Thursday, January 27, 2011

News articles and links from Jan. 27, 2011

Allocations Show a Better Water Year for California

Blog

By Doug Obegi

From NRDC – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Coalition response...San Joaquin Valley farmers with State Water Project contracts and 25 million Californians will pay as if they are receiving 100% of their contracted supply of water this year. Yet, they will only receive 60% of their supply from the SWP according to current estimates. That does not seem to be the “manufacture” of a crisis as described in this blog. The unwillingness to move forward with a conveyance system to safely move water around the Delta to these users is another crisis. The further refusal to acknowledge that guidelines that keep water in the Delta beyond environmental and fishery needs instead of allowing it to be used by California’s public is another crisis. A recently released report by the Environmental Water Caucus (that includes this blogger’s organization) said, “... there is no such thing as ‘too much water’ for the environment.” Statements like that do little to assure Californians of a stable future and economy. Perhaps it’s time for the author to get a reality check and see what has been the human cost of water supply cuts and then work toward real balance for California.

Smoked Salmon and the State of the Union

Blog

By Barry Nelson

From NRDC – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Coalition response...The phrase “agricultural water subsidies” as used by this author rings hollow upon a factual analysis. Farmers receiving water from the federal CVP pay the full cost of operation and maintenance of the system and most construction costs. The only part of the CVP system that they do not pay is the interest on the initial construction costs of the CVP. Considering the amount of fruits and vegetables grown with that water, it seems like a pretty good investment.

Plan for Delta Water Use Should End Big Agriculture Takeover of State Water Project, Groups Say

Release

From Biological Diversity – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Coalition response...These groups fail to acknowledge the role that federal biological opinions have in restricting water deliveries from the Delta to users south of the Delta, including farms and 25 million Californians. They further ignore the benefit of the Kern Water Bank under its current ownership. The operation of the Kern Water Bank helped in offsetting supply losses caused by the biological opinions by providing a supply of water that was previously stored. The Kern Water bank is working for the benefit of California, despite the innuendos expressed by these groups.

Delta Independent Science Board releases report on Delta stressors

Report

From Delta Stewardship Council – Monday, Jan. 24, 2011

Comments Submitted on Reasonable Use Report

Release

From ACWA – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Where Westlands water flows, California’s agriculture follows

Story

From Grist – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Delta Smelt and Water Supplies – Part One

Blog

By Tom Philp

From SF Chronicle – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Possible Shasta Dam changes, water conservation discussed

Story

From Red Bluff Daily News – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Siskiyou letter requests McClintock’s help on Klamath issues

Story

From Siskiyou Daily News – Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011

Wolk to serve on committees hearing legislation on key state and local issues

Release

From Wolk – Monday, Jan. 24 2011

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