Delta
Head to Head: Should California build a Delta water canal it rejected in the 1980s?
Opinion
From Sacramento Bee - Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
Coalition response...Pia Lopez's position is absent of some very important facts. She characterizes the west side as the "Westlands Water District Project" when the benefits of water flowing through the Delta to San Joaquin Valley farmers stretch from Tracy to Bakersfield, a region several times larger than Westlands Water District. These farmers...as well as 25 million Californians...will benefit from an improved conveyance that delivers a reliable supply of water. The farmland along the west side of the valley is some of the most productive farmland in the world with valuable crops grown sustainably on all types of land, resulting in job creation and economic productivity.
The claim of "arid, marginal lands that are increasingly saline" ignores the facts of how farmers, public water agencies, environmental groups and governmental agencies are working together to maintain 100,000 acres of productive farmland in the Grasslands Bypass Project, which EPA hailed recently as a "success story." A visit to the area would provide Lopez with a better understanding of the land that produces much of the food we all depend on.
PPIC studies assume peripheral canal doesn't increase water exports
Blog
By Doug Obegi
From NRDC - Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012
Coalition response...The PPIC's most recent report focuses on the study of a peripheral canal and does not include other factors that have caused the decline of the fishery population in the Delta. This author makes a broad statement of "...unprecedented levels of diversions during the 2000s under the Bush Administration, which led to the collapse of fishery populations in the Delta and the federal courts ordering pumping restrictions in 2007." The author fails to mention that the court subsequently threw out that decision and ordered federal fish agencies to start over on the biological opinion. By omitting such causes as wastewater discharges, predation, and a decline in food and habitat, the author presents an incomplete portrayal of causes impacting Delta fishery. It seems as though these factors are being purposefully ignored because resolving them might allow higher export levels. NRDC has already decided to oppose higher exports, regardless of any scientific justifications that might emerge under BDCP.
Readers of this blog should also realize that the current draft of the BDCP is just that---a draft. Work continues to provide a workable document that is based on science. Unfortunately, not all people or organizations will agree with the applied science and instead insist that it is faulty because it does not conform with their positions.
WATER SUPPLY
Wet winter pattern returns to California
Report
From National Weather Service - Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
California farmers eagerly await rain
Story
From Sacramento Bee - Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
California crop weather: fruit growers await rain
Story
From Western Farm Press - Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
Reclamation releases draft environmental documents for San Joaquin River flow modifications
Press release
From USBR - Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012
DELTA
NRDC files response to water users' motion to dismiss X2 appeal
Blog
By Brandon Middleton
From Pacific Legal Foundation - Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012
Parties in salmon litigation file stipulation rgarding CVP and SWP operations in 2012
Blog
From KMTG - Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 On January 12, 2012, the
WATER QUALITY
New tool for cleaning up soils and waterways: Prickly pear
Story
From USDA - Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012
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