Monday, September 17, 2012

News articles and links from September 17, 2012


Delta

Letter
From High Country News - Monday, Sept. 17, 2012

Coalition's response...The development of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is designed to meet the legislature's co-equal goals of a reliable water supply and restoration of the Delta's ecosystem. The planned alternative upstream diversion is designed for a total capacity of 9,000 cfs but will be operated at levels much lower when the natural flow of the Sacramento River is insufficient to provide both water supply and protection of Delta resources. California law prohibits new projects from negatively impacting existing water rights holders so claims that "they could allow too much water to be exported for the survival of the Delta and all the life that depends upon it" are unfounded.

Blog
By Cheyenne Cary
From Independent Voter Network - Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012

Coalition response...What do farmers do with irrigation water? They grow food that ends up at the grocery store. Consumers have a common interest with farmers because of the bond they share in food production and availability.

Water that flows through the Delta is not just exported to family farmers and southern California residents either. It is delivered to East Bay and Central Coast residents, some of the 25 million Californians that rely on the Delta to help meet their water supply needs. And contrary to the outdated peripheral canal envisioned 30 years ago, the focus of today's Bay Delta Conservation Plan is to meet the co-equal goals of both water supply reliability and restoration of the Delta, which is a marked difference from yesteryear's plan. Individuals and organizations that suggest that the BDCP will drain the Delta fail to explain that the California Water Code prohibits any new project from negatively impacting existing water rights.  

The Delta is failing. It doesn't provide adequate habitat for endangered or threatened species. It doesn't provide a reliable means to move water from its source to the end user, whether that's a farmer, a manufacturing business or a suburban household. A lot of research has gone into the development of the BDCP by scientists, biologists, State/federal agencies and others. All credible voices have determined that doing nothing, the status quo, continues our march on the path of failure. A sensible plan that restores water supply reliability while at the same time provides ecosystem benefits for fish and wildlife is the right path for California.

WATER SUPPLY

Story

Story
From NY Times - Saturday - Sept. 15, 2012

WATER QUALITY

Story
From Capital Public Radio - Monday, Sept. 17, 2012

FISHERIES

Story
From Modesto Bee - Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012

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