Farm Water News: News articles and links from Feb. 14, 2012

Fisheries

Offspring of Calaveras River salmon may be left high and dry

Story

From The Record - Monday, Feb. 13, 2012

Coalition response...It is unfortunate that weather patterns and a study mired within the federal review process combined to isolate spawning pools in which salmon eggs may not survive. A resolution of the study could lead to a quicker and brighter future for salmon runs. If only the future of these salmon could be as quick and bright as they travel into the Delta as young juveniles. This future was put in doubt as the California Fish and Game Commission declined to accept the recommendations from its own Department of Fish and Game that urged revisions in striped bass fishing. DFG biologists acknowledged that striped bass consume up to 50% of the juvenile salmon that traverse the Delta and recommended the new regulations. Instead of acting to protect juvenile salmon, the Commission played the political trump card and denied its own biologists and the new regulations.

Fishing guide J.D. Richey provides a realistic look at what happens in the Delta when striped bass meet the young salmon. In the March 2009 edition of Western Outdoors, Richey wrote, "...the peak of the baby salmon's downstream journey corresponds with the spring spawning run of striped bass. Somewhere along the line the two migrations 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

Educating public on connection between reliable water, economy an important task

Viewpoint

By Tim Quinn

From ACWA - Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012

Californians unaware that water comes from Sacramento Delta

Story

From Independent Voter Network - Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012

Valley farmers are thankful for rain

TV news

From ABC/TV 30 - Monday, Feb. 13, 2012

Three inside sliders this week