Bay Delta
Conservation Plan
From: Staff, Chico
Enterprise-Record
We agree with Gov. Jerry Brown:
We don't trust a divided Congress in Washington to solve our state's water
problems. The problem is, we don't trust Brown to do so either.
Brown's emergency drought
declaration last month seems to have the same objective as legislation in
Congress - to pump more water out of the delta and send it south. Both would
throw out provisions of environmental law, which means they are pitting the
delta ecosystem against San Joaquin Valley farmers and water-strapped cities.
Coalition response... The Bay Delta Conservation isn't a drought planning tool. It is a
long-term piece of California's water system designed to provide reliable
deliveries of water to many people and thousands of farmers that already have a
legal right to use that water, while restoring more than 100,000 acres of the
Delta to habitat. The tunnels wouldn't be operating right now because there is
little water in the system. They would have, however, been enormously helpful
last year when 800,000 acre-feet of water was flushed out to the ocean instead
of being put to use by farms, homes and businesses throughout California.
Water Bond
From: Rory Carroll, Reuters
California's senate leader is
preparing a $644 million emergency drought relief bill designed to quickly fund
shovel-ready projects to combat the state's severe water shortage, according to
a draft of the bill.
The wide-ranging effort would
fast-track water supply projects, speed up funding for expanded use of recycled
water and stormwater capture projects, and better monitor and manage
groundwater resources.
Water Supply
From: David Pierson, Los
Angeles Times
Beneath unyielding blue skies on
a recent afternoon, Ryan Indart knelt down to examine what was left of one of
his sheep pastures.
Land that should have been lush
with native grasses this time of year has been reduced to powdery dirt,
splotched with a few withered strands of filaree and foxtail. And where there's
no vegetation, there are no sheep.
From: AP Staff, Visalia Times-Delta; Modesto Bee; Contra Costa Times; San Jose Mercury News
Federal officials have announced
$20 million in aid for California farmers affected by the ongoing drought.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement on a conference call with reporters
on Tuesday. He said the money will be earmarked for improvements in irrigation
and assistance with water facilities, among other things.
From: John Holland, Modesto
Bee
The federal drought aid announced
Tuesday could bring drinking water to some beef cattle, improved irrigation
systems for some farmers, and soil erosion controls for those who will not grow
a crop this year.
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture is providing $20 million to California, a small fraction of the
federal aid that could come if the drought does not ease.
From: Staff, Modesto Bee
In this severe drought, House
Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy wants to "ensure any water that does move
down the Sacramento River ultimately flows to Kern County and Central
California." The Bakersfield Republican ought to use his clout and ability
to help craft a statewide solution - not simply siphon water away from others
who need it just as much.
As it is, McCarthy and
congressional Republicans from the south San Joaquin Valley, with support from
the entire California Republican delegation, have reintroduced a failed 2011
bill that would ship more water out of the Delta and block efforts to restore
the San Joaquin River.
From: Michael Doyle, Sacramento Bee; Merced Sun-Star; Modesto Bee
The Agriculture Department on
Tuesday offered new aid to water-starved California farmers, while lawmakers
tussled over competing anti-drought proposals.
Underscoring how California's
water crisis has reached a political boil, top federal and state officials
jointly announced the relatively modest new package of aid that features $20
million for agricultural water conservation efforts. Additional aid for California
will be announced by the Forest Service on Thursday.
From: Bartholomew
Sullivan, Ventura County Star
California's two Democratic
senators sided with the majority in a 68-32 vote for the farm bill Tuesday,
with Dianne Feinstein calling it "a win for farmers and consumers."
The $956 billion, five-year bill
passed the House last week with all three members representing Ventura County -
Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa
Clarita, and Lois Capps, D-Santa Barbara - voting for it. President Barack
Obama is expected to sign it quickly.
From: Staff, Ventura County
Star
Ventura County growers probably
will receive none of the $20 million for California agricultural water
conservation efforts announced Tuesday by the Agriculture Department, said John
Krist, CEO of the Ventura County Farm Bureau.
"The way this particular
program seems to be targeted is looking at primarily growers who've seen their
either Central Valley water project or state water project deliveries cut back
because of drought," he said. "That doesn't describe anybody in
Ventura County.
From: Staff, Santa Cruz
Sentinel
Fish or families? Locally,
the historic drought is having an impact that will only intensify unless
substantial rainfall comes this season.
Monday, it was the Santa Cruz
Water Commission's turn, recommending the Santa Cruz City Council approve water
rationing of between 15 to 25 percent this spring. To do that, the council will
have to declare a water emergency, which will allow the Water Department to
mandate conservation and raise the price of water to cover shortfalls because
of less consumption.
From: Andrew Creasey,
Marysville Appeal-Democrat
It's like waiting for the other
shoe to drop, or maybe it's lots of other shoes. Local agencies already know
the drought will affect their water deliveries to a historic degree. All that's
left is figuring how much water, if any, will be delivered for summer crops and
city supplies.
On Friday, the State Water
Resources Control Board announced a curtailment of all post-1914 water rights
holders, which will affect about 500 water contracts in Yuba, Suter and Colusa
counties.
Now, as water managers wait for
those curtailment notices to arrive, the Bureau of Reclamation and other
federal partners will announce additional responses to the drought at a press
conference today in Sacramento.
From: Josh Richmond, San Jose Mercury News; Contra Costa Times; Santa Cruz Sentinel
The House of Representatives is
expected to pass a water bill Wednesday that Republicans call a necessity for
drought-stricken California, but which Democrats label a "water grab"
and political power play that undermines years of delicate negotiations.
The bill -- which opponents say
would give more water to farmers at the expense of the environment -- is
probably dead on arrival in the Democrat-controlled Senate, where both of
California's senators oppose it. But the bill, which has drawn a scathing
criticism from Gov. Jerry Brown, highlights a deepening partisan divide over
solving the Golden State's water woes now and for decades to come in a way that
balances the needs of farmers, environmentalists and average Californians who
expect clean water when they turn on the tap.
From: Rob Parsons, Merced
Sun-Star
Merced farmers already expect
extreme water shortages this year and the available water likely will be more
expensive.
Merced Irrigation District
officials on Tuesday took the first step toward raising water rates for growers
and may seek to increase a maintenance assessment, commonly referred to as a
standby fee, for all farmers in the district.
Transfers
From: J.N. Sbranti, Modesto
Bee
Tuolumne County is desperate for
water. Forget washing cars or filling swimming pools. The situation is far
worse than that.
Tuolumne's Board of Supervisors
declared a state of emergency Tuesday, warning that the drought poses "an
imminent threat of disaster" that may "cause widespread harm to
people, businesses, property, communities, wildlife and recreation."
Farming
From: David Bitton, Marysville
Appeal-Democrat
Water, or the lack of it, was the
topic of concern for more than 100 people who attended Tuesday's South
Sacramento Valley Winter Almond Meeting.
The annual event, which had
previously been held in Arbuckle, was moved this year to the Colusa County
Fairgrounds to coincide with the 49th annual Colusa Farm Show.
From: Kathleen Hennessey, Los
Angeles Times
The Obama administration has
selected the locations for seven new regional centers that will help farmers
and ranchers adjust to the increasing risks and extreme weather associated with
climate change.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
will announce the sites Wednesday, according to a White House official.
President Obama unveiled the program this summer as part of his broader plan to
address global warming.
Press Release
From: Staff, Bureau of
Reclamation Press Release
The Bureau of Reclamation
announces the availability of up to $2 million for award under the Bay-Delta
Restoration Program: CALFED Water Use Efficiency Grants. The federal funding
cap is $300,000 per award, not to exceed 50 percent of project costs.
The Bay-Delta Restoration Program
is a collaborative effort among 25 state and federal agencies. Their joint
mission is to improve California's water supply and the ecological health of
the San Francisco Bay/ Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Bay-Delta). The Bay-Delta
provides water for urban, agricultural, industrial and environmental uses.
From: Staff, Bureau of Reclamation
Press Release
The Bureau of Reclamation and the
Natural Resources Conservation Service are collaborating in providing federal
funds to California water districts, irrigation districts, tribes, and other
organizations with water or power delivery authority located in California to
improve the efficiency of agricultural water use throughout the state.
One of the worst droughts in
decades prompted Governor Jerry Brown to issue an emergency drought
proclamation on January 17. In order to provide flexibility for local and state
water managers, the Obama Administration is committed to coordinated federal
actions and investments.
From: Staff, ACWA
Whether it's the lowest Sierra
snowpack on record or the historic announcement of zero deliveries from the
State Water Project, it's clear that California is in a drought of epic
proportions.
Local, state and federal agencies
are mobilizing to address the challenge, but experts agree we are in unchartered
territory. What will these unprecedented conditions and unprecedented response
measures mean for Californians in 2014? How will impacts of the drought
reverberate across the state this summer?
WHAT: 2014 Drought Briefing -
Impacts and Actions: What You Need to Know
WHEN: Friday, February 14, 2014,
9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Crest Theater, 1013 K
Street, Sacramento
For more information go to www.acwa.com
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