A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
October 4, 2007
3. Watersheds
DELTA ISSUES:
Federal court hears face-off over fish; Ag, water groups wary of environmentalists' suit over salmon, more - Fresno Bee
Column: Smelt ruling could bring sanity to water issues -
Nunes bill targets 28 projects tied to San Joaquin River restoration - Fresno Bee
KLAMATH DAMS:
Supervisors state case against dam removal on Klamath - Mt. Shasta News
CONSUMNES PRESERVE:
A piece preserved; Autumn welcomes volunteers and migrating birds to
QUAGGA MUSSEL:
Guest Editorial - Help Stop Spread of Quagga Mussels - The Log (
DELTA ISSUES:
Federal court hears face-off over fish; Ag, water groups wary of environmentalists' suit over salmon, more
By John Ellis, staff writer
Environmentalists on Wednesday again clashed with the federal government and state water contractors over how native fish species fit into the state's two major water projects.
This time, it was about salmon and steelhead instead of delta smelt.
U.S. District Court Judge Oliver W. Wanger made no decision following a daylong federal court hearing, but agricultural groups and water contractors are waiting nervously.
They say another ruling in favor of fish could mean further cuts in water deliveries to
In August, Wanger ordered cuts in pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect the endangered delta smelt. The state Department of Water Resources said that decision could cause 35% less water to be delivered from the delta in an average year.
The delta smelt lawsuit shared many of the same legal issues -- as well as attorneys -- with Wednesday's lawsuit hearing.
That lawsuit -- filed in August 2005 -- involves several species of salmon and steelhead. It was filed by environmental and fishing organizations.
At issue is a key National Marine Fisheries Service opinion on managing threatened steelhead and Coho and Chinook salmon during fall and spring runs on
Earlier this year, Wanger threw out a similar U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opinion on managing the delta smelt.
But attorneys for agriculture interests and water contractors say the salmon and steelhead are not as embattled as the smelt.
"The status of these fish is they're nowhere near extinction the way the delta smelt are," said Christopher Buckley Jr., an attorney representing the California Farm Bureau Federation.
But a similar strategy has surfaced in both lawsuits, with attorneys arguing Wednesday that the state's two water projects are not the sole cause of the decline in salmon and steelhead populations. In the smelt case, attorneys had argued that giant delta pumps were not solely responsible for killing off smelt.
Gregory Wilkinson, an attorney representing the State Water Contractors -- an organization representing more than two dozen agencies that buy water from the state -- said ocean fishing also takes a toll on steelhead and salmon.
He noted a study that showed large takes of spring run Chinook salmon in the ocean by commercial fishing.
"To pretend that doesn't exist," he said, "is ridiculous."
But Michael Sherwood, an attorney for the environmental group Earthjustice, outlined what he said has been a long decline in salmon and steelhead populations that can be traced to the construction on dams on
The two rivers -- as well as many of their tributaries -- used to be "abundant with salmon," he said. But after dams blocked access to their historic spawning grounds, the resulting population declines have put them "on the brink of extinction."
Sherwood said part of the National Marine Fisheries Service opinion established a site on the
But, Sherwood said, the location where the temperature is measured was later moved closer to Shasta Dam.
Doing so shortened the length of river that would have to maintain temperatures low enough to support spawning. As a result, less cold water was needed from
In addition, Sherwood argued that a 1993 National Marine Fisheries Service opinion on the salmon and steelhead required that 1.9 million acre-feet be held in Lake Shasta, but the requirement was changed to a "target" that he said was unenforceable when the opinion was updated in 2004.
Federal government attorney Bridget Kennedy McNeil said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation continues to aim for the 1.9 million acre-feet target in
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/155507.html
Column: Smelt ruling could bring sanity to water issues
By Thomas D. Elias, guest columnist
The historic delta smelt decision that now has many
The ruling will force huge pumps at the south end of the delta formed by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers that now send water south and west year-round to reduce their activity by one-third or more during the spawning season of the rare and endangered 3-inch-long delta smelt.
That's from December to June. By coincidence, that's also the wettest season of the year, the time when the pumps push the major share of their yearly take of water south to the huge San Juan Reservoir west of Los Banos and other points south and west. San Luis now is barely one-third filled and appears likely to stay well below capacity for years to come.
Spawning season is also the time when the rivers and the delta are most likely to cause massive flood damage. The ruling was made in the hope that fewer silver-colored smelt will be sucked into the pumps and killed. But it will unquestionably cause untold millions of gallons of usable fresh water to run out to the
The widespread panic this spurs comes because water from the delta serves 400 water agencies and even more cities and counties. There has been some snickering over all this in Northern California because of a sense that
Wrong. If there's mandatory rationing in Southern California cities and counties, the same will be true for all Santa Clara County (including Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Los Altos and many more cities) and the Tri-Valley area of the East Bay, including cities like Livermore, Pleasanton, Danville and Dublin. If a significant drought should follow, agencies like the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will no longer have sufficient supplies to run water through a pipeline across the
And if farmers in the Central Valley who depend on the water even more than any cities and counties are forced to fallow fields, everyone in California and the entire nation will pay far higher prices for all manner of fruits, vegetables, nuts and meat.
Which is why Democratic U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, once a prime opponent of the Peripheral Canal project proposed in the early 1980s, is dead-on correct when she said: "Whatever we do, we have to do it together. The delta is critical for everyone in
There is plenty the state can do to ensure it has copious water for many years to come without any environmental depredation.
But doing any of it will require a return to sanity, stepping away from some crazy prejudices and practices of the recent past.
Item No. 1 has got to be constructing something like the
Item No. 2 will have to be the construction of new reservoirs to handle the presumably increased water supply. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed such new storage, a change from anti-reservoir sentiments that have prevailed in
Item No. 3 must be inclusion of strong protections for the wild and currently untapped rivers of
Her irrational opposition to the old canal plan, which did include strong protection for wild rivers, has thus been reversed. Time will soon tell how much company she has.
Item No. 4 should be a return to fiscal sanity, a move away from the constant issuing of bonds that now hamstring state budget writers because so much revenue goes to interest payments. Any canal and reservoir project will take years to build. Start financing it now out of the state's general fund, with legislators committing themselves to allocating a set amount each year for that purpose, and there would be no need for bonds.
It's been both laziness and craziness that put the state into a position where it can possibly be crippled by the draconian ruling of U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger. For 25 years, no one has wanted to touch the
It's past time for all this idiocy to end and sane planning for the state's future to begin. If Wanger's decision proves to be the necessary spur driving such change, then it may yet turn out to be constructive. #
http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2007/oct/04/smelt-ruling-could-bring-sanity-to-water-issues/
Nunes bill targets 28 projects tied to
By Michael Doyle, Bee staff writer
The legislation would authorize feasibility studies of 28 projects, large and small. They range from improving the
The new bill also accelerates the already complicated maneuvering over the plan to restore the
The restoration plan would end a 1988 lawsuit filed by environmentalists unhappy over how Friant Dam's construction dried up the
Restoring the river would cut Friant-area irrigation deliveries by an average of 19%. The 28 projects that Nunes wants studied have been identified as possible ways to help farmers retain water.
"This is something that needs to be done," Nunes, R-Visalia, said Wednesday. "It would put in concrete some ways to get some water back."
Nunes has been battling the author of a $500 million bill to implement the restoration settlement, Rep. George Radanovich, R-Mariposa. Nunes wrote his new bill -- and revised it significantly late Wednesday afternoon -- without consulting Radanovich.
"It would be very helpful for us to have conversations with Devin and his office," said Radanovich's press secretary, Spencer Pederson.
Nunes originally wrote his bill to require that the 28 feasibility studies be completed before any of the
"I'm not sure those feasibility studies could be completed by 2009," said Ron Jacobsma, general manager of the Friant Water Users Authority.
Moreover, in a controversial move called "pre-authorization" that environmentalists traditionally oppose, the Nunes bill declares that any water project deemed feasible could be constructed without further congressional approval. Usually, feasibility studies must be followed by a separate authorization bill.
But after being questioned about his legislation late Wednesday afternoon, Nunes indicated he would revise it. The new version drops the requirement that the feasibility studies be completed before restoration work begins. The pre-authorization language remains, however.
"I'm not against the settlement, but I am for making sure we're watching out for everyone," Nunes said.
Politically, Nunes' effort still faces long odds. He is introducing it without any co-sponsors. The river restoration bill, meanwhile, has the support of
"Our board is still fully supportive of the settlement," Jacobsma said.
Symbolically, though, the latest bill underscores the intense public and private maneuvering around the ambitious restoration plan.
"It's not as positive as it once was," Joel Nelsen, executive director of the Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual, said of the current mood. "There's a lot of uncertainty in my industry, and that has created a lot of questions."
House budget rules require that about half of the restoration bill's $500 million cost be offset. Bill supporters are still struggling to find the money they need. Radanovich said he believes negotiators are getting closer to identifying the funding source. #
http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/155498.html
KLAMATH DAMS:
Supervisors state case against dam removal on Klamath
By Paul Boerger, staff writer
The five members of the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors recently sent a letter to the governor expressing their opposition to removing dams owned by PacifiCorp on the
Supervisors also crafted an op-ed piece about their opposition to dam removal which was recently published in the Sacramento Bee and is also printed in this newspaper (see page B2).
The Klamath River, which runs from
Numerous lawsuits have also marked the Klamath legal landscape as the struggle for who gets the water and for what purpose continues unabated.
The latest issue to hit the Klamath are proposals to take down four hydroelectric dams operated by PacifiCorp as they have come for their 50 year relicensing.
The U.S. Department of Interior and NOAA Fisheries Service are requiring PacifiCorp to install fish ladders as part of the relicensing. PacifiCorp has agreed to do so, but has also said removal of the dams is a possibility. No formal commitment to bring the dams down has been made.
County supervisors unanimously signed on to a statement opposing the removal of the dams, citing environmental concerns, harm to the tax base, property value reduction and reduced recreation opportunities.
In their letter to the governor, Siskiyou's supervisors state, “While the underlying assumption is that dam removal will enhance our fishery resource, there are serious, and as yet unanswered questions as to what impact unleashing decades of unknown sediment currently lodged at the base of these dams will have on water quality... Moreover, removing carbon neutral, inexpensive hydro power without an equally environmentally acceptable and cheap replacement source of power is contrary to your leadership on global warming and energy initiatives.”
The supervisors suggest to the governor that “Installation of fish ladders, prudent water use, and other approaches would produce significant improvements in fishery conditions without the environmental risks and economic losses associated with dam removal.”
If the state goes forward with dam removal plans, the supervisors request in their letter to the governor that several issues be “satisfactorily addressed,” such as economic loss, economic opportunities, replacement power, rehabilitation/restoration, infrastructure, indemnification from any and all damages and a thorough environmental review.
The
Native American tribes along the Klamath also have vested interests in the fishing for commercial use and subsistence.
The four PacifiCorp dams on the Klamath produce about 150 megawatts of power, enough to serve 70,000 customers. That power represents 1.7 percent of PacifiCorp's total output for 1.6 million customers in six Western states.
Irrigators would not be affected by dam removal as water flows would stay essentially the same. Fishing interests, however, claim diversion of water to farmers has reduced the salmon catch to 10 percent of what it was before the Klamath Project was begun at the turn of the century.
The Klamath Reclamation Project was begun in 1905 to reclaim land from lakes and marshland for farming. Water diversions continued unabated through the building of Iron Gate Dam, one of five on the
Numerous conflicting scientific studies have not been able to definitively come up with a solution acceptable to all interests, but a recent report from the National Academy of Science recommended studying removing some of the dams as a possible way of restoring the eco-system to improve fish habitat.
Although they do not have the authority to require removing the dams, both the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service have called for removing the dams, as have Native American tribes.
Removing the dams would not be a simple project as decades of silt backed up behind the dams would have to flushed downstream, be filtered out or somehow diverted. In addition, the loss of hydroelectric power in an era of concern about global warming is an issue.
If a decision is made to take down the dams, it could take up to 10 years and extensive environmental review to bring the dams down and deal with the silt.
Negotiations continue between
http://www.mtshastanews.com/articles/2007/10/03/news/area_news/01supervisors_dam.txt
CONSUMNES PRESERVE:
A piece preserved; Autumn welcomes volunteers and migrating birds to
By Sena Christian, staff writer
The first of the sandhill cranes that will pass through the Cosumnes River Preserve on their migration south arrived three weeks ago. Soon, thousands of cranes will reside here, some settling through the spring before heading back to breeding grounds in
“
Almost 250 bird species have called this preserve home, making the location in Galt a haven for bird watchers. With the start of the migratory season, people come out in droves, usually at dawn with binoculars hanging from their necks, eager to spot a great blue heron or snowy egret, and hear the loud clacking and chirping of the birds’ autumn morning chorus. Dunn doesn’t have a favorite bird; he enjoys them all, knowing most by sight and a select few by their calls. He learned about birds not only from his day job as a wildlife photographer, but also from his experience as a naturalist volunteer with the preserve, where he started volunteering four years ago after moving to West Sacramento from San Diego.
“I just needed to connect with people and the environment around here,” he said.
He walked along the Lost Slough Wetlands Walk, a 1-mile paved trail that weaves around a northern section of the preserve across the Union Pacific railroad tracks, dressed in typical volunteer attire—tan slacks, sturdy hiking boots, plaid shirt and a cap to block out the mid-morning sun. Dunn pointed out the wood duck boxes he manages and talked about how bird-migration season will soon be in full-swing. October also happens to be the start of the volunteer season, when training begins for another group of nature enthusiasts who will keep this vital ecosystem in the
Named by the Nature Conservancy as one of 75 “Last Great Places,” the 46,000-acre preserve is situated one mile off Interstate 5. In addition to the birds, 30 mammals and 18 species of reptiles have been identified here, according to Jennifer Buck, restoration ecologist for the preserve. The free-flowing, 80-mile-long Cosumnes River running through the preserve begins in the El Dorado National Forest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains at an elevation of about 7,600 feet and joins the engineered Mokelumne River on its way to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which flows through San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. While hemmed in by levees, the river and its floodplain are relatively close to a natural state. But the ecology is also far different than it once was, as is the case with most of
“When you drive down the
Miwok Indians once lived in the region, feasting off acorns and Chinook salmon. The word Cosumnes may actually derive from the Miwok word for salmon. The fish still exist here, although not to the same magnitude. With the 1848 Gold Rush, an influx of settlers moved west. Farmers recognized the valley’s rich soil and cleared bottomland, diverted streams and built canals into fields to farm the land and feed the gold miners in the foothills. Wetlands were drained, valley oaks cut down, and wheat, cotton and vegetable crops planted. A century later, additional land fell to suburban sprawl.
In 1987, an effort began to recapture the land, initiated by the Nature Conservancy, who bought up 85 acres. Through a 20-year process of land acquisition and environmental easement, thousands of acres have been obtained, first protecting the lower floodplain and later a portion of the upper watershed after the Nature Conservancy purchased a 12,300-acre cattle ranch. The preserve is a demonstration in the success of conservation partnerships and is jointly owned by the Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Land Management, Ducks Unlimited, California Department of Fish and Game, State Lands Commission, California Department of Water Resources,
Although current appearances show otherwise, the Central Valley used to contain one of the largest expanses of streamside forest and wetland habitats in
Ecologists are getting help from the undammed Cosumnes in restoring these plant communities in the preserve. Heavy rains result in frequent flooding and with this water comes rich silt and sand, hauling valuable nutrients to forests, wetlands and grasslands. Several years ago, a levee break carried water filled with seeds and saplings to the southeast area of the preserve. A few years later, an “accidental forest” emerged. Valley oak, cottonwood,
On another September morning, Courtway pointed out the accidental forest as he tackled a 3-mile dirt nature trail that starts next to Willow Slough, where rain runoff and tidal action push back upstream. To the east, 30 acres of freshwater seasonal marsh restored by Ducks Unlimited provide wintering habitat for migratory birds. Courtway likes the forests and marshes, but his favorite spot is a small patch surrounded by trees when the river first comes into view. He pointed out grape vines growing on the mature trees and holes dug by beavers, animals that gnaw to keep their teeth short. While explaining how American Indians traditionally used the tule plant and native Barbara sedge for basket weaving, he stopped to listen to a bird sing.
“I guess it’s my outdoor church,” Courtway said of the preserve. “You get a chance to be observant and quiet.”
Almost 20 years after first volunteering, Courtway still enjoys the work because he gets to share his appreciation of the natural world and hopefully help people realize just how little of it is left, he said. Volunteering still has its surprises. That morning, a barn owl dipped down hunting for food and came up empty, stopping a moment to look at Courtway before flying away.
For many, the birds are a highlight. When corn harvest finishes in mid-October,
Some of the wetlands are shallow, serving the dabbling ducks and shorebirds that don’t need much water and some of them have been sculpted to deeper levels for the diving ducks.
“You can talk about wetlands until hell freezes over,” Dunn said on that Wednesday morning. “If [birds] didn’t have it, they’d have no place to feed or to rest. It’s an integral piece.”
Dunn looked out over the wetlands toward other lands on which dozens of grizzly bears and herds of elk once roamed.
“I just love being here,” he said. “To me, it’s just a little piece of heaven on Earth.” #
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=574095
QUAGGA MUSSEL:
Guest Editorial - Help Stop Spread of Quagga Mussels
The Log (
By John McCamman, Department of Fish and Game
Although they range from microscopic to the size of a fingernail, Quagga mussels have the potential to significantly impact the environment and some of
Once they become established in a body of water, the invasive species becomes virtually impossible to remove, so detecting them as early as possible can help halt their spread.
The Department of Fish and Game, along with other state agencies including the Department of Boating and Waterways, the Department of Water Resources and California State Parks, has organized a campaign to educate the public about Quagga.
At marinas, boat shows and California State Parks, the multi-agency task force has developed and distributed literature about the devastating impacts the mussels pose, urging water enthusiasts: "Don't Move a Mussel!" Over Labor Day weekend, the group conducted a widespread push to get the word out. And, a Web site and toll-free number were established to provide updated information about the Quagga response effort.
The Interagency Quagga Mussel Incident Response Team meets frequently to discuss how to best educate boaters and anglers about the potential threat Quagga present to state waters and the water-sports so many Californians love.
To remain proactive about the real threat of Quagga mussels along the Colorado River and into
Quagga can attach to any part of a boat, canoe or other watercraft, which is why it is so critical that watercraft users inspect vessels each time they are taken out of a waterway. If the hull feels like sandpaper, it's likely the mussels are attached.
Vessels with mussels on the hull experience increased drag and decreased performance. In infested waters, Quagga have caused steering equipment jams and increased engine overheating by nearly 50 percent.
Water distribution systems also face increased hardships when mussels clog pipes and pumps, decreasing water flow and costing millions in continual clean-out and maintenance.
Though confined to water environments, Quagga mussels have been known to travel in buckets, on plant material, in livewells, in engines and on boat hulls, making their transport even trickier to manage. Adults can live five full days out of water in
In
For more information visit www.dfg.ca.gov/invasives/quaggamussel or call the public toll-free 1-866-440-9530, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. #
http://www.thelog.com/news/newsview.asp?c=226538
####
No comments:
Post a Comment