News articles and links from Dec. 10, 2010

Hold your water

Opinion

from Sacramento News/Review – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...If California is going to achieve a future water supply that is reliable, new storage facilities must be a part of that formula. Whether Auburn Dam will be a part of that scenario or not is undetermined but Rep. McClintock’s stated intention to bring it back to the table for discussion warrants a thorough review. Remember, conservation and continued water use efficiency will be part of our water future but an improved conveyance system and increased storage is just as important.

Fishing for solutions to ongoing water war with delta

Commentary

from Half Moon Bay Review – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...You’re right. It serves no purpose to point fingers, especially when both the fishing and farming industries have been hit hard by federal regulations. However, if “honest eyes” were to truly look at our current water problems, they would see predators, ocean conditions and water quality that should be added to the list of stressors for harming the Delta ecosystem and threatening salmon. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a report earlier this year that pointed to a loss of food supply in the ocean as the leading cause of the dwindling salmon population caused by warming water temperatures. Those people who continue to blame the Delta pumps that send water to San Joaquin Valley farms are wearing ‘blinders.’

Sewage plant upgrade ordered

Story

from Sacramento Bee – Friday, Dec. 10, 2010

Sacramento County Sewer Rates to Incease

TV News

from KCRA-3 – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Public hears plan that could triple Sacramento-area wastewater rates

TV News

from ABC News 10 – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Draining New Melons Reservoir

Story

from myMotherLodi – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

Gov. Brown, please fix the valley’s water mess

Letter

from Tracy Press – Friday, Dec. 10, 2010

Flood control releases at Hensley Lake cause concern

Blog

from Fresno Bee – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

CALFED Surface Storage Investigations Progress Report 2010

Document

From DWR – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

Unnecessary protection of some species

Commentary

from Santa Maria Times – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Talks center on irrigation permit objections

Story

from Capital Press – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Siskiyou Supervisors create Scott Valley groundwater advisory committee

Story

from Siskiyou Daily News – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

News articles and links from Dec. 9, 2010

Go with the flow

Blog

from SF Chronicle – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Coalition viewpoint....A backdoor move by Interior officials to include groups that previously declined to become participants in the BDCP process betrayed a process in which dedicated individuals have worked hard to reach a solution to the Delta that would result in a restored ecosystem and a reliable water supply. Instead of being a part of this effort, these groups have consistently worked against a solution that benefits all. Instead, they have maintain a viewpoint of “my way or the highway,” which is representative in the comments presented in ‘Go with the flow.’

A Water Agenda for Governor Brown – Involving the Public and Affected Communities

Blog

from NRDC - Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

By Barry Nelson

Coalition viewpoint...When the BDCP process first began, all groups were invited to become participating members. Numerous groups declined the offer, citing the process was a disguised attempt to build a peripheral canal. Instead of becoming participants, these groups sat on the sidelines and took ever opportunity to criticize the BDCP both in testimony at BDCP hearings and a massive public relations campaign. Calls now to bring these groups into the official BDCP process ignores their previous actions.

Panel calls Delta recovery plan woefully incomplete

from San Jose Mercury News

Panel calls Delta recovery plan woefully incomplete

Story

from Contra Costa Times – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Imperial Valley Water Shortage: The “Micro-Dam”

TV News

from KPBS – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

Where’s the urgency on dam repair?

Editorial

from Bakersfield Californian – Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

News articles and links from Dec. 8, 2010

A Water Agenda for Governor Brown – Incorporating the Best Available Science

Blog

From NRDC – Tuesday, Dec. 7 2010

by Barry Nelson

California faces complex water management challenges. Using the best available science to guide water management discussions is one of the keys to developing workable solutions.

Coalition viewpoint...The “virtual river,” as identified in previous blogs, ignores the need to develop additional water supplies, increase storage facilities and an improved conveyance system to deliver that water. Conservation and continued water use efficiency must be a part of our future efforts but agreement by multiple interests has been reached that new water supplies must be part of the solution.

It’s difficult to accept the plea to apply “best available science” when and at the same time abandon objections to current biological opinions governing the flow of water through the Delta. A federal judge has already ruled that those opinions are flawed for, in part, ignoring the impacts on humans. We’ve already seen those impacts in farmworker families forced to stand in food lines because of lost jobs resulting from water cutbacks directed by the opinions. Perhaps it would be better to call for “best reasonable science.”

Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces Appointments

Press Release

From Gov. Office – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

How to balance science, dollars in sewage flap

Editorial

from Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

What’s at stake in fight over sewage

Story

from Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

Are we trying to save salmon or to stop farming and development

Blog

From Pacific Legal Foundation – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

By Anne Hayes

Balance and leadership: Keys to solving the State’s water crisis

Statement

from Coalition for a Sustainable Delta – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Critics ignore cause of salmon decline

Statement

From CFWC – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Imperial Valley Water Shortage: Tough Choices Ahead

TV News

from KPBS – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

Environmental water group agrees with Westlands – a little

Blog

from Fresno Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

By Mark Grossi

Environmental Water Caucus Sens Delta Solutions Letter to Interior Official

Blog

from Hydraulic Brotherhood - Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

by Lloyd Carter

More burdensome water regulations around corner for California farmers

Story

from Western Farm Press – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

US governors from western states debate water laws

Story

from San Francisco Chronicle – Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

News articles and links from Dec. 7, 2010

San Mateo County fishermen share pain of salmon collapse

Story

from Oakland Tribune – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...If Thompson is so indignant in demanding science rule the decision-making process, perhaps he should look at the scientific study done by a federal agency that places the primary cause of the salmon decline at ocean conditions. Citing a study from an obviously biased source that the salmon industry could create 94,000 jobs and $5.7 billion in economic activity is incredulous when a similar study by Dr. Jeffrey Mount from the University of Pacific placed the impacts at only 1,823 jobs and $118.4 million in lost income.

Speier shouldn’t blame farmers for salmon decline

Opinion

from SF Chronicle- Monday, Dec. 6, 2010

By Anne Hayes, Pacific Legal Foundation

Coalition viewpoint....Finally, a voice of reason. Everyone is better served if we stick to the facts and work together for a resolution to California’s water problem. The California Farm Water Coalition has long suggested that a secure water future will include conservation, continued water use efficiency, increased storage and an improved conveyance system to move the water to where it is needed.

Proposal to upgrade is an expensive experiment

Viewpoint

from Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

by Matthew Mahood, President/CEO of Sacramento Metro Chamber

Time for Sacramento to update sewage plant

Viewpoint

from Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

By Pamela Creedon, CVRWQCB executive officer

Sacramento Bee on Wastewater Rates

Blog

from Valley Economy – Monday, Dec. 6, 2010

By Dr. Jeffrey Michael, UOP

Correction for Dec. 7

from Chico Enterprise Record – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

'Bubble curtain' planned for slough to steer salmon to safety

Story

from Sacramento Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Salmon count rising in Stanislaus River

Story

from Modesto Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Third of groundwater monitoring wells down

Story

from Enterprise Record – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Can’t walk away from the Delta

Editorial

from The Reporter – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

Dam repairs could take many years

Story

from Bakersfield Californian – Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

News articles and links from Dec. 6, 2010

Saving salmon: Decline of iconic fish hurting economy

Story

from Daily Journal – Monday, Dec. 6, 2010

‘Salmon summit’ over decimated species

Story

from SF Chronicle – Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010

Summit focuses on restoration of Calif salmon runs

Story

from Fresno Bee – Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010

‘Salmon summit’ focuses on restoration of state salmon runs

Story

from SV Mercury-News – Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...It has been popular for critics of farm water to claim that Delta pumps sending water to San Joaquin Valley farms are killing huge numbers of fish and causing the decline in salmon numbers. Yet, federal agencies now point to a diminishing food supply in the ocean caused by warming water temperatures as the leading cause for the drop in salmon. Other studies are identifying similar effects in the Delta such as poor water quality resulting from ammonium discharges in wastewater dumped in the Sacramento River. Predators are also identified as a major problem as striped bass in the Delta await juvenile salmon making their way to the ocean. It may be easy to point an accusing finger at the Delta pumps but science is proving otherwise.

Regulators set to address Sacramento Delta’s biggest sewer plant

Story

from CC Times – Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010

Will water go to the highest bidder?

Opinion

from Record Searchlight – Monday, Dec. 6, 2010

Storms slowly refilling local reservoirs

Story

from Fresno Bee – Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010

The ground shifting beneath them

Blog

from On the public record – Friday, Dec. 3, 2010

Friant-Kern Canal getting needed repairs

Story

from Porterville Recorder – Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010

A Water Agenda for Governor Brown – Incorporating Credible Economics and Financing

Blog

from NRDC – Friday, Dec. 3, 2010

General Plan suit inevitable

Editorial

from Chico Enterprise Record - Friday, Dec. 3, 2010

News articles and links from Dec. 3, 2010

A Water Agenda for Gov. Brown – Tapping into the Virtual River

Blog

from NRDC – Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

By Barry Nelson

Coalition viewpoint...Several points need to be recognized:

1. Conservation, recycling, increased efficiency are all part of the solution to California’s water future but left out of the equation is additional storage and an improved conveyance to deliver the water.

2. You’re confusing developed water with applied water. Your use of the term ‘developed water’ implies that all water stored in reservoirs is used and that is not true.

a. California’s Water Plan reports applied water use to explain where the water is being used. Here are the numbers for the last three Water Plans:

i. 1998---46% environmental; 43%/agricultural/ and 11% urban.

ii. 2005---48%/environmental; 41% agricultural; and 11% urban.

iii. 2009---49.7%/environmental; 39.8%/agricultural; and 10.4%/urban.

3. Farm water interests are engaged in implementing SB7X 7 guidelines in a manner that is reasonable, practical and cost effective.

4. Establishing water application and consumption rates for principal crops and soils borders on a socialist approach to telling farmers what they can grow and not grow and must be carefully evaluated.

Plan best way to meet state’s important goals

Commentary

From The Signal – Friday, Dec. 3, 2010

By Dan Masnada/Dirk Marks, Castaic Lake Water Agency

Viewpoints: Water wars hinder sound decision-making

from Sacramento Bee – Friday, Dec. 3, 2010

by Stan Dean, Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District engineer

Is It a Water-Rights Fee or a Backdoor Tax? Calif.'s High Court Will Decide

Story

from NYTimes – Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

News articles and links from Dec. 2, 2010

Special interests threaten salmon fisheries

Forum

from SF Chronicle – Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

By Rep. Jackie Speier

Coalition viewpoint...Omitted as a cause of salmon decline is warm water temperatures in the ocean that depletes the salmon food supply. This factor is identified by federal fish agencies as the leading cause of he dwindling salmon population. Also omitted is another leading factor---the presence of predator fish in the Delta, such as the striped bass, which feed on juvenile salmon on their way to the ocean. Wastewater discharge into the delta with high levels of ammonium are also identified as damaging Delta fish. The author fails to recognize that in times of drought, all water users experience a drop in supplies, including farmers.

According to an April 2010 study by UOP’s Dr. Jeffrey Michael, impacts to the salmon industry total 1,823 jobs and $118.4 million, not the inflated numbers suggested by the author. Read Michael’s report here.

Westlands, San Luis water authority are connected

Blog

from Fresno Bee – Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010

Coalition viewpoint...Another clarification is needed. Despite the claim---“ The Chronicle's description made it sound like the water authority is a separate entity from Westlands. They are not.”---these two entities are separate decision-making bodies. While some may “argue that Westlands is the major player in the San Luis & Delta-Mendota authority,” they only receive one vote when it comes to making decisions. Other member districts have the same voting power as Westlands. The decision by the Authority to withdraw from further funding for BDCP was approved by a majority of its members and was not determined by Westlands. Likewise, the Authority does not make the decisions relating to Westlands policy.

A Glimmer of Consensus amidst the Sound and the Fury

Blog

from NRDC – Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

by Kate Poole

Westlands leaves the table- now what?

Blog

From EDF – Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010

By Spreck Rosekrans is an Economic Analyst at EDF

Regulators set to address Delta's biggest sewer plant

Story

from Contra Costa Times – Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

Treated sewage discharge into the Bay not seen as major problem

Story

from Contra Costa Times – Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010

McClintock poised to lead in Congress for Auburn dam revival

Story

from Auburn Journal – Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010

The KBRA did not end Klamath Water User Litigation

Blog

from Klamblog – Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010

How will the power from the Klamath dams be replaced if they are removed?

Story

from Siskiyou Daily News – Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010

Lake Oroville at lowest level of state’s major reservoirs

Story

from Mercury Register – Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010

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