Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
The recent report by the National Academy of Sciences’ National Research Council, confirming that protections for endangered species in California’s Bay-Delta estuary are “scientifically justified,” has received significant press coverage. While the “spin cycle” noted by the Sacramento Bee in...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Tomorrow, the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council will publicly release its interim report on the science behind environmental protections in California's Bay-Delta estuary. Apparently, however, someone leaked a copy of the executive summary of the report to Mike Doyle...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Yesterday, recreational and commercial fishermen issued a press release (see below) warning that California’s, and much of Oregon’s, salmon fishery will likely be closed again in 2010, because of record low numbers of returning Central Valley salmon. Despite approximately 30 million...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
Today, the federal court in Fresno denied a motion to relax pumping restrictions in the Bay-Delta estuary, finding that the restrictions were necessary to protect endangered fish species, and would also benefit salmon and the salmon fishery. The Court also...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Last week, Westlands Water District filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to eliminate pumping restrictions in California’s Bay-Delta estuary that protect endangered salmon and steelhead runs. Although salmon fishermen, environmentalists and the federal government all opposed the motion,...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Yesterday, High Country News published an in-depth look at California water issues. The story covers a lot of ground: from how Westlands Water District was formed, to the effects of drought on Westlands’ farmers today, and the effects of toxic water...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Health and the Environment , Living Sustainably , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places
New Year’s provides a good opportunity to look back on the past year, and to look forward to the next. Here’s my list of 2009’s Good, Bad and Ugly in terms of California water politics, and what I’m wishing for...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Earlier this month, the Congressional Research Service, the nonpartisan research arm of the Congress, quietly released this report to Congress on the effects of drought and the Endangered Species Act on California’s water supply. The information in this authoritative, unbiased report...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
The Los Angeles Department of Water & Power announced today that water use in the City declined by over 18% in the past 2 years, as individual residents, businesses, and government institutions like schools all cut their water use in...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that its initial allocation for State Water Project contractors would be 5 percent in 2010, unless there is more rainfall in the coming months. The initial forecast is intended to be very...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Today, California's Governor is signing into law SB 7X 1, part of the legislative package to reform water policy in the state. The bill being signed today builds the foundation for a sustainable 21st century water policy, which is built on two interrelated principles:...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Yesterday, the Governor signed into law SB 7X 7, a bill that NRDC co-sponsored to improve water use efficiency in California. This landmark legislation requires California to achieve a 20% improvement in water use efficiency per person by 2020, making...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Never mind that drought, not endangered fish species, is what is driving low water allocations for some farmers in the Central Valley, as both the state and federal governments have recognized numerous times. Never mind that the State's Senior Meteorologist says...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
Yesterday, the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF) filed a petition to eliminate environmental protections for California's salmon and other endangered fish. PLF and some water users are trying to perpetuate a myth that Californians must choose between people and fish.Only one...
Posted by Doug Obegi in Living Sustainably
While some Members of Congress and other elected officials have fallen hook, line and sinker for the myth that protecting California's endangered fish species like salmon is a struggle of "people vs fish," other voices are speaking out passionately against...
