News articles and links from Oct. 10, 2011

Water supply

Water wars don't have to happen

Editorial

From Chico-Enterprise Record - Monday, Oct. 10, 2011

Coalition response...The need to increase storage to offset future drought years is imperative to secure a reliable water future for California. While this year's water conditions have generally moved water stories off the front page of most newspapers, the need to resolve the conflict surrounding environmental restrictions on water deliveries is just as important as during recent years of drought. These regulations continue to impact water deliveries from the Delta. Despite the high levels of pumping this year, "3 million acre-feet of water flowed to the sea in just 10 days" as recognized by the editorial. Meanwhile, State and federal public water agencies continue to see their deliveries reduced because of ongoing environmental restrictions.

Yes, adding more storage to our state is important, as is continued conservation. Just as important is a resolution to environmental regulations that take water away from food production and 25 million Californians.

WATER SUPPLY

California Water Commission to meet on October 19

Announcement

From Aquafornia - Monday, Oct. 10, 2011

DELTA

Lode water officials critical of Delta restoration proposals

Story

FromThe Record - Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011

GROUNDWATER QUALITY

Groundwater had elevated levels of contaminants in Ventura County areas

Story

From Ventura County Star - Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011

LEGISLATURE

Governor signs Huffman bill providing win-win for coastal salmon and vineyards

Press release

From Aquafornia - Monday, Oct. 10, 2011

News articles and links from Oct. 7, 2011

PEOPLE

The man with his hand on California's spigot

Story

From LA Times - Friday, Oct. 7, 2011

Judge Wanger confirmed for ACWA conference

Announcement

From ACWA - Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

Brown water

Column

By Don Curlee

From Hanford Sentinel - Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

California Water Commission hosts water storage workshop Oct. 25

Story

From Western Farm Press - Friday, Oct. 7, 2011

GROUNDWATER

California's battle with the tragedy of the commons

Report

From Global Water Intelligence - Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

DELTA

Coalition for a Sustainable Delta on YouTube: In-Delta diversions

Video

From Aquafornia - Friday, Oct. 7, 2011

Future of the Delta could be tourism, according to state report

Story

From Contra Costa Times - Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

FISHERIES

Court rejects lawsuit that would have closed 2011 Sacramento fall-run Chinook salmon season

Blog

From KMTG Natural Resources - Friday, Oct. 7, 2011

News articles and links from Oct. 6, 2011

Water supply

California must boost water storage

Editorial

From Contra Costa Times - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

Coalition response...This editorial gets it right, almost. While the need to increase storage to offset future drought years is irrefutable, the editorial dispatches the effect of environmental regulations on water deliveries. Restrictions during the recent drought were caused by both the reduced water supply and environmental regulation. These regulations continue to impact water deliveries from the Delta. Despite the high levels of pumping this year, "3 million acre-feet of water flowed to the sea in just 10 days" as recognized by the editorial. Meanwhile, State and federal public water agencies continue to see their deliveries reduced because of ongoing environmental restrictions.

Adding more storage to our state is important, as is continued conservation. Just as important is a much needed resolution to environmental regulations that take water away from food production and 25 million Californians.

Congress

Critics blast bill to expand McClure

Story

From Merced Sun-Star - Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

From Modesto Bee - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

From Fresno Bee - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

Denham's water storage bill passes out of committee, moves to House floor

Story

From Merced Sun-Star - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

Addressing water storage and conveyance problems in the Valley

Commentary

By Rep. Jeff Denham

From Aquafornia - Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011

Coalition response...The House committee made the right decision in approving legislation that will help safeguard the future water supply that is so desperately needed in our state. More storage and continued conservation will be needed in the future and the legislation answers the need for more storage. This measure also provides the flexibility in managing a valuable water supply that will benefit immediate users of Lake McClure water but also all water users throughout California.

In 1992, an amendment to the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act encroached on the FERC boundary for Lake McClure. This legislation would restore 1800 linear feet for valuable water storage for use in wet years out of the 122.5 miles of the river that is designated as wild and scenic.

PEOPLE

SCWC 27th annual meeting & dinner

Announcement

From Southern California Water Committee

WATER SUPPLY

Informational hearing set on water reliability and seismic risk

Announcement

From ACWA - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

Humblodt supervisors get Klamath dam update

Story

From Eureka Times-Standard - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

Klamath agreement implications are big for Siskiyou County

Opinion

By Curtis Knight

From Siskiyou Daily News - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

DELTA

Congressman McNerney leads charge against peripheral canal

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

SALTON SEA

IID's proposal is a realistic approach to saving the sea

Viewpoint

By Kevin Kelley

From Desert Sun - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

News articles and links from Oct. 5, 2011

Resident to MID: Don't sell our precious water

Viewpoint

By Patricia Kopf

From Modesto Bee - Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

Coalition response...It would be best to allow MID to complete its research regarding any potential sale of water to San Francisco before hitting the 'panic button.' MID is governed by a publicly elected board of directors that is charged with making decisions in the best interest of the district. Water transfers like this have helped fund infrastructure improvements in agricultural water districts all over California and they encourage flexibility in managing our water supplies. Once all of the information is gathered and presented to the MID board, they will be able to make an informed decision on whether it is in the best interest of the district to move forward with the proposal. Remember, the long-term security of MID's water supply remains secure since this proposal involves selling a limited amount of water, not the sale of the water rights themselves.

WATER SUPPLY

With drought long passed, will voters back pricey water bond?

Story

From California Watch - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

DELTA

Feds' smelt-over-people policy is all wet!

Video

From Pacific Legal Foundation - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

California congressmen express concern over peripheral canal

Story

From Central Valley Business Times - Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

QUANTIFICATION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT

IID director, residents question new QSA plan B

Story

From IV Press - Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011

News articles and links from Oct. 4, 2011

Delta

Delta gates will close in effort to aid salmon migration

Story

From Sacramento Bee - Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

The Delta Cross Channel gates on the Sacramento River near Walnut Grove will be closed today at 10 a.m. as an experiment to help salmon.

Salmon hatchery gets good news

Story

From Contra Costa Times - Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

From San Jose Mercury News - Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

Coalition response...The decision to close the gates involved input from many water interests, including the public water agencies that deliver water to farms. These groups agreed that the closure, in combination with current water conditions, was a worthwhile effort to determine if the results would benefit salmon. Moving ahead with the closure is a reflection of the cooperation among the multiple water interests working together.

WATER SUPPLY

WKWD puts more water in the bank

Story

From Taft Midway Driller - Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

Trouble bubbling beneath the Kern River

Column

By Lois Henry

From Bakersfield Californian - Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

Stockton water project on target

Story

From The Record - Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011

News articles and links from Oct. 3, 2011

Delta

Despite controversy over regulations, record water deliveries pumped from Delta

Story

From Contra Costa Times - Friday, Sept. 30, 2011

From San Jose Mercury News - Friday, Sept. 30, 2011

Coalition response...This article would have been better placed on the Opinion page. Selective use of information and old news has the effect of weaving a story that seems intent on misleading readers.

The high volume of water delivered this year to public water agencies is no surprise due to the weather conditions that erased recent drought impacts. The author acknowledges that drought resulted in some of the cuts water users experienced. Doesn't it make sense that the wet conditions California experienced this year would lead to higher water deliveries?

The reference in this article to courtroom decisions that happened four years ago ignores what this very paper reported on September 23 about Judge Oliver Wanger's decision on pumping restrictions and testimony by two federal scientists - "The only inference that the court can draw is that it is an attempt to mislead and to deceive the court into accepting what is not only not the best available science, it's not science." Why was this newer information left out of Friday's story?

It is also important to recognize that despite this year's near record rainfall, many public water agencies did not receive their full allotments because of ongoing environmental restrictions. Simply put, those restrictions, even in a very wet year, are taking water away from farms that grow food for consumers.

And finally, the introduction of a new and unnamed study "obtained by the Bay Area News Group" may be useful to the discussion of resolving the issues surrounding California water but it would have been helpful to know the study's title and where it came from.

COURTS

Judge rejects attempt to close California salmon fishery

Story

From LA Times - Friday, Sept. 30, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

UC Merced gets $2 million to track Sierra snowpack

Story

From Modesto Bee - Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

Modesto Irrigation District weighs selling water to SF

Story

From Modesto Bee - Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

San Joaquin River Restoration Program releases the final environmental document for water year 2012 interim flows

Story

From USBR - Friday, Sept. 30, 2011

DELTA

It didn't pass the 'smelt' test

Viewpoint

From Appeal-Democrat - Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

(Previously printed in the Sept. 29 edition of the Orange County Register.)

Delta water rules smelt of extremism

Commentary

By Steven Greenhut

From Orange County Register - Friday, Sept. 30, 2011

Proposed Delta tunnel could provide huge jobs boost

Blog

By Richard Atwater

From SCWC Water Blog - Friday, Sept. 30, 2011

FISHERIES

Klamath pact doesn't protect the river fishery

Viewpoint

By John DeVoe

From Sacramento Bee - Sunday, Oct. 2, 2011

News articles and links from Sept. 30, 2011

Fisheries

Delta gates will open for 10 days to help Mokelumne salmon

Blog

By Dan Bacher

From IndyBay Media - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

Coalition response...The decision to open the Cross Channel gates was part of an ongoing study and current water conditions supported the actions. Agreement among the involved groups, including public water agencies that deliver water to farmers, represents an example of working together in a cooperative manner.

PEOPLE

Powerful figure in water wars steps down

Story

From Contra Costa Times - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

From SJ Mercury News - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

WATER SUPPLY

It didn't pass the smelt test

Editorial

From Orange County Register - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

California's water rights dispute rages on

Comment

By Erin C. Herbold-Swalwell, Iowa State University

From Western Farm Press - Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

DELTA

Water tunnels, airports, stadiums, bridges...and jobs

Blog

By Tom Philp

From SF Chronicle - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011

Mountain counties invite mixed panel to speak

Story

From Mountain Democrat - Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

Agencies to assist in TUD effort

Story

From Union Democrat - Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011

FISHERIES

Officials, locals celebrate fish screen project

Story

From Patterson Irrigator - Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011