News articles and links from November 15, 2012

Fisheries

Water woes - A new report about endangered species and water

Blog

By Barry Nelson

From NRDC - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Coalition response... People interested in the health of the nation's aquatic ecosystems should be aware that NRDC omitted critical information in this blog that affects how we need to address habitat improvements in the Delta.

The author of the report cited in this blog, USGS fish biologist Noel Burkhead, was quoted in an August 10, 2012 story by Environmental & Energy writer Laura Petersen. http://www.eenews.net Petersen's story is linked in the blog but is incorrectly labeled as "...analysis by the U.S. Geological Survey" http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/bnelson/Freshwater%20species%20going%20extinct%20quicker%20than%20birds.pdf

Petersen's story said, "While he plans to further explore causes for the extinctions in future papers, Burkhead noted that habitat destruction and invasive species are two leading factors. The two most important impacts in the Delta, according to Burkhead, are the elimination of much of the beneficial aquatic habitat and predatory fish, which have exploded, more than doubling in the last 25 years. www.farmwater.org/centrarchids.pdf

In the face of more and more science to the contrary, how anyone can continue to tie water operations to the disaster that has befallen native fish species in the Delta is utterly incomprehensible.

WATER SUPPLY

Rain and snow forecast, good news for reservoirs

Story

From Sacramento Bee - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

MID board inches ahead with a pair of decisions

Editorial

From Modesto Bee - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

More users and less water are stressing the Colorado River - with serious consequences for Vegas

Story

From Las Vegas Citylife - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Breathing easier: Kern River Valley leaders like Isabella Dam "fix"

Story

From BakersfieldNOW - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Water Commission discusses public benefits of water projects eligible for funding under Bond Act

Story

From ACWA - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

Final arguments heard in Calif. water war lawsuit

Story

From Fresno Bee  - Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012

Water transfer is subsidizing the IID water department and stabilizing water rate 

Story  

From Imperial Valley Press - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

DELTA

The dog that didn't bark: Unexpectedly small effects of export changes on Delta farms

Blog

By Josue Medellin-Azuara, Richard Howitt

From California WaterBlog - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012

FISHERIES

KBRA: It's about the water -- period

Opinion

From Eureka Times-Standard - Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2012