Salmon Water News Archive
Extra Pumping Starts in Delta; Sacramento Bee 5-27-10
Cities and farmers quickly started pulling more water from the Delta following a controversial court ruling, prompting concern that more young salmon would be killed in the pumps.
Last rites in salmon country?; High Country News 5-24-10
This year, Collins and other California fishermen face an agonizing choice: Whether to gear up for a season that could not only leave them in the red, but may also jeopardize the future of struggling salmon populations.
Farmers and fisherman still fighting over water; Fresno Bee 4-29-10
The push-and-pull over California water supplies continues this week, with warring letters that pit farmers — or, at least, their congressional allies — against fishermen.
Calif. lawmakers reject hurdle for delta canal; Associated Press 4-27-10
California lawmakers on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have required the Legislature to approve or deny plans for a canal that routes water around the delta, sidestepping a dispute over who will have the final word.
Sacramento water demands among nation’s worst; Sacramento Business Journal 4-26-10
Sacramento is one of the so-called thirstiest cities in the nation, with demand for the limited resource outpacing the precious supply, according to a national magazine.
Calif. lawmaker wants hurdle to canal around delta; Associated Press 4-25-10
Alarmed that a proposed canal to funnel water around the delta to Southern California is gaining momentum, a Northern California lawmaker wants to ensure the Legislature has the final say.
Opinion: Water mismanagement is killing off our salmon fisheries; San Jose Mercury News 4-18-10
The collapse of California’s salmon fishery is due to human mismanagement, not the vagaries of nature. By allowing unrestrained and irresponsible pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and ignoring the established science on the biological requirements of anadromous fish, we have brought our wild salmon to the brink of extinction.
Fishermen try to save Chinook salmon in delta; San Francisco Chronicle; 4-2-10
Pummeled by two straight years of canceled fishing seasons, enraged salmon fishermen held an emotional call-to-arms in San Francisco Thursday, vowing to fight to save the vanishing Chinook salmon.
Scientists side with smelt, salmon protections; Los Angeles Times 3-19-10
A panel with the National Academy of Sciences says measures taken to save the fish that have also curbed water supplies from the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta are scientifically justified.
Stuart Leavenworth: Feinstein says she’s no Westlands ’shill,’ but…; Sacramento Bee Editorial 3-7-10
…as a U.S. senator who wants a long-term fix to the Delta’s problems, Feinstein needs to be careful about playing favorites. Numerous water groups have an interest in the Delta. All are legitimate. All would like to get the same attention Feinstein reserves for Westlands.
Westlands wins, but at what cost?; Sacramento Bee Editorial 2-27-10
Over the past year, the Westlands Water District and other irrigation districts in the San Joaquin Valley have engaged in a dangerous campaign of misinformation.
Rep. George Miller: Feinstein amendment is a water grab; San Francisco Chronicle Op-Ed 2-26-10
Beware of the latest attempt at an old-fashioned water grab – the last gasp of an outdated approach to California’s complex water problems.
Delta environmental review begins amid skepticism; Sacramento Bee 1-25-10
Review starts under a cloud of doubt following media reports that the panel’s formation can be attributed to the influence of farmers grown wealthy on water exported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
New Calif. water policy aims to save state’s key estuary, but critics say it falls short; Associated Press 1-19-10
The perilously low populations of salmon and native fish are symptoms of a crashing ecosystem in the West Coast’s largest estuary. Lawmakers have devoted billions of dollars to restoring the delta and improving water transfers over the years with little to show, and the current bond measure may just continue the trend.
My View: Farm, fishing industries can’t remain foes in water debate; The Sacramento Bee 10-5-09
Recent federal decisions to ensure there is a bare minimum of water to keep the coastal ecosystem from catastrophe are being blamed by farmers for the decrease in crop production, even though they have yet to fully take effect and restrict only a drop in the bucket compared with what is available.
Where the Riled Things Are; The Daily Show with John Stewart 9-29-09
John Stewart mocks Sean Hannity for blaming the drought affecting California farmers on the government and a tiny fish.
