Monday, May 13, 2013

News articles and links from May 13, 2013


BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN

Editorial
From Sacramento Bee - Sunday, May 12, 2013

Coalition response...Public water agencies serve the public on a not-for-profit basis. When they do not receive supplies for which they have already contracted, the cost of water to their customers goes up. These public water agencies play a pivotal role in keeping California's economy moving forward and it is discouraging to read an editorial that discredits their role as they seek reliable water supplies for their customers.

For more than 20 years State and federal fish agencies have attempted to protect and restore imperiled fish species through regulating water supplies. These actions have included in-stream temperature control, Delta outflow (fresh water poured into the ocean), and curtailed pumping to the extent that though northern California storage is in excess of 100% of average, today's water supplies for farmers and communities on the San Joaquin Valley's Westside is only 20% of what they need.  Despite these actions that have resulted in money spent, water lost and socio-economic upheaval in rural and disadvantaged agricultural communities, little if any improvement for these species has been accomplished.

Despite what this editorial purports, independent scientific evidence has already demonstrated that increasing the flow of water through the Delta will not increase the number of salmon returning to spawn or the number of Delta smelt. So what are we trying to achieve? 

The safeguard of "adaptive management" is part of BDCP and will adjust operations in accordance with future unknown effects. Exports may go up if conditions improve or they may go down if there are unforeseen problems. Sacramento River flows change year-to-year and month-to-month and to set a minimum flow standard today prevents future conditions from being considered. "Adaptive management" is an important tool that should be allowed to function in order to protect all interests.

TRANSFERS

Editorial
From Redding Record Searchlight - Sunday, May 12, 2013

Coalition response...This editorial does a good job in providing the facts about the proposed transfer of water by ACID. Federal regulations require the district to install monitoring wells to gauge the effects the transfer might have on local groundwater supplies. Additional State regulations mandate that the area of origin must not be negatively impacted from the transfer. The State also requires a portion of the water to remain in the Delta to enhance the environment. These safeguards are in place to protect those who would transfer available water supplies to those in need and receive funding for projects that will benefit the customers of ACID.

BAY DELTA CONSERVATION PLAN

Story
From The Record - Monday, May 13, 2013

Story
From Miami Herald - Sunday, May 12, 2013

Story
From Chico Enterprise-Record - Saturday, May 11, 2013

Story
From The Record - Saturday, May 11, 2013

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From Sacramento Bee - Saturday, May 11, 2013
From Fresno Bee - Saturday, May 11, 2013

TRANSFERS

Story
From Marysville Appeal-Democrat - Friday, May 10, 2013

LEGISLATURE

Story
From North Bay Business Journal - Monday, May 13, 2013

CONGRESS

Editorial
From Fresno Bee - Monday, May 13, 2013

Story
From Sacramento Bee - Sunday, May 12, 2013

PEOPLE

Story
From Desert Sun - Sunday, May 12, 2013

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