affected by the water cuts. Compare these unemployment numbers from EDD with water delivery reductions at the graph found at www.farmwater.org/Page-2.html and you’ll receive a truthful look at the unemployment situation.

Wait a minute, Peter, with one breath you’re saying, “The pain in the Central Valley is real” and then saying but the cause is not water shortages.” Are you saying there was no pain caused by the water shortages? What about the people who lost their jobs because of the water shortages as documented by economists Michael and Howitt, who you quote in your report. To say there was pain in the Central Valley but not as a result of water shortages is a contradiction with your own report.

This report does a disservice to individuals who are seeking the truth.

WATER SUPPLY

Tear down that dam?

YouTube video

From YouTube – Thursday, June 30, 2011

Threats on water rights

Opinion

By Liz Bowen

From Siskiyou Daily News – Wednesday, June 29, 2011

DELTA

Letter to Secretary Laird

By David Sunding

From Scribd – Monday, June 27, 2011

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

News articles and links from June 29, 2011

Congress

GOP water bill would fail to help economy

Press Release

From Aquafornia - Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Coalition response...Relying on a faulty study to make her point regarding congressional legislation damages Rep. Napolitano’s position. The study in question goes to great lengths to establish the statewide increase in agricultural production to offset reports that farmers and their employees suffered from water delivery cutbacks caused by environmental regulations and the drought. While farmers throughout the state may have done well, those farmers hit with water restrictions saw their overall revenue drop while being forced to lay off workers. Even economists from UC Davis and UOP recognize this fact. The report cited by Napolitano lacks a real understanding of what takes place on California farms during times of reductions in water deliveries.

Water supply

Don’t mess with wild and scenic Merced River

Editorial

From Sacramento Bee – Monday, June 27, 2011

Coalition response...Rejecting HR 869 doesn’t make sense. Raising the spillway at Lake McClure would only impact 1,700 feet of the 122-mile designation of Wild and Scenic for the Merced River. Water levels in the river regularly rise to cover this same level. The Merced Irrigation District only wants to extend the length of time that the river would be at the higher level in order to create an increased water supply and new power. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this congressional approval is that the local irrigation district will pay for the project with no money coming from the State or federal governments.

What doesn’t make sense is the Sacramento Bee’s rejection of this proposal while its sister publications---The Fresno Bee and the Merced Sun-Star---have already endorsed it.

WATER SUPPLY

Reclamation increases releases to the Lower American River

Press release

From Bureau of Reclamation – Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Feds dumping more water from Folsom Lake to make room for June rain

TV News

From CBS 13/Sacramento – Tuesday, June 28, 2011

FISHERIES

California Fish and Wildlife strategic vision holds first public meeting

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media – Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

News articles and links from June 28, 2011

City attempts to block water banking project

Column

By Lois Henry

From Bakersfield Californian – Monday, June 27, 2011

Coalition response...Individuals concerned over water transfers out of the Kern basin miss the fact that local water banking projects have enabled millions of acre-feet of water from other areas of the state to come into the basin. Much of that water would have never come close to Kern County. Those projects benefit local water users as well as the individuals and agencies outside of the basin that pay for the water and the facilities to “bank” it in the ground near Bakersfield. It is unfortunate that the City built the water treatment plant with its dollars rather than developer dollars. Is it right to expect a third-party to repay those costs when there may be no legal obligation?

WATER SUPPLY

Conservation is in the eye of the beholder

Blog

By Sandy Denn

From Calrice News – Monday, June 27, 2011

Groups battle over water diversions in Scott, Shasta

Story

From Siskiyou Daily News – Monday, June 27, 2011

Rising water levels have potential for more flooding

TV News

From KFSN-30, Fresno – Monday, June 27, 2011

The Real Drought Has Just Begun

Blog

By Howard Ellman, attorney

From Environmental Leader – Tuesday, June 28, 2011

DELTA

Is this observation wrong or smart?

Blog

By John Bass

From Delta National Park – Monday, June 27, 2011

FISHERIES

Salmon count at Red Bluff Diversion Dam is down

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media – Monday, June 27, 2011

Monday, June 27, 2011

News articles and links from June 27, 2011

Water supply

What really happened during state’s drought?

Viewpoint

By Juliet Christian-Smith/Morgan C. Levy

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, June 26, 2011

Coalition response...This attempt to gloss over the unemployment impacts felt in rural Westside communities of Fresno County by claiming these numbers are less than countywide construction unemployment is misleading. 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.”

Construction job losses were not related to water supply cuts or the drought. Comparing them to farm-related job losses is irresponsible.

Farming is the economic engine in these rural communities. Attempts to discount that fact by claiming that unemployment in towns like Mendota was tied to a downturn in construction is a disservice not only to the public but especially those who lost jobs.

Don’t let growers grab water with their distortions

Viewpoint

By NickDi Croce

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, June 26, 2011

Coalition response...This author begins with the claim that “California farmers already use 80 percent of California’s developed water supply...” That is a false statement and it is not just farm water groups who argue with this statement. According to information published by the Department of Water Resources in its California Water Plan, agriculture accounts for 41 percent of the developed water supply. Eleven percent goes to urban users and the lion’s share – 48 percent – is reserved for “dedicated environmental purposes.”

DiCroce should know that. He was on the California Water Plan Public Advisory Committee that helped write it. His careless or perhaps intentional omission of that simple fact leaves into question the rest of the claims he includes in his piece.

Delta

Conservation groups contest basis of Westlands Delta smelt lawsuit

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media – Saturday, June 25, 2011

More on fallowing in Westlands

Blog

From Restore the Delta – Saturday, June 25, 2011

Restore the Delta exposes more evidence of Westlands land retirement

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media – Friday, June 24, 2011

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

Coalition response...The silence by the news media in reporting of a questionable study by a Santa Cruz group speaks volumes about the validity of the study. The only groups who are championing its findings are those who have worked to disrupt the production of food and fiber products by farmers along the Westside of the San Joaquin Valley. Quoting individuals who claim that fallowing of Westside acres is not affected by reduced water deliveries ignores common sense.

Splittail and salmon losses could be 5 to 10 times ‘salvage’ numbers

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media – Friday, June 24, 2011

Coalition response...This blogger presents the impression that salmon losses to predators are somehow connected to Delta pumping facilities. Numerous studies, some even quoted in this article, clearly point out that predators represent a substantial impact on salmon losses. Predators such as striped bass eagerly await juvenile salmon during their journey through the Delta to the ocean.

In a March 2009 article in Outdoor News, author JD Richie describes salmon predation in the Delta this way: “The peak of the baby salmon’s downstream journey corresponds with the spring spawning run of striped bass. Somewhere along the line, the two crash headlong into one another. It’s a one-sided blood bath, and when the spray and foam settles, the stripers emerge fat and happy while the Chinook suffer heavy losses.”

WATER SUPPLY

Full steam ahead on water pipeline

Story

From Desert Sun – Sunday, June 26, 2011

Scientists find holes in Klamath River dam removal plan

Story

From LA Times – Saturday, June 25, 2011

An end to emptiness: Lake Oroville reaches capacity

Story

From Oroville Mercury-Register – Saturday, June 25, 2011

Population and water uses

Blog

From California Greening – Saturday, June 25, 2011

Tug-of-war over Don Pedro Reservoir relicensing

Story

From Modesto Bee – Friday, July 24, 2011

DELTA

Conservations on the Delta

Editorial

From The Record – Monday, June 27, 2011

Delta canal’s estimated ag threat revised

Story

From The Record – June 25, 2011

Supreme Court asked to hear challenge to Delta smelt water-pumping restrictions

Press Release

From Pacific Legal Foundation – Friday, June 24, 2011

Environmental Groups Respond to Pacific Legal Foundation on Delta Smelt Lawsuit

Press Release

From C-Win – Friday, June 24, 2011

FISHERIES

Klamath deals already producing results

Opinion

By Dean Brockbank, PacificCorp Energy

From Redding Record Searchlight – Monday, June 27, 2011

CONGRESS

McClintock vows to protect Norcal water rights in wake of bill threat

Story

From Auburn Journal – Sunday, June 26, 2011

Water, Water Everywhere

Opinion

From Vacaville Reporter – Sunday, June 26, 2011

Water grabs are an age-old California tradition

Editorial

From SJ Mercury News – Sunday, June 26, 2011

McClintock defends himself

Letter

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, June 26, 2011

(Scroll down)

House effort harms region

Letter

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, June 26, 2011

(Scroll down)

Friday, June 24, 2011

News articles and links from June 24, 2011

Water supply

Water plentiful, drought signs dot Calif. roads

Story

From Fresno Bee – Friday, June 24, 2011

From Modesto Bee – Friday, June 24, 2011

From Redding Record Searchlight – Friday, June 24, 2011

From San Diego Union-Tribune – Friday, June 24, 2011

Coalition response...Highway signs have been helpful through the years to educate the public about the value of water to grow the food and fiber that everyone relies upon. Too many people do not realize the roller-coaster ride that farmers must endure from one year to the next in receiving their water supplies. Farmers are a very resilient group but if they do not receive adequate water then we will once again see land remain unplanted and employees losing their jobs.. These are real consequences and the public needs to realize what happens on our farms will directly impact them.

DELTA

Lawyer at forum warns of Delta water grab

Story

From Lodi News Sentinel – Friday, June 24, 2011

CONGRESS

House should pull the plug on water grab

Editorial

From Sacramento Bee – Friday, June 24, 2011

Oppose HR 1837

Letter

From Amador Ledger Dispatch – Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

News articles and links from June 23, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

The Pacific Institute is Wrong

News letter

From Rep. Jim Costa – Wednesday, June 22, 2011

State Water Resources Control Board to hold Ag water use workshop on July 20

Announcement

From Aquafornia – Thursday, June 23, 2011

Timing is everything on Sierra runoff

Blog

By Mark Grossi

From Fresno Bee – Wednesday, June 23, 2011

DELTA

Sacramento-area sewer bills will rise $2 a month this year

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Thursday, June 23, 2011

So Cal: We still support BDCP

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record – Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Small fish, big appetite

Blog

By John Bass

From Delta National Park – Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Scientists review draft Delta Plan

Story

From Mountain Democrat – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

GROUNDWATER

Comments sought on proposed changes to county groundwater monitoring program

Story

From Chico Enterprise-Record – Thursday, July 23, 2011

CONGRESS

Herger gets it right; but then blows it with phony anti-ESA slam

Editorial

From Chico News & Review – Thursday, June 23, 2011

Sensible GOP water plan

Letter

From Fresno Bee – Thursday, June 23, 2011

Here’s the real plan

Letter

From Fresno Bee – Thursday, June 23, 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

News articles and links from June 22, 2011

Water supply

Greed drives water grab

Letter

From Fresno Bee – Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Coalition response...This letter writer’s viewpoint is very narrow and fails to realize the true benefits that Westside farms provide to our entire state. The Westside is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world and its food and fiber commodities are in high demand here in the United States and across the globe. The writer also succumbs to the mistake of claiming that agricultural revenue did not suffer by his use of statewide agricultural production values as opposed to the regional impacts on the Westside due to water supply cuts. He makes the same mistake with reference to unemployment of farm workers. The loss of jobs to these employees was very real, as water supplies were cut recently to levels as low as 10 percent. While construction job losses were significant, they are unrelated to on-farm job losses that numbered in the thousands, according to economic studies in 2010 by UC Davis and the University of the Pacific.

WATER SUPPLY

Regulations will set standards for measuring water

Story

From CFBF/Ag Alert – Wednesday, June 22, 2011

IID updates on Salton Sea, QSA

Story

From IV Press – Wednesday, June 22, 2011

The Colorado’s Endless Winter

Blog

By Tom Philp

From SF Chronicle – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

DELTA

Impacts of Isolated Conveyance on Delta Agriculture: Update

Blog

By Jeff Michael

From Valley Economy – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

LEVEES

Environmentalist groups’ suit attacks Army Corps of Engineers directive aimed at levee safety, flood fighting

Story

From Contra Costa Times – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

FISHERIES

‘Phenomenal’ start to Russian River salmon restoration project

Story

From Santa Rosa Press Democrat – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

News articles and links from June 21, 2011

DELTA

Delta Stewardship Council Looking at Alternatives

Blog

From Planning and Conservation League – Monday, June 20, 2011

LEVEES

Calif. levee clearing order challenged in court

Story

From SF Chronicle – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Environmentalists oppose levee plan

Story

From The Record – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Groups sue Army Corps of Engineers over levee tree-removal policy

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

FISHERIES

Governor needs to keep pledge at Battle Creek

Editorial

From Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, June 21, 2011

County restores coho salmon habitat in West Marin

Story

From Marin Independent Journal – Monday, June 20, 2011

Monday, June 20, 2011

News articles and links from June 20, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

Mobile Irrigation Lab saves water for agriculture

Story

From Ventura County Star – Saturday, June 18, 2011

California Water Politics: Balancing Growth with Renewable Supplies

Blog

From California Greening – Sunday, June 19, 2011

DELTA

Report warns of financial disaster if Delta canal or tunnel gets built

Story

From The Record – Saturday, June 18, 2011

First Administrative Draft of the Economic Sustainability Plan for the Delta

Blog

By Jeffrey Michael

From Valley Economy – Thursday, June 16, 2011

Delta economy, at a glance

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record – Friday, June 17, 2011

Playing chicken with the Delta

Blog

By J. Fleck

From Ink Stain – Sunday, June 19, 2011

FISHERIES

Troubled waters of Battle Creek

Story

From Sacramento Bee – Monday, June 20, 2011

Taking stock of the California Current

Story

From SD Union-Tribune – Saturday, June 18, 2011

CONGRESS

Wading into the water wars

Editorial

From SF Chronicle – Sunday, June 19, 2011

Protect our public lands

Letter

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, June 19, 2011

GOP offers reassurance on water

Letter

(Scroll down)

From Sacramento Bee – Sunday, June 19, 2011

On water bill, Herger stands with enviros

Editorial

From Redding Record Searchlight – Saturday, June 18, 2011

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