Trinity River
From: Staff, SF Chronicle
A decade ago, thousands of dead
salmon lined the banks of the Klamath River, killed because federal dam
operators steered needed water to farmers. It's a mistake that shouldn't be
repeated.
The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation,
which controls the flows on the Trinity River, the Klamath's biggest tributary,
is determined to learn from the fish die-off in 2002. Beginning next week, the
floodgates at the Trinity Reservoir will gradually open, creating higher flows
over the next month to accommodate a record salmon run headed upriver.
Coalition response...In 1988, under nearly identical flow conditions, twice as many salmon
successfully migrated up the Klamath River than in 2002 with no die-off. In
every other year that no supplemental water was provided, no fish die-off
occurred. In the three prior occasions when supplemental flows were
provided, no monitoring or analysis was conducted to determine whether the
additional water provided any demonstrable benefit. The fact is, no
one knows what caused the die-off in 2002 or why that terrible incident
has never been repeated despite wide ranging flow and fish abundance
conditions. And it is impossible at this time to say for certain whether
or not such a similar event will occur again this year. What is certain is
the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation knew of the request for these supplemental flows
early enough this year to provide for them from the significant supply of water
set aside specifically for environmental purposes. They chose not to.
Rather, they chose to take more water from people that only have a 20% supply,
make them pay for the action that is causing them greater harm and do so in a
flagrantly illegal manner. This conflict is not about fish versus farms, there
was water set aside for both.
Entirely avoidable, completely
tragic.
From: Staff, Editorial,
Redding Record Searchlight
Dry conditions are bad for
farmers, but the publicity disaster might be even worse.
San Joaquin Valley irrigators
feel so squeezed by severe federal water cutbacks that they're asking the
federal courts to stop releases of extra water from Trinity Lake that aim to
keep the lower Klamath River cool, flush out a fish-killing microbe, and ensure
decent conditions for a bumper crop of chinook salmon.
Coalition response...The lawsuit filed by the water users seeks the Bureau of Reclamation to
follow already established procedures relating to the proposed release of water
down the Trinity River. Water is set aside each year by the Trinity River
Diversion Record of Decision that is specifically designated for fish and the
environment. Reclamation knew earlier this year that a large number of
returning salmon were likely to swim up the Klamath River and could have
preserved the needed water. But that water was used for other purposes and now
Reclamation seeks to take water from others whose supply has already been cut
80 percent.
In 1988, under nearly identical
flow conditions, twice as many salmon successfully migrated up the Klamath
River than in 2002 with no die-off. In every other year that no supplemental
water was provided, no fish die-off occurred. In the three prior occasions
when supplemental flows were provided, no monitoring or analysis was conducted
to determine whether the additional water provided any demonstrable benefit.
The fact is, no one knows what caused the die-off in 2002 or why that
terrible incident has never been repeated despite wide ranging flow and fish
abundance conditions. And it is impossible at this time to say for certain
whether or not such a similar event will occur again this year.
This conflict is not about fish
versus farms, there was water set aside for both.
Bay Delta
Conservation Plan
From: Staff, Chico
Enterprise-Record
Our view: The economic study on
the delta tunnels is nothing more than a sales pitch that we aren't buying.
Backers of a plan to bury a
couple of huge pipes under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta continue to provide
self-justification for their proposal.
Coalition response...Fears that the Plan will take more and more and more water from the
Sacramento Valley is unfounded. The recognition of existing water rights and
protection of areas of origin are written into the Plan. California law also
states that no new project may negatively impact an existing water right, thus
providing more assurance for Sacramento Valley water users. Individuals should
seek the facts regarding the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and not rely on
rhetoric.
From: Tom Elias, Redding
Record Searchlight
Backers of the water tunnels at
the heart of the proposed $25 billion plan for updating and replumbing the
Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers thought they had played a trump
card the other day when they presented a 244-page economic impact report.
Coalition response...The Bay Delta Conservation Plan is an effort to obtain a 50-year
conservation permit that will improve the Delta through habitat restoration and
protection of species. This environmental permit should also improve water
supply deliveries to about 4,000 farms and 25 million Californians. This author
fails to recognize the importance of a dependable supply of water. For farmers,
this means they will not be forced to abandon their fields following planting
after learning their water supply will be reduced. It also means that the safe
and healthy food supply farmers provide to consumers will continue.
Comparing the proposed tunnels to
the Peripheral Canal of 1982 is an effort that is absent in facts. Capacity of
the tunnels is only 9,000 cubic feet per second and the canal would have
transported 21,800 cfs. Learn more about the differences at www.farmwater.org/p-canalcomparison.pdf .
The $84 billion identified in the
cost-benefit analysis is a statewide number, not one that will benefit only one
region and not the next. The up and down fluctuations in California's economy
is felt throughout our state and an $84 billion boost will be felt by all.
Trinity River
From: Bruce Ross, Redding
Record Searchlight
If you're a rafter or kayaker who
enjoys whitewater, the ramp-up of Trinity River releases -- which is set to
begin early tomorrow -- might make for a late-summer treat, but irrigation
groups from the San Joaquin Valley are suing to block the water surge, even
though it won't affect their water deliveries this year. Why so urgent?
Here's a hint, in a letter from
the Fresno County Board of Supervisors to Sen. Dianne Feinstein calling for
more farm-friendly rules on water delivery:
"Westlands Water District
has projected that if California has average precipitation in October,
November, December, and January, the initial allocation for CVP water service
contractors will be zero, and if the remainder of the winter and spring is dry
or average, the final allocation will be from zero to 10%."
Water Supply
From: Phil Larson, Fresno Bee
This year Fresno County was able
to balance its budget while restoring programs and positions. After years of
tough budgets and painful decisions, I wish I could say it was a relief, but
instead I am fearful of what could happen next year.
Agriculture is our economic
engine, and it is something we need to celebrate. Our soil and climate create
ideal growing conditions. Not only is agriculture a true economic asset, it is
a renewable resource that provides the world with a safe and life-sustaining
product while providing jobs for thousands and adding to our county's tax
rolls. The terrifying thing is that our prosperity is being threatened and most
are unaware of the fact that a potentially cataclysmic tidal wave is fast
approaching.
From: Maven, Maven's Notebook
The five Fresno County
supervisors have written Senator Feinstein, asking her to introduce legislation
to aid the Central Valley in avoiding the same conditions that the Valley
suffered through in 2009 when water allocations were low and 300,000 acres of
land was fallowed, unemployment rates were in excess of 40%, and there was an
increase in crime as well as an increase in mental health problems.
"This situation cannot be allowed to repeat itself," they say.
From: Dennis Wyatt, Manteca
Bulletin
South San Joaquin Irrigation
District is pushing a plan to increase annual water storage by enough to serve
the entire population of Sacramento and Stockton combined without costing a
cent to do so.
The SSJID board Tuesday is
expected to back an effort by Congressman Jeff Denman, R-Turlock, to get House
of Representatives Bill 2554 passed.
The crux of the legislation is to
allow SSJID and Oakdale Irrigation District to activate the two districts'
combined conservation account that's part of the New Melones Reservoir storage
as negotiated with the Bureau of Reclamation in 1988.
Delta
From: Press Release, Delta
Stewardship Council
The State Office of
Administrative law (OAL) has approved the 14 regulations to implement the Delta
Plan, which will take effect on September 1. The Delta Stewardship Council
(Council) adopted the Delta Plan on May 16, and then submitted the proposed
rules for review to the OAL, the state agency that ensures that proposed
regulations are clear, necessary, legally valid, and available to the public.
From: Maven, Maven's
Notebook
This just in from the Delta
Stewardship Council: the Office of Administrative Law has approved the Delta
Plan's fourteen regulations, paving the way for their implementation to take
effect on September 1st. The new regulations apply to projects undertaken
by state and local agencies that occur at least in part in the Delta.
Groundwater
From: Keith Carls, KCOY-TV
12
Turning on the tap in the
kitchen, flushing the toilet or watering the lawn. They are sights and sounds
most of us take for granted in our daily lives. There's growing concern in
northern San Luis Obispo County the taps may actually run dry.
But even imported water can also
run dry.
"Next year they are talking
about entering the year at a 20 percent (of capacity for the year), Sweet says
of State Water Project estimated allocations, "which would be a very, very
low number, one of the lowest opening numbers ever."
Salton Sea
From: Antoine Abou-Diwan,
Imperial Valley Press
A petition filed by the Imperial
Irrigation District and San Diego County Water Authority to substitute
environmental mitigation initiatives for water at the Salton Sea is unlikely to
proceed.
Meetings
From: Agenda Announcement,
Delta Stewardship Council
The August 22, 2013 meeting will
be held at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza, 300 J Street, Sacramento, CA
95814.
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