Farm Water News: March 2012

Friday, March 30, 2012

News articles and links from March 30, 2012

Delta

Delta's woes: No easy fix, report finds

Story

From Contra Costa Times - Thursday, March 29, 2012

From San Jose Mercury News - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Coalition response...This article does a good job in presenting the views of the NRC scientists. However, the statement by the law professor from Berkeley makes one wonder how clairvoyant the professor really is. Depending on who is asked the question, the statement could have been, "Critics of water diversions from the Delta were hoping the report would point a finger at the pumps, which it didn't." People need to carefully read the report and understand what it does and does not say before jumping to conclusions.

Bits and pieces

Blog

By Alex Breitler

From The Record - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Coalition response...There are many nuggets in the study. Others include:

• "Introduced species have caused dramatic changes in habitat, prey, and predators of the listed fish species in the Delta. Introductions of nonnative species will continue into the future as management controls that substantially reduce risk are difficult and expensive to implement." --- Pages 7-8.

• "Coastal ocean productivity is one of the most significant factors determining the ocean survival of juvenile salmon and the number of adult salmon that return to spawn. When ocean conditions are unfavorable for salmon and steelhead, those effects can be partially ameliorated by increasing the diversity of wild and hatchery salmon ocean entrance timing." --- Page 8.

• "Consideration of the large number of stressors and their effects and interactions leads to the conclusion that efforts to eliminate any one stressor are unlikely to reverse declines in the listed species." --- Page 8.

There are even more nuggets; it just depends on what the reader is seeking.

WATER SUPPLY

Fingers crossed about the late-season snow

Blog

By Mark Grossi

From Fresno Bee - Thursday, March 29, 2012

March shaping up to be one of wettest in 80 years

Story

From Petaluma Press Democrat - Thursday, March 29, 2012

NID: Dramatic improvement in water supplies

Story

From YubaNet - Thursday, March 29, 2012

April 2 snow survey expected to show low snow water content

Story

From ACWA - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Feinstein ends truce, restarts water wars

Blog

By Wayne Lusvardi

From Cal Watchdog - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Officials tout low-water ag projects

Story

From Marysville Appeal-Democrat - Thursday, March 29

Eastern San Joaquin Valley picked for $5 Million in water quality funding

Story

From Central Valley Business Times - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Lack of water plagues birds; thousands dying in Siskiyou's dry refuge marshes

Story

From Redding Record Searchlight - Thursday, March 29, 2012

DELTA

Prestigious panel agrees: Delta is stressed, with no easy fix

Story

From Fresno Bee - Friday, March 30, 2012

From Sacramento Bee - Friday, March 30, 2012

Scientists: 'No silver bullet' to declining Delta

Story

From Stockton Record - Friday, March 30, 2012

A fevered first reading of the NRC Bay-Delta report

Blog

By John Fleck

From Inkstain - Thursday, March 29, 2012

FISHERIES

San Francisco Bay-Delta population of Longfin Smelt to be designated a candidate for ESA protection

Press release

From USFWS - Thursday, March 29, 2012

GROUNDWATER

New bill would make confidential groundwater info public

Story

From KQED - Thursday, March 29, 2012

Thursday, March 29, 2012

News articles and links from March 29, 2012

Delta

The National Research Council of the National Academies is releasing a report today: "Sustainable Water and Environmental Management in the California Bay-Delta." It is available on the Internet at http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13394. Following a review of the report's Summary, CFWC issued the following statement:

CFWC STATEMENT

The report by the National Research Council is excellent news for anyone interested in a solution to California's ecosystem and water supply crisis. This broad-ranging report focused on water and environmental management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The report makes clear the need for a multi-faceted approach toward solving environmental challenges that limit the water supply for millions of Californians and millions of acres of farmland.

* Multiple stressors are negatively impacting fish populations in the Delta. Addressing these stressors collectively gives the Delta a better chance for recovery. The report lists a declining habitat, predators, invasive species, water quality and ocean conditions as significant factors that put strain on the Delta.

* Focusing on a single stressor, such as reducing water deliveries to farms, homes and businesses, will not resolve the fish population problem. An approach toward multiple stressors must be undertaken to enable a rebound in fish populations and a return to water supply reliability for people.

* More study in several areas relating to the water and environmental management of the Delta water must be conducted. Those activities are currently underway through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the Delta Stewardship Council and must be continued.

* In addition to science, socioeconomic considerations and political engagement are necessary for success.. Water that flows through the Delta is delivered to 25 million Californians and to millions of acres of farmland that produce a safe and healthy food supply. Ignoring the benefits that a dependable water supply provides all of California will continue to delay the state's badly needed economic recovery.

--------------

Swimming upstream---A local water meeting produces many concerns, few answers

Story

From Chico News & Review --- Thursday, March 29, 2012

Coaliton response...Not sure where the author got the numbers for water use in California but according to the California Water Plan by the Department of Water Resources, in a "normal" year, environmental water use accounts for 40.4 million acre-feet, agriculture comes in at 35.2 million acre-feet and urban use is 9.2 million acre-feet.

WATER SUPPLY

26 organizations sound alarm on Klamath water

Press release

From YubaNet - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

GROUNDWATER

Farmers are doing their part on nitrates

Opinion

By Joel Nelson

From Fresno Bee - Thursday, March 29, 2012

DELTA

Public scoping meetings planned on EIS for remanded BOs on the coordinated long-term operation of the CVP and SWP

Press release

From USBR - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Flow discussion must be part of broad strategy to improve ecosystem health and water supply

Story

From ACWA - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

News articles and links from March 28, 2012

WATER SUPPLY

Water allowance cut choking California rebound
Story
From Western Farm Press - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Water bond teeters, may be pulled from 2012 ballot

Story
From Contra Costa Times - Tuesday, March 27, 2012
From San Jose Mercury News - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Can solid flood planning improve all California water planning?

Blog
By Jay Lund
From California Water Blog - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

TID weighs altering its water rates

Story
From Modesto Bee - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Wet March improves rangelands, snowpack

Story

From Capital Press - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Klamath Basin irrigators set for another dry year

Story

From Capital Press - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Rain delays planting in Yuba-Sutter

Story

From Marysville Appeal-Democrat - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Why energy use Is really water use

Story
From Atlantic Cities - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

DELTA

Remote participation information for today's Bay Delta Conservation Plan public meeting

Announcement
From Aquafornia - Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Shore up California water supply before major earthquake hits

Opinion
By Richard Atwater, Steve Robbins, David K. Luker
From Desert Sun - Monday, March 6, 2012

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

News articles and links from March 27, 2012

Delta

Delta pumping has unmeasured cost for endangered fish, environmentalists say

Story

From KQED - Monday, March 26, 2012

Coalition response...While this study acknowledges other factors that impact the fish populations, it continues to lay the primary blame on pumping operations in the Delta that send water to 25 million Californians and to farms that produce a healthy and safe food supply. It ignores reports that indicate that losses for salmon from predators are greater than those numbers salvaged at the Delta pumps. Salmon populations are well-documented to cycle up and down and have gone through three of these cycles since 1983. Interestingly, a four-year average of exports volumes leading up to high population versus low population shows that export volumes really don't matter. Exports were almost exactly the same over the years that population peaked as they were when populations were low ---4.85 maf for the high populations and 4.92 maf for the lows, or one and a half percent difference. Clearly, something else is affecting salmon beyond exports.

No one is denying that the numbers are startling to the casual observer. However, the study authors ignore the fact that Environmental Protection Agency officials denied endangered status to splittail, one of the fish species touted in the study, because of its high population. EPA biologists repeated their findings when discounting the high numbers salvaged at the pumps in 2011. In summary, the authors use numbers they select to support their position that the pumping of water from the Delta should be curtailed. This reasoning does not help to resolve the water issues we face today in California.

WATER SUPPLY

Despite rainfall, drought looms

Radio news

From KMJ/Fresno - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Central Valley farmers deal with water woes

TV news

From KGET/17 - Monday, March 26, 2012

DELTA

Changed location for meeting to identify Delta projects that can be broadly supported

Announcement

From Aquafornia - Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Monday, March 26, 2012

News articles and links from March 26, 2012

WATER SUPPLY

Turlock Irrigation District eyes higher farmers' water rates

Story

From Modesto Bee - Monday, March 26, 2012

California farmers feel pain

Story

From Wall Street Journal - Sunday, March 25, 2012

DuMars: Cooperation needed between IID, county, farmers

Story

From Imperial Valley Press - Sunday, March 25, 2012

Butte County dismayed at water deal in Sutter County

Story

From Marysville Appeal-Democrat - Sunday, March 25, 2012

From Oroville Mercury-Register - Sunday, March 25, 2012

NorCal officials sound alarm over water grab

Story

From Marysville Appeal-Democrat - Saturday, March 24, 2012

Inform yourselves about water issues

Letter

From Bakersfield Californian - Saturday, March 24, 2012

Quantification Settlement Agreement finances need to be discussed

Story

From Imperial Valley Press - Saturday, March 24, 2012

Methods to financing water infrastructure projects subject of House hearing

Story

From ACWA - Friday, March 23, 2012

GROUNDWATER

Gigatons of fertilizer bypass crops to contaminate California groundwater

Blog

By Jonathan Kaplan

From NRDC - Friday, March 23, 2012

DELTA

Know the facts

Letter

From Merced Sun-Star - Monday, March 26, 2012

Levee upgrades offer protection at far lower cost

Viewpoint

By Jeffrey Michael

From Sacramento Bee - Sunday, March 25, 2012

Friday, March 23, 2012

News articles and links from March 23, 2012

Delta

California water wars spotlight: Sacramento Delta

Blog

By Bob Morris

From Independent Voter Network - Friday, March 23, 2012

Coalition response...Recent research has proven that factors other than the pumps play a larger role in the dwindling salmon population. A "feeding frenzy" occurs when juvenile salmon migrate through the Delta and encounter striped bass that are waiting for an easy meal. Ocean conditions---water temperature and dwindling food supply---have also reduced the salmon numbers. Some individuals continue to lay the blame for low salmon numbers at the pumps but science is proving otherwise.

The author is correct in emphasizing the importance of the Delta in solving California's water issues. Current efforts through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the Delta Stewardship Council is drawing us closer to finding those necessary answers to both protect the Delta ecosystem and provide a reliable water supply. That water supply satisfies the needs of 25 million Californians and is used to grow a safe and healthy food supply.

WATER SUPPLY

Richvale farmers get overview of statewide water issues

Story

From Chico Enterprise-Recorder - Friday, March 23, 2012

Water deal: Farmers object to Merced Irrigation District's sale plan

Story

From Merced Sun-Star - Friday, March 23, 2012

Some growers fear worse year outside Merced Irrigation District

Story

From Merced Sun-Star - Friday, March 23, 2012

Senate leader: Another delay likely for water bond

Story

From Fresno Bee - Thursday, March 22, 2012

From Modesto Bee - Thursday, March 22, 2012

From SF Chronicle - Thursday, March 22, 2012

From SJ Mercury News - Thursday, March 22, 2012

From CBS/47 TV - Thursday March 22, 2012

No miracle but return to normal weather pattern...water district may run canal backwards

Blog

From Sierra2TheSea - Thursday, March 22, 2012

GROUNDWATER

Farming communities facing crisis over nitrate pollution, study says 

Story

From MSNBC - March 2012

DELTA

Support bill, protect Delta

Letter

From Tracy Press - Friday, March 23, 2012

A quick correction for the recent MSNBC delta smelt story

Blog

By Brandon Middleton

From Pacific Legal Foundation - Friday, March 23, 2012

An endangered fish may mean less water for California farmers

Story/Video report

From MSNBC - Thursday, March 22, 2012

Delta smelt X2 litigation resumes in the Ninth Circuit

Blog

By Brandon Middleton

From Pacific Legal Foundation - Thursday, March 22, 2012

Fact sheet sheds light on impacts of "flow-only" approach to Delta

Story

From ACWA - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

FISHERIES

Coho salmon recovery plan's 'flaws' outlined

Story

From Siskiyou Daily News - Thursday, March 22, 2012

River flow request seeks to prevent salmon die-off

Story

From Trinity Journal - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

It's time for Congress to act on Klamath legislation

Opinion

By Curtis Knight

From Mt. Shasta News - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Thursday, March 22, 2012

News articles and links from March 22, 2012

Water supply

California water wars spotlight: San Joaquin Valley

Blog

By Bob Morris

From Independent Voter Network - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Coalition response...It can never be over-emphasized that the water California farmers use goes toward the production of food and fiber products consumed by individuals and families in local markets and around the world. San Joaquin Valley farmers are some of the most efficient farmers in the world when it comes to water use. The threat to this productive and efficient use of water are federal regulations that have taken almost 4 million-acre-feet per year since 1990 away from farmers and redirected it to environmental purposes. Farmers do not argue that an adequate flow of water needs to move through the Delta to protect its ecosystem; but when water beyond that amount is allowed to flow to the ocean instead of farms and businesses, well, that is a waste. Not only is the production of a safe and healthy food supply endangered, but also jobs that impact our state's economy.    

The contribution by farmers to our state's economy goes far beyond their fields. Truck drivers, grocery clerks, waitresses and others rely on a dependable supply of products from our farms. Learn more about the value of farm water by going to http://moneygoeswherewaterflows.org/.

WATER SUPPLY

Lawyer: IID not wasting water; state ruling, Decison 1600, should be reversed

Story

From Imperial Valley Press - Thursday, March 22, 2012

Winter storms drench West Side over weekend

Story

From Patterson Irrigator - Thursday, March 22, 2012

Dry winter means tough times along the Klamath

Story

From Modesto Bee - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

From SF Chronicle - Wednesday, March 21, 2012

From SJ Mercury News - Wednesday, March 21, 2012.