[Water_news] 5. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, PEOPLE - 5/11/09

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

May 11, 2009

 

5. Agencies, Programs, People –

 

Tuolumne users hail Hetch Hetchy releases

The San Francisco Chronicle

 

Commentary: Focus on landscaping for water conservation

The Monterey Herald

 

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Tuolumne users hail Hetch Hetchy releases

The San Francisco Chronicle – 5/10/09

By Tom Stienstra

California's epic river, "The Mighty T," will be in near-perfect shape for recreation in the coming months.

The Tuolumne River, which runs from the high-country wilderness of Yosemite National Park, on down the Sierra through stunning canyons and into the San Joaquin Valley, will be the state's No. 1 river for rafting and kayaking this summer, and in top condition for trout fishing, hunting for gold and camping.

The key is that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and Water Department (S.F. Water) has shifted operations to facilitate recreation on the river this summer. From Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite, S.F. Water will release 1,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) from 7 to 11 a.m., then 200 cfs the other 20 hours, six days a week plus some Sundays.

This means water conditions will be ideal for fly-fishing for trout at dawn - low, clear and stable. Then, from morning through mid-day, river flows will be kicked up, excellent for rafting or kayaking the world-class sections of the Tuolumne. By afternoon, the river will again settle down, and by evening and dusk, again be in good shape for the trout rise. In addition, the daily surging flows will kick up enough rocks to make this the best river in the state to look for gold.

"This is fantastic news," said Steve Welch of ARTA, the non-profit company that runs rafting trips here. "They're recognizing the value of recreation on the Tuolumne."

On many rivers, water masters often order releases from dams with little regard for recreation. Their goal is simply to get the water to those who pay for it. The Tuolumne is an exception, and for many Bay Area residents, especially those in San Francisco and on the Peninsula, this is the same water that comes out of your faucets.

The Mighty T starts as tiny melting drops of water at the Lyell Glacier near Donohue Pass in Yosemite's high country.

Those drops join with melting snow to form Lyell Fork, and as it runs through Tuolumne Meadows, it creates the headwaters of the Tuolumne River. It surges into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, with Waterwheel Falls and other falls, and then feeds Hetch Hetchy. This is the "second Yosemite Valley," with near vertical walls, the towering LeConte Point and South Peak on the canyon rims, and Wapama Falls feathering into the lake in a cascade of silver crystals.

Between Hetch Hetchy and Don Pedro Reservoir, there's about 30 miles of prime rafting water. This is the No. 1 rafting stretch in California. The Class IV pool-and-drops and the Class V Clavey Falls cascade has made the Tuolumne both a rite of passage and a baptism for rafters.

There are several campgrounds, operated by Stanislaus National Forest, that provide access to the river. In many areas, Anglers have created small trails along the river for access.

From top to bottom, this is my favorite river in California.

Big fish club

With the arrival of spring, there's been a siege of big fish caught in the Bay Area and Northern California:

-- Los Vaqueros: The largest fish ever caught at Los Vaqueros Reservoir, a striped bass weighing 45 pounds, was caught by Todd Busco of Danville. He was using an X-Rap and required more than an hour to land the giant. The same day, the lake's trout record was broken when Cliff Myers of Santa Clara caught a 13.14-pound rainbow trout trolling in Hidden Cove.

-- Tahoe macks: Gene St. Denis, owner of Blue Ribbon Fishing at Lake Tahoe, reported the 40th and 41st 20-pound (or larger) mackinaw trout caught on his boat.

-- Other monsters: A 49-pound striped bass at San Luis Forebay and 45-pounder at Millerton Lake by Chong Yeng of Fresno, shorefishing, casting a white fluke, on back-to-back trips ... 13-pound largemouth bass at New Melones Reservoir by Dennis Lee of Sonora ... lake-record 14-pound rainbow trout at Collins Lake by Logan Bailey ... 31-pound mackinaw trout at Donner Lake by 9-year-old Katie Stout (with help from dad Brad), photographed and then released.

Outdoor notes of note

Elk galore: Elk populations are higher in 23 states than 25 years ago, reports Steve Wagner of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. In California, during a period when deer populations have declined statewide, elk populations have grown from 5,470 to 11,400, an increase of 108 percent.

Big numbers: At an Assembly hearing on Delta salmon declines, John Beuttler of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, testified, in part: "The state and federal water projects killed 20,800,000 salmon over a 20-year period from 1986 to 2006 in their pumping facilities. That's 1,040,000 salmon per year. We need to focus on the big picture impacts if we want to have viable salmon populations for future generations."

Los Padres reopens: In southern Monterey County, the areas burned in three major forest fires, including the Ventana Wilderness, opened last week after being closed since last summer. Several hikers reported excellent wildflower blooms, especially on the northern end of Los Padres near Big Sur.

Swimming hole fouled: Bass Lake, located on the Coast Trail out of the Palomarin Trailhead north of Bolinas, the best swimming lake in the Bay Area, was fouled with an algae bloom last month, reports David Schmidt of California Nature Tours. This is likely the result of that record heat wave that hit a month ago. "Like swimming in an olive-green pea soup," Schmidt said. "Never happened before, in my 25 visits (at least) to the lake over the past 16 years."

Kodiak mystery: At Kodiak Island off Alaska, buck deer are being born in higher numbers without the proper equipment, that is, like does, reports Fred Stevens.

Tahoe trail is a go: After heavy rain early last week, the paved bike path along the Truckee River to Tahoe City to Squaw Valley is clear of snow and open for the season.

Think locally: From the Sierra foothills comes the story of Angels Camp RV & Camping Resort, which leased a solar power system. Park owner Ken Jeffries says his electric bill has been cut in half, and at times during the week, has sold power back to PG&E.

Volley in trail war: In Marin, the water district has identified 53 miles of undesirable trails, likely built illegally by mountain bikers, and has launched "Project Restore" to eliminate the trails and reduce erosion and silt runoff into the area's lakes and streams.

Quote file: "In the end, we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught." - Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist.#

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/10/SPSD17GLR9.DTL

 

Commentary: Focus on landscaping for water conservation

The Monterey Herald – 5/11/09

By Craig E. Anthony

Craig E. Anthony is general manager of California American Water.

While May is National Water Awareness Month, it seems like every month would qualify here on the Peninsula, with the constant reminders of our water shortage, threatened cutbacks to our water supply, restrictions on water permits and rates that charge higher prices to large users.

In fact, the Peninsula is probably the most water-aware part of the state, as evidenced by our average residential consumption of just 70 gallons per person per day — a stark contrast to the average use of 192 gallons throughout California.

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls for a 20 percent reduction in urban water use by 2020, is he talking to us?

The answer is not exactly. The governor's plan divides California into 10 water-use regions, so not everybody has to meet the same water-saving goals. Our region, the Central Coast, stretches from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County.

While most of the state is expected to reach a goal of 154 gallons of water use per person each day, the governor's plan challenges our region to reduce consumption to 133 gallons per person — which, of course, we are already doing here!

Communities like ours that have met the state's conservation goals are tasked with keeping up the good work and exploring new methods.

Major golf courses on the Peninsula already use recycled water to irrigate, but there are opportunities. The Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, Monterey County Water Resources Agency and Marina Coast Water District are leading an effort to bring more recycled water to the Peninsula, an effort California American Water strongly supports.

The governor's call for water awareness may seem like old news on the Peninsula, but we have our own unique circumstances that continue to make water conservation a top priority.

Last year, the State Water Resources Control Board proposed a cease and desist order on pumping from the Carmel River that, if adopted, would cut our supply by 50 percent in 2014. A decision on that proposal has yet to be reached. Cal Am and others fought the order vigorously during hearings last summer held in Sacramento (where average consumption is 280 gallons per person per day).

In addition to the threatened cutbacks on the Carmel River, a judge has ordered reductions on pumping from our only other water source, the Seaside groundwater basin.

To comply with these restrictions, Cal Am will be placing its customers along the Highway 68 corridor on the same conservation rates residents in Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove and Seaside have experienced for years. These sunbelt residents will see dramatic increases in charges for their summer outdoor water use.

Water use on the Peninsula can increase by over 80 percent during the summer months. Part of this may be due to the annual spike in tourism, but the majority is clearly related to outdoor use.

If you are searching for ways to save water and money, your outdoor landscaping is the first place to look. Native and drought tolerant plants are both beautiful and water-saving. If you must have a lawn, consider limiting its size.

Indoors, the major culprit is toilets. The high-efficiency toilets of today have improved significantly since the first generation of low-flow toilets. Rebate information is available at our office and at the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District.

While Schwarzenegger's call for increased water awareness may make you think, "Been there, done that," his call for statewide conservation is a reminder that there is more the people of the Peninsula can do to preserve a very precious resource. #

http://www.montereyherald.com/search/ci_12342010?IADID=Search-www.montereyherald.com-www.montereyherald.com

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