News articles and links from November 9, 2012

Water supply

State should shun water-sucking crops

Letter
From San Jose Mercury News - Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012

Coalition response...Claims that California farmers are growing "low-value crops like rice, cotton and animal feed" is based on the wrong assumptions about crop production and water use efficiency. Rice consumes no more water than most other crops grown in the same region and it provides an enormous amount of habitat for birds on the Pacific Flyway. Thanks to new technology, today's cotton farmers can now use drip irrigation, which improves production and efficiency. And the animal feed grown in California is part of the production of milk and other high quality dairy products. The alternative is to truck it in from other states, further degrading air quality and adding to California's already overburdened transportation system.

WATER SUPPLY

Water agency challenges Yuba River dam ruling

Story
From Sacramento Bee - Friday, Nov. 9, 2012

Gov. Brown says water reliability Is on his agenda

Story
From ACWA - Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012

CRS report: Reallocation of water storage at federal water projects for M & I supply

Blog
By Michael E. Campana
From WaterWired - Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012

COURTS

Dairy waste's impact on groundwater focus of court ruling

Story
From Fresno Bee - Friday, Nov. 9, 2012

PEOPLE

Commissioner announces changes in senior leadership

Press release
From USBR - Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012

SJTA appoints executive director

Press release
From San Joaquin Tributaries Authority