Coalition viewpoint...Unjustified, bad science, over-appropriation, sloppy science, uni-directional prescriptions that ignore California’s water needs, arbitrary, capricious and material bias are all terms used by the judge in describing the failure by FWS in developing the current biological opinion to protect smelt. These terms strike at the core of the reasoning used by FWS that resulted in job losses, fallowed fields and an increased number of farmworkers forced to stand in food lines. California water is too valuable a resource to be subjected to governance by a federal agency that fails to adequately provide for the people of our state.
(Read the judge’s opinion by clicking here and scrolling down.)
U.S. agency’s smelt plan ‘arbitrary,’ judge rules
Story
from SF Chronicle – Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
A federal judge has ruled that a landmark 2008 environmental study laying the groundwork for controversial water cutbacks from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta relied on faulty science.
Judge slams ‘sloppy’ smelt rules
Story
from The Record – Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
A federal judge on Tuesday struck down rules protecting the diminutive Delta smelt, saying that the public cannot afford “sloppy science” and one-way remedies that “ignore California’s water needs.”
Judge says Delta pumping rules, meant to protect fish, are too restrictive
from SJ Mercury News – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Judge says Delta pumping rules, meant to protect fish, are too restrictive
Story
from Contra Costa Times – Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
The same federal judge who helped set in motion protests in California’s farm country when he ruled three years ago that Delta pumping limits were too lax to prevent fish from going extinct determined Tuesday the new regulations go too far the other way.
Federal judge rejects parts of plan to protect Delta smelt
from Sacramento Bee – Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
Federal judge finds major flaws in smelt plan
Story
from Fresno Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
A federal judge in Fresno on Tuesday invalidated key parts of a much-debated plan to protect the threatened delta smelt.
Federal judge orders rewrite of delta smelt plan
from KFSN – Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
Federal judge orders rewrite of delta smelt plan
from Modesto Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Federal judge orders rewrite of delta smelt plan
from Ventura County Star – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Federal judge orders rewrite of delta smelt plan
from North County Times – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Federal judge orders rewrite of delta smelt plan
Story
from Fresno Bee – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
A federal judge on Tuesday ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rewrite parts of its plan to protect a tiny, threatened fish that lives in California’s freshwater delta.
Statement by Westlands Water District regarding the U.S. District Court ruling on Delta smelt
Statement
from Aquafornia – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Today the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California issued its decision on the validity of the Delta smelt biological opinion...
State Water Contractors response to Judge Wanger’s ruling
Statement
From Aquafornia – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
A federal judge overruled today most of the 2008 federal biological opinion for Delta smelt and directed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rewrite the opinion.
PLF Statement on Judge Wanger’s ruling declaring the Delta smelt biological opinion to be illegal
Statement
from Aquafornia – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
This afternoon, Federal Judge Oliver Wanger of the Eastern District of California issued his long-awaited ruling in the The Consolidated Delta Smelt Cases...
Statement
from Aquafornia – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
In March of 2009...a lawsuit against the US Department of the Interior and US Fish and Wildlife Service....
Judge’s Ruling on Biological Opinion Confirms Overall Approach, Asks for Refinement
Blog
from NRDC – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Today, Judge Wanger issued his long-awaited ruling on the legality of the Fish & Wildlife Service’s protections for threatened and endangered fish in the Delta.
Editorial
from North County Times – Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010
Two recent news stories serve to illustrate the odd and misplaced priorities that we Californians have.
Some question claims of New Melones draining
Story
from Sonora Union Democrat – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Oakdale Irrigation District last week stunned county leaders with assertions that new Melones Reservoir will periodically go dry due to federal efforts to protect downstream fish.
Effort Falters on San Francisco Bay Delta
Story
from NY Times – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
A high-stakes effort to remake the San Francisco Bay Delta, the West coast’s largest estuary, is looking as fragile as the degraded delta itself these days.
Dam operators prepare for rain
Story
from Redding Record Searchlight – Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010
Dam operators have more than doubled Sacramento River flows to make room in lake Shasta as forecasters call for a week of rain starting Friday.
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