News articles and links from Nov. 17, 2010

American River salmon numbers a big improvement over last year

Blog

from Indy Bay Media – Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

By Dan Bacher

Coalition viewpoint...Fishing groups and environmental organizations refuse to accept federal biologists’ studies that point to depleted food supply in the ocean caused by warming temperatures as a greater negative impact on salmon than export pumps at the south of the Delta. They are establishing ground rules that if the science does not agree with their opinion, then the science must be wrong. This type of thinking will not move California any closer to a solution to the water problems that currently grip our state, which is probably their goal.

Delta death

Commentary

from SF Bay Guardian - Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

by Patrick Porgans and Lloyd Carter

Coalition viewpoint...Why waste time with all the words when these authors could shorten their message and simply say they want to shut down farmers along the San Joaquin Valley Westside? They clearly champion that statement in this commentary while ignoring the positive efforts taken by farming interests to reduce drainage into the San Joaquin River. Government officials acknowledged these positive efforts as part of their decision to extend a deadline that enables the drainage efforts to move forward.

Delta canal agenda put off again

Story

from The Record – Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

Would BDCP staff accept “dots” instead of dollars in their paychecks?

Blog

from Valley Economy – Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

By Jeffrey Michael, UOP

Water forum gets update on state plans

Story

from Chico Enterprise Record – Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

EDF Testimony for Bay Delta Conservation Plan Hearing

Blog

From Environmental Defense Fund – Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2010

By Cynthia L. Koehler

News articles and links from Nov. 16, 2010

Bay Area coalition calls delta plan a water grab

Story

from San Francisco Chronicle – Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...There are numerous assumptions in this article that opens the door to wide-ranging comments that are not based on facts. It is easy to write and respond to claims that south-of-Delta water users will “increase” their water deliveries. Yet, the fact is that water deliveries are controlled by contracts already in place. Any supposed “increase” would have to go through a public review process.

The two goals of the BDCP is not a “consistent freshwater supply for exporters and removal of in-delta pumps that kill millions of protected fish and resulted in a federal order limiting diversions.” The factual goals are a reliable water supply and a restoration of the Delta environment. It will take all water users---upstream, downstream, in-Delta and others---to realize these two very important goals.

Central Valley Water Board’s letter to Senator Steinberg regarding Sacramento sanitation permit

Blog

from Aquafornia – Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

Biologists curious over fish out of their own water

Story

from Stockton Record – Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010

Close watch on salmon spawning may predict 2011 fishing season’s success

Story

from Indian Country Today – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

State launches groundwater program website

Story

from Sacramento Bee – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

How might the Klamath agreements affect the local economy?

Story

from Siskiyou Daily News – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

Cutting water flow hurts food supply

Letter

from Mercury News – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

A little perspective on latest farm-to-city water deal

Blog

From Fresno Bee – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

Federal Agencies Collaborate to Provide Funding Opportunity for Bay-Delta Water Efficiencies

Release

from Bureau of Reclamation – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

News articles and links from Nov. 15, 2010

Area sanitation permit needs proper review

Editorial

from Sacramento Bee – Monday, Nov. 15, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...Water users south of the Delta that have been held to stringent regulations designed to protect the Delta are right to demand improvements from the Sacramento wastewater treatment plant. The focus of regulators should be to fix the problems where they are known to exist and not let one area off the hook while other areas are held to task. Regulators need to keep their eye on the ball and not get distracted. If Sacramento’s waste is harming the Delta then they should clean it up.

Attack on valley water district misinformed

Viewpoint

from Sacramento Bee – Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010

Delta solution is bypass canal

Letter

from Sacramento Bee – Sunday, Nov. 14, 2010

Scroll down

Salmon make a comeback in Central Valley rivers

Story

from Sacramento Bee – Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010

Behind the Klamath Curtain: Managing Water and Endangered Species

Blog

from Klamblog – Friday, Nov. 12, 2010

How to transition the BDCP into making real progress for California

Letter

By Planning & Conservation League, et. al. – Monday, Nov. 8, 2010

News articles and links from Nov. 12, 2010

Mercury News editorial: Delta's health must take priority for California

Editorial

from San Jose Mercury News – Friday, Nov. 12, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...Saying that agriculture has not been a partner in conservation demonstrates an unbelievable ignorance on agricultural water use – even for an urban newspaper. When urban areas conserve water, the conserved amount is used as the supply for more residents and commercial development. The available water supply is stretched to accommodate growth, plain and simple. When farmers conserve water, the conserved amount is used to grow more food, which goes to market and helps keep prices lower relative to disposable income than anywhere else on earth. Between 1967 and 2000 the amount of water applied to farmland went up two percent per acre, yet production during that same period rose 89 percent. That’s conservation by anyone’s definition.

What your editorial seems to be saying is that farmers aren’t conserving enough water that could be used as an urban water supply instead of growing more food. If that’s your message at least be honest about it.

Water delayed for San Joaquin River

Story

from Fresno Bee – Friday, Nov. 12, 2010

Sacramento must clean up its wastewater, says the California Farm Water Coalition

Blog

from Aquafornia by Aqua Blog Maven – Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Vote against dam removal stunning

Story

from Daily News – Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2010

Sacramento Must Clean Up Its Wastewater

According to a recently updated report by the University of the Pacific, upgrading the Sacramento Wastewater Treatment Plant will cost $2 billion and have an annual impact of $246 million in lost income to Sacramento area residents and 946 jobs lost. The report compares those figures with job losses in San Joaquin Valley agriculture due to reduced Delta water exports and California’s salmon fishing industry, which has suffered in recent years from a cancellation or reduction in the salmon fishing season. According to UOP the economic hit to agriculture is $72 million and 1,400 jobs lost. In the salmon industry they say it is $120 million and 1,800 jobs lost.

We suppose that comparison is intended to lead readers to believe that upgrading the plant is a less attractive alternative because of its higher costs. Any conclusion like that is simply misguided. Upgrading the plant achieves the goal of reducing the polluted water the plant dumps into the Sacramento River. That’s the water that fish like the Delta smelt and Chinook salmon swim in. It’s water people use for recreation. And it’s water people drink.

So the cost shouldn’t matter, regardless of the comparisons between farmers, fishermen and the cost of upgrading the treatment plant. Sacramento needs to clean up its act and help make the Delta a healthier place because it’s the right thing to do.

More news articles and links from Nov. 11, 2010

Sacramento Wastewater Treatment Plant: Updated Impact Report

Blog

from UOP/Valley Economy – Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

By Jeff Michael

News articles and links from Nov. 11, 2010

Calif farmers plan $11.7M water sale to SoCal

from Ventura County Star – Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Calif farmers plan $11.7M water sale to SoCal

from San Diego Union Tribune – Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Kings County growers want to sell water to SoCal

from Salinas Californian – Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Calif farmers plan $11.7M water sale to SoCal

Story

from Fresno Bee – Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...A point of clarification is needed to this story. The price referenced is for the contract right to purchase the water from the State Water Project. An annual charge would be levied by the SWP to the eventual water user for the amount of contracted water regardless of how much is delivered.

UOP releases new study of economic impact of Sacramento wastewater treatment plant tentative permit

News release

from UOP - Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010

Regional water board faces big decision on Sacramento sewage -- and lacks a quorum

Story

from Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

Assembly Will Hold Oversight hearing on Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Blog

from Indybay – Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

By Dan Bacher

Briefing completed in PLF’s Ninth Circuit challenge to delta smelt water cutbacks

Blog

from Pacific Legal Foundation – Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

By Brandon Middleton

Delta Stewardship Council Newsletter – Vol. 2

Newsletter

from Delta Stewardship Council – Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Governor-elect Brown to lead in water crisis?

Blog

from Chronicles – Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2010

By Lloyd Carter