A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
September 4, 2007
2. Supply -
Hope for Delta deal
Panel has a protection plan, but canal issue still divisive -
Sacramento
River trust set to argue SF's water plan -
Modesto
Palmdale Water District won't need rationing
Conservation stepped up -
Los Angeles
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hope for Delta deal
Panel has a protection plan, but canal issue still divisive
Sacramento
By Matt Weiser - Bee Staff Writer
A surprising degree of consensus is emerging among longtime foes on a plan to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, but battle lines remain visible on the most controversial puzzle piece: a peripheral canal.
Representatives of 41 groups, representing an array of interests, have unveiled a plan they believe will restore the health of the Delta, while maintaining the sensitive ecosystem as a major supplier of water for the south state, and a home to farming and recreation.
The group was appointed to advise a Delta Blue Ribbon Task Force named by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, which met in
"It's a remarkable piece of work," said task force member Ray Seed, a levee expert and UC Berkeley engineering professor.
The task force was created in response to deteriorating conditions in the Delta, which supplies water for 23 million Californians and millions of acres of farmland. The heavy demand for drinking water and irrigation has harmed habitat for six fish species and raised water reliability concerns.
In June, state water export pumps near Tracy were turned off for nine days to protect the Delta smelt, a tiny fish whose numbers have plunged over the past four years. On Friday, a federal judge weighed in, finding that the law requires that something be done to protect the threatened smelt. In a ruling expected to have massive repercussions on San Joaquin Valley farming operations, the judge imposed limits on how much water can be pumped south through the Delta from December, when the fish spawn, until June.
Agreement by the advisory panel is a major step toward a new vision for managing the Delta, since the group's members -- environmentalists, farmers, water users, business and fishing groups -- have fought over its resources for years.
"There's a big difference this time," said Topper van Loben Sels, a Delta farmer and member of the Delta Protection Commission. "It's vital to the state of
The panel's proposal comes in two versions.
Both focus on armoring levees along the Middle River and the
These powerful pumps have been blamed for reversing natural flows and drawing seawater into the Delta, killing fish and altering the habitat. An armored water path might isolate the rest of the Delta from pumping effects so it could be restored.
Both proposals include gates on
Steamboat Slough and
One version of the plan proposes studying a peripheral canal that would be operated in concert with the armored channel. Some advisory group members believe this "dual facility" approach offers more flexibility.
This is where alliances begin to fracture.
Also known as an isolated conveyance facility, a peripheral canal would divert
Schwarzenegger has put the idea back on the table amid concerns that a massive flood or earthquake could contaminate water exports that now move south through the Delta. A peripheral canal might protect that water in a disaster.
"I think what we see now is the center holding, partly because of the crisis we're facing," said John Cain, director of restoration programs at the Natural Heritage Institute. "If political leadership pushes us too hard toward a dual facility, the center's not going to hold. People will retreat to their camps."
The group wants some of the projects built soon and in a way that is reversible. For instance, salinity gates could be temporary structures. This would allow officials to build them cheaply, test their effectiveness and to remove them easily if they don't work.
Efforts that could begin within a year include developing an emergency plan for the Delta, moving aggressively to control invasive species, and restoring Dutch Slough, Cache Slough and Suisun Marsh.
"I'm really thinking some of these can begin in 90 to 100 days," said Sunne McPeak, a task force member and former secretary of the state Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
Schwarzenegger appointed the task force to devise a comprehensive fix for the Delta's problems. Its report is due in November.
But some task force members -- including McPeak and chairman Phil Isenberg, a former Democratic assemblyman -- expressed doubt that the state is truly committed to restoring the Delta.
In a separate presentation by the Department of Water Resources, the task force saw lots of ideas to improve levees and water conveyance. But there was little offered that would boost natural river runoff through the Delta and out to sea.
The shortage of such flows -- due to reservoir operations and robust export pumping -- is one factor in the decline of native fish and the rise of invasive species.
"I'm just asking the state to make a commitment to estuary health that is comparable to the other values," McPeak said.#
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/358935.html
River trust set to argue SF's water plan
By MICHAEL G. MOONEY
The High Five
Not one drop more from the
Period.
That's the message the Tuolumne River Trust will deliver Thursday in response to a
"It doesn't make sense," said Eric Wesselman, the trust's executive director. "We want to show them that there are better, more (environmentally) sustainable alternatives."
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission already diverts about 225 million gallons daily, providing water to an estimated 2.4 million people in
Wesselman and other members of the trust will offer their comments on the SFPUC's proposal, part of a $4.3 billion plan to upgrade, modernize and rebuild the city's Hetch Hetchy water conveyance system, during a Thursday evening public hearing in
Representatives of the
Since the MID and TID hold rights to Tuolumne River water that supercede those held by the SFPUC, San Francisco cannot take more river water unless the districts agree.
MID spokeswoman Kate Hora said it was likely the district would comment during the hearing and was preparing a detailed written response to the plan as well.
TID spokesman Tony Walker said his district would send a representative to the hearing.
The Tuolumne River Trust is trying to assemble a large delegation to attend the hearing.
"We're trying to mobilize as many people as we can," said Meg Gonzalez, director of outreach education for the trust. "We want
In early August, the trust released a report criticizing the city's plan to take additional
Susan Leal, SFPUC general manager, responded by saying that the proposed additional
The report, Leal said at the time, "specifically analyzes a range of alternatives and potential supply sources to meet the expected demand of our customers by the year 2030, including alternatives that draw zero additional gallons from the
Wesselman noted, however, that the proposal calling for more water from the
Construction, repairs, upgrades
The SFPUC's Hetch Hetchy conveyance system delivers water to wholesale and retail customers in
The Hetch Hetchy project proposes building pipeline sections, as well as upgrading pipelines, tunnels and dams used to move water originating in
Repairs and upgrades, SFPUC officials have said, will help the water storage and conveyance system better withstand earthquakes while improving its efficiency.
While the SFPUC proposal includes new water recycling programs, groundwater development and other measures to ensure supply reliability and availability, especially during periods of drought, Wesselman said those programs don't go far enough.
"Undoubtedly," he said, "they're hunting for more water. That's what they want. (But) there are better ways for them to meet their future water needs than taking more water from the upper
Additionally, Wesselman said the SFPUC's population growth projections were based upon faulty assumptions.
For example, he said it doesn't adequately address the effects of climate change, which will be a "significant variable" by 2030.
A copy of
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/58323.html
Palmdale Water District won't need rationing
Conservation stepped up
BY KAREN MAESHIRO, Staff writer
PALMDALE - A
The Palmdale Water District adopted conservation regulations this week that limit customers to watering their lawns just three days a week, every other day between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. This as temperatures soar beyond the 100-degree mark.
Commercial nurseries, golf courses, parks, schools and other public spaces are banned from watering more than five days a week between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., except when using reclaimed water.
Water district customers are prohibited from hosing down sidewalks and driveways with certain exceptions; and restricted to washing cars with handheld nozzles or with reclaimed wastewater or recycled water.
First-time offenders will get a warning. If the problem persists, they will be fined $50. Continued violations will result in fines as high as $1,000 and service may be disconnected.
The water district had considered rationing because there was a 30 percent water shortage, but a plan to procure 5,000 acre-feet of water from a water
district in the western
"The level of conservation needed has been reduced," said Dennis LaMoreaux, the district's general manager. "What's needed through the rest of the year is 10 percent (reduction in water use,) and it was felt 10 percent could be achieved."
The water crisis spawned a nasty response from the city of
"Based upon the district's inabilty to plan for reliable water resources ... and provide the city with more timely information regarding the lack of water resources, the city has no choice but to consider the district's recent actions and operations a farce with a resulting diminished credibility to city residents and district ratepayers," Ledford wrote.
The city attorney also announced that the Palmdale City Council will meet in a closed-door session to consider suing the district over the flap, but would not offer details of any potential litigation.
District officials said they are reviewing the city's letter.
"It appears there are some misconceptions, and the general tone is not constructive," the district said in written statement. "We anticipate working through our mutual concerns cooperatively."
Because of a record dry year and a water shortage, the district had asked its 115,000 customers in May to voluntarily cut water use by 15 percent. Consumption dipped just 5 percent, prompting discussion of more drastic steps.
Before Wednesday, the district said it needed a 30 percent reduction to be able to meet demand through the rest of the year. One acre-foot of water is enough to supply a family of four for a year.
The past year was the driest rain season ever in the
The previous driest seasons for both cities occurred in 1960-61, when
This year, the state Water Project, from which the district receives about half of its supply, delivered 60 percent of Palmdale's allocation.
Another source of district water, the Littlerock Reservoir, has received no rain runoff this year, adding to the shortage. #
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_6774370?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment