Farm Water News: News articles and links from Feb. 9, 2012

Fisheries

It is Time to Restore Salmon to the San Joaquin River

Blog

By Monty Schmitt

From NRDC - Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2012

Coalition response... By his own admission, the author acknowledges that work has yet to be done to provide a clear pathway to the Delta and it is the responsibility of the state and federal fishery agencies to make a determination as to when conditions are suitable. Those agencies have not made that determination and ramping up the introduction of salmon will only cause the unnecessary loss of salmon. This is a surprising recommendation by an individual whose organization was part of the lawsuit.

Also, actions taken during the past years as part of the Restoration Program have had negative impacts on some farmers along the San Joaquin River. Flows sent down the river have caused seepage onto nearby land and flooded crops. Continued efforts in the program must take this impact into consideration. The timing of future water surges down the river must be managed in a way to avoid these negative consequences. While the water management goal actions are welcome, it is encouraging that during the last two years certain aspects of the water management goal actions have resulted in some mitigation of the impacts and the wet conditions have helped, but the author is just plain wrong in his assertion that there has been a net water supply benefit to farmers who gave up water to the restoration program.

WATER SUPPLY

Enlarging Shasta Lake feasible, U.S. report says

Story

From SF Chronicle - Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Rules, money blocking dam projects, officials say

Story

From The Record - Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Water rights: diversion or consumption?

Blog

By David Zetland

From Aguanomics - Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012

Data shows snowpack at 37 percent of normal