Monday, March 18, 2013

News articles and links from March 18, 2013


BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN

Letter
By Jim Peck
From Modesto Bee - Saturday, March 16, 2013

Coalition response...Jim Peck's point about predators having a significant impact on endangered salmon is absolutely right. Recent studies indicate that 93 percent of salmon migrating from upstream spawning locations are eaten by bass and other fish before they ever make it to the ocean. That must stop if we are going to have any hope of resolving the Delta's ecosystem issues. Asserting that the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is just "another water grab" is not correct. The BDCP is designed to operate in a way that allows water already permitted under rights held by agricultural and urban public water agencies to move through the Delta in a way the protects endangered species. It is a comprehensive 50-year plan that addresses many factors affecting the health of the Delta and water supplies for people. An example of the flexibility that is part of the plan is this fact sheet (http://www.farmwater.org/exportthrottle.pdf) that describes how exports will be adjusted to accommodate different water year types.

Opinion
By Robert Pyke and Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
From San Jose Mercury News - Friday, March 15, 2013

Coalition response...Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin wrote in Nov. 7, 2012 Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21952433/mark-cowin-levees-alone-wont-secure-californias-water) that "California has invested to keep key sections of Delta levees strong -- $300 million since 2005 -- and will continue to do so. But to rely solely on levees to safeguard a water supply critical to the state's nearly $2 trillion economy would be negligent." Cowin's column correctly explained that to solely rely on the Delta levees to safeguard the water supply for 25 million Californians and 3 million acres of farmland would be an unwise choice.

A single focus on the levees does not provide a reliable water supply as mandated by the State Legislature in 2009. Levees also do not restore the Delta ecosystem. The Bay Delta Conservation Plan, which includes the twin tunnels under the Delta, accomplishes the legislative goals and is California's best choice for a secure water future.

RIVERS

Story
From Stockton Record - Monday, March 18, 2013

Coalition response...Too many regulations without scientific research supporting their ability to meet the intended goal are issued to control water in an attempt to benefit fish. Water board officials have been asked to provide the documentation that proves fish will benefit by increasing the natural flows in the Toulumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers. Unfortunately, that documentation has not been forthcoming. Impacting the lives of thousands of people by eliminating their jobs and taking millions of dollars away from local economies for an exercise that might help fish is not an action that should be taken.

WATER SUPPLY

Analysis
By Chris "Maven" Austin
From Capitol Weekly - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Letter
From Modesto Bee - Saturday, March 16, 2013

BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN

Editorial 
From SF Chronicle - Monday, March 18, 2013

Opinion
By Stuart Leavenworth
From Sacramento Bee - Sunday, March 17, 2013

Story
From Modesto Bee - Saturday, March 16, 2013

RIVERS

Story
From Stockton Record - Monday, March 18, 2013

Editorial
From Modesto Bee - Saturday, March 16, 2013

Story
From Modesto Bee - Friday, March 15, 2013

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Blog
By Harry Cline
From Western Farm Press - Monday, March 18, 2013

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