Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
July 31, 2008
1. Top Items -
Editorial
Turning the tide in the water crisis: Unless
The
Editorial
Canal or no canal, Delta water woes must be addressed, starting now
The
New farming method to help 'grow' wetlands in delta area
Low water will alter Lake Oroville
The
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Editorial
Turning the tide in the water crisis: Unless
The
By
The wildfires that have burned more than 1 million acres are the most visible symptom of another long, hot, dry summer in
Although no one disagrees on the urgent need to fight the fires, there has long been sharp disagreement about how to address
The time has come to break the stalemate.
So, in the spirit of bipartisan cooperation, earlier this month we offered a compromise water bond package for the Legislature's consideration. We believe it is critical that the Legislature act swiftly to place such a measure on the November ballot.
Why the hurry? Put simply, our water supply is in jeopardy. We are experiencing the second year of drought, and 2008 had the driest spring ever recorded in the northern Sierra and other parts of
The snowpack, which was measured at only 67% of normal in May, has become dangerously unreliable because of global warming. It is estimated that climate change will cause the state's snowpack to drop by 25% to 40% by 2050.
The
Reservoirs are dangerously low statewide.
At the same time that our water reserves are low, the courts have ordered restrictions on how much water can be pumped out of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, reducing water supplies by 20% to 30%. Just last week, a judge ordered state and federal regulators to come up with a plan to provide more water for salmon in the delta. This interim plan likely will require more reductions in pumping this winter.
Another year of drought will be catastrophic for our water supply, our environment and our economy. Already, farmers are taking agricultural lands out of production, and building permits could be put on hold, causing the loss of thousands of jobs.
The crisis is also causing catastrophic harm to our fisheries. In two of the last three years, our once-thriving Pacific salmon fisheries have been shut down as salmon populations have diminished.
Clearly, the state is in crisis. Yet, to this point, we've been unable to forge a common path forward.
For the last 18 months, the two of us have worked to develop a water infrastructure investment bond to put before
Our hope is that the plan we have put together will serve as a solid starting point for negotiations with the Legislature.
Our proposal includes modernization of our aging water systems, significant investment in healing and safeguarding the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and other important ecosystems, increased water storage in reservoirs and underground aquifers, improved conveyance and a strong focus on conservation programs.
We believe this is a balanced and comprehensive approach that will help meet the needs of a growing population -- expected to reach 50 million in the next decade. It will help us bank more water in wet years for use in the dry years. And it will meet our common goal of a healthy environment and reliable water supply.
Although there are efforts each year to address one piece of the puzzle or another, none of them has yet solved our crisis. What is needed is a comprehensive, statewide plan -- and we must move swiftly.
The impact of even one more dry season could be devastating -- we cannot afford to wait any longer.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-schwarzenegger31-2008jul31,0,4323212.story
Editorial
Canal or no canal, Delta water woes must be addressed, starting now
The
By
About 1,000 property owners in the Delta are going to get a wake up call from state officials.
Letters are going out from the state Department of Water Resources saying that surveyors may need access to private land to begin planning a canal to carry fresh water to
But it's back as state officials and thirsty water consumers - and that would be all of us - try to balance the needs of the environmentally fragile Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta against the growing demand for water, especially in the Bay Area and
About 25 million Californians drink water from the Delta.
Water planners have identified four tentative canal routes on the east and west of the Delta. In addition, there is talk of a "through Delta" canal.
Today, massive state and federal pumps near
But those pumps upset the habitat by reversing river flows in the 740,000-acre Delta. Millions of fish - some species endangered - are killed.
In recent years, the federal courts have become the de facto operators of the state's water system by issuing water flow orders and demanding pumping adjustments to protect the environment.
The way around this problem, it is thought by some, is literally to go around the problem, around the Delta.
It would be a massive undertaking requiring a canal 41 to 52 miles long, more pumps, tunnels, bridges, massive excavation and new levees.
It also would be frighteningly expensive, with estimates ranging from $4.2 billion to $17.2 billion.
There are problems, of course, beyond cost and engineering.
There are fears that skirting the Delta will simply move the environmental problems north. Then there's the whole problem of cobbling together the necessary private land for such a canal.
But the letters going out are a start, a signal that we have a serious, long-term problem that's only going to get worse unless we start working on serious, long-term solutions.#
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/A_OPINION01/807310311/-1/A_OPINION06
New farming method to help 'grow' wetlands in delta area
Thanks to a grant from the California Department of Water Resources, a new farming method in the delta is attempting to "grow" wetlands.
The DWR has invested $12.3 million to explore "carbon-capture" farming, which traps atmospheric carbon dioxide and rebuilds lost soils in the delta.
A partnership with U.S. Geological Survey and U.C. Davis will take methods that have been used in a pilot program on
Carbon-capture works as carbon dioxide is taken out of the air by plants such as tules and cattails. As the plants die and decompose, they create new peat soil, building the land surface over time.
On deeply subsided
Jim Nickles, spokesman for the
"We want to let the science take its own course," he said. "But the curve was dramatic over the last two years."
Nickles said the pilot program proved there are several benefits, but it's still a bit early to know if there are any negative side effects.
"The potential benefits are amazing, but there are a lot of questions that need to be addressed," Nickles said. "It's really been fun to see the project become a potential benefit to the delta and the state."
He said some of those side effects may include the production of methane gas during the process and how the carbon dioxide gathering may alter other aspects of the environment or atmosphere.#
http://www.thereporter.com/news/ci_10042563
Low water will alter Lake Oroville
The
By Bill Lindelof
The state Department of Water Resources reported that the reservoir now holds about 1.3 million acre feet of water -- 37 percent of capacity. That's half of what usually is in the reservoir this time of year.
Subsequent drops in water level will end normal boat launching at the Lime Saddle Marina, Bidwell and Spillway locations. Steel ramp mat extensions will be installed to allow one lane of boat launching at the Bidwell and Spillway locations.
The level could drop as soon as today at Lime Saddle Marina, ending boat launching at that location.
Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended when using the temporary ramps.
http://www.sacbee.com/102/story/1123234.html
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