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Tags: california

A Water Agency for the 21st Century: Can "Mother Met" Become Met 2.0?

November 20, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Health and the Environment

Tags:
california, californiadrought, californiarivers, californiawater, coloradoriver, MWD, waterconservation, waterefficiency, waterrecycling, waterreform

To the non-water wonk, a long-range planning process within the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (known as Met) might appear as exciting as drying paint. But for those of us within the water community, it has the potential to...continued

Sacramento Bee Opinion Piece

November 16, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Living Sustainably , Solving Global Warming

Tags:
baydelta, california, delta, legislation, op-ed, sacbee, waterpolicy, waterreform

Here’s an opinion piece published yesterday in the Sacramento Bee offering my perspective on the water package....continued

Remembering Tom Graff

November 13, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Living Sustainably

Tags:
baydelta, california, EDF, environmentalist, heroes, pioneer, tomgraff, waterpolicy

Yesterday, California lost one of its environmental heroes.  Our friends at the Environmental Defense Fund have posted a moving tribute to Tom Graff here.  Tom was a leading advocate on California water issues for more than three decades.  He was...continued

The Water Package – New Solutions, not “Back to the Future.”

November 12, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Living Sustainably , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
agriculture, baydelta, BDCP, california, californiawater, delta, deltasalmon, salmon, sanjoaquinsacramentodelta, waterconservation, waterlegislation, waterreform

Much of the press coverage of Governor Schwarzenegger’s bill signing press conferences have described the water package passed by the legislature last week as an “infrastructure” package, leading to the mis-impression that the purpose of this package is primarily to...continued

The Governance Reform Bill - Stronger Protections for the Delta

November 10, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Health and the Environment

Tags:
agriculture, baydelta, BDCP, california, californiawater, delta, deltasalmon, salmon, sanjoaquinsacramentodelta, waterconservation, waterlegislation, waterreform

Over the coming week, my colleagues and I will write about some of the major provisions in the ambitious package of water reform legislation passed on November 4.  The many provisions in this complex package will require some time for...continued

On Leadership and the Water Package

November 6, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
baydelta, california, california assembly, californiasenate, darrellsteinberg, jaredhuffman, waterlegislation, waterpolicy, waterreform

A great deal has been written about the substance of the water reform bills that was passed by the legislature in the wee hours Wednesday.  Here’s NRDC’s statement on the three key bills.  And here’s a thoughtful editorial from the Los Angeles...continued

Why do some water users object to the state constitution?

October 28, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
california, californiaconstitution, legislation, waterconservation, waterpolicy

In general, the direction of the legislation currently under consideration in the state legislature is encouraging. However, in addition to the positive developments, a remarkable debate is taking place in the legislature today. Some water users and legislators have asked...continued

The Growing Middle on California Water Legislation

October 28, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Health and the Environment

Tags:
california, californiarivers, californiawater, centralvalleyproject, delta, fishermen, fishing, salmon, water, waterpolicy, watersupply, waterwars, westlands

Since the end of the legislative session in September, support for ambitious water reform legislation has been growing steadily. Not only is the list of those calling for change long, but it also includes some unlikely allies. Major stakeholders from...continued

Small Fry and Salmon Runs

October 20, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places

Tags:
california, chinook, Feather river, fish, fisheries, rivers, salmon, water, water policy

Last Saturday, my wife and I took a canoe trip with her nieces and nephew down the Feather River to watch one of California's most dramatic natural spectacles - the fall spawning run of Chinook salmon. The kids get very...continued

California Hits Peak Water, But Virtual River Offers Solution

October 15, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in Health and the Environment

Tags:
baydelta, california, californiadrought, californiarivers, californiawater, coloradoriver, klamathriver, losangeles, monolakebasin, owensriver, peakwater, salmon, sandiego, sanjoaquinriver, sb68, trinityriver, virtualriver, waterconservation, waterefficiency, waterrecycling

In the past decade, people have become familiar with the concept of peak oil -- the notion that we have passed the zenith of oil extraction and are facing a steady decline in the amount of oil we can recover....continued

Barry Nelson
Barry Nelson
Senior Policy Analyst, Water Program
San Francisco
During the week, I’m the director of the California Vision Project for NRDC’s Water Program,...
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