Delta
Blog
By Cheyenne Cary
From Independent Voter Network - Monday, Sept. 24,
2012
Coalition response...This article fails to include a second economic study conducted by Dr.
David Sunding of UC Berkeley. This study points out that the benefits of the
tunnel conveyance are expected to outweigh the costs. The article also fails in
its comparison of BDCP to a proposal from 30 years ago. The previous plan was
primarily focused on water supply while the BDCP is designed to meet the
Legislature's mandate of co-equal goals for both a reliable water supply and
ecosystem restoration.
It has been clearly stated within
the BDCP process that the cost of the conveyance system will be paid by those
water users who receive the benefits. That means no taxpayer funds will be
involved in the conveyance costs. The cost to Southern California
residents is also misrepresented. A more likely cost, as determined by the
residents' water supplier, is an increase of only $4-5 per month per household.
Opinion
By Barbara Barrigan-Parilla and
Robert Pyke
From San Jose Mercury News - Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
Coalition response...While strengthening Delta levees is a good idea, it does not solve the
water supply problems that are confronting 25 million Californians and farmers
who are growing our food supply. More than $150 million dollars and years of
work by scientists, biologists, researchers and others have gone into
developing the Bay Delta Conservation Plan. This effort is directed by the
Legislature's mandate of co-equal goals: water reliability and restoration of
the Delta ecosystem. Critics of the proposed tunnels within the BDCP fail to
explain how only shoring up the Delta levees will provide any habitat improvements
in an otherwise channelized Delta.
Accomplishing the co-equal goals
established by the Legislature requires an improved conveyance system to safely
move water and at the same time protect the Delta ecosystem.
FISHERIES
Story
From Marysville Appeal-Democrat - Saturday, Sept. 22,
2012
Coalition response...The writer of this article exhibits his bias in an attempt to present a
news story. Selective information is presented and a lack of full disclosure is
evident. While the federal court in 2006 ordered more water for salmon, the
same court subsequently ruled that the federal fish agencies inadequately
prepared the biological opinions that govern the flow of water through the
Delta. The court said that the guidelines harmed people who rely on deliveries
of water that flows through the Delta and ordered the guidelines be rewritten.
The article repeatedly points to
water deliveries that go to 25 million Californians and farmers who use the
water to grow our food supply as the culprit for the low salmon numbers.
Remarkably, the author only quotes salmon industry officials when discussing supposed
impacts on the fish and ignores actual scientific studies that show just the
opposite. A recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration points to ocean conditions as the leading cause for the
dwindling salmon numbers in recent years. These conditions include warm water
temperatures and a loss of food supply. This report is available at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Salmon-Habitat/.
JD Richey, a fishing guide
familiar with the Sacramento River, wrote in a March 2009 edition of Western
Outdoor Magazine that predator fish also play a role in the salmon population.
He wrote: "The peak of the baby salmon's downstream journey corresponds
with the spring spawning run of striped bass. Somewhere along the line
the two crash headlong into one another. It's a one-sided blood bath, and when
the spray and foam settles, the stripers emerge fat and happy while the Chinook
suffer heavy losses." You can read the full article here: www.farmwater.org/striperseatsalmonsmolt.pdf.
PEOPLE
Press release
From DSC - Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
Story
From Central Valley Business Times - Friday, Sept. 21,
2012
WATER SUPPLY
Story
From San Diego Union-Tribune - Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012
Analysis
By John Holland
From Modesto Bee - Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012
Story
From Examiner.com - Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
RIVERS
(This opinion article was also
printed in the Modesto Bee.)
Opinion
By Mike Wade
From Merced Sun-Star - Friday, Sept. 21, 2012
DELTA
Audio report
From Central Valley Business Times - Sunday, Sept. 23,
2012
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