Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
July 27, 2009
1. Top Item–
'Million boat' protest planned over Delta canal
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'Million boat' protest planned over Delta canal
By Matt Weiser
Drilling soil samples in Delta river bottoms is expected in September as
Oakley City Councilman Bruce Connelley launched the "Million Boat Float" idea, to protest drilling and what he calls a consistent exclusion of local residents from the canal planning process.
"The state government involved in this Delta plan has not listened to the people," he said. "There is no choice other than a public display."
The proposed canal has been endorsed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a task force he assembled to study the issue. The task force said a canal could help restore the Delta's strained environment.
The canal is a centerpiece of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan – the BDCP – which includes state and federal agencies, water users and environmental groups. Its goal is to obtain approval for the canal, and habitat protection projects, under the Endangered Species Act.
The group's steering committee, however, has no local government representatives. Its meetings are public, but its outreach has been limited.
Karla Nemeth, state liaison to the BDCP, said a number of community workshops are planned in the Delta this fall.
"The loud and clear message we heard was that folks needed more detail," she said.
Nonetheless, Connelley's protest is set to begin Sunday, Aug. 16. He expects to see thousands of boaters cruising upriver to Sacramento for an overnight stay. On Monday, Aug. 17, the Legislature will reconvene after a recess, and the boaters will take their protest to the Capitol steps.
Connelley's goal is a million boats, but he acknowledged he probably won't get there.
"You ever seen a million boats on the Sacramento River before? I don't think we ever will, but it ought to be pretty impressive."
The protest is not likely to stall state Department of Water Resources plans to drill in the Delta in September.
That work involves taking soil samples as deep as 200 feet in the river bottom at 16 locations, from Sacramento's Pocket neighborhood and the town of Walnut Grove on the Sacramento River, to remote sloughs near Bethel Island and Stockton.
With land-based sampling already under way, testing is estimated to cost $4.5 million, paid for by water contractors that depend on the Delta.
A yet-to-be-hired contractor will work from either a barge or a ship. In addition to drilling, the crew will test soil density by using a hammer-like device to pound into the river bottom, said Mark Pagenkopp, a DWR senior engineering geologist overseeing the project.
The goal is to test suitability of soils for construction of a canal and its intakes, tunnels and siphons.
"This data will help in determining which alignment would be the best alignment to do," Pagenkopp said.
He said work is likely to start near Sacramento's Pocket neighborhood, and then move south. The aim is to finish by the end of September, but it could stretch into 2010.
The canal would divert a portion of the Sacramento River's flow directly to the Delta's state and federal water export pumps near
Isolating freshwater in a canal would prevent the pumps from killing fish, and would protect the water from floods and earthquakes.
A canal would also end the need to maintain the Delta as a freshwater environment to serve water diverters. Biologists say the Delta should have more frequent pulses of salt water, an idea that worries Delta residents.
What's envisioned are actually two canals: a completely contained canal skirting one edge of the Delta, and a "through-Delta" canal assembled from existing levees running down the estuary.
Each canal would be enormous – at least 1,000 feet wide and 40 miles long – with potential environmental effects that remain unknown.
The project is similar to the ill-fated
Many property owners are protesting DWR's demand for access to conduct land-based soil sampling. About 35 lawsuits are pending as a result.
Dante Nomellini Sr., a lawyer representing some property owners, said the drilling is likely to draw more lawsuits.
Connelley said his "Million Boat Float" will be civil. Participating boats will fly unique flags to identify them as part of the flotilla.
"There's no intent to do anything radical that would hurt, harm or demean anybody," he said. "Our focus is to bring this to national attention." #
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2057828.html?mi_rss=Top%20Stories
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