Based on a series of papers by invited presenters at the conference: Vernal Pool Conservation: Research, Progress and Problems. Is Recovery Possible? presented by AquAlliance on March 26, 2010 in Chico, CA.
Available from the California State University, Chico Herbarium:
RESEARCH & RECOVERY IN VERNAL POOL LANDSCAPES
Studies from the Herbarium
Number 16 — 2011 — 175 pages
Cost: $12 plus $0.87 tax plus $4 shipping = $16.87 total. (Or save shipping costs by purchasing your book in the Herbarium, 129 Holt Hall, 8-5 Fridays).
Member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan public committee and the 2013 State Water Plan forum subcommittee
I ventured into a January 19 public meeting of the Association of California Water Agencies at its Sacramento headquarters to see what was going on. I expected to hear its views on the financing of the coming water bill. Instead, I listened in awe as ACWA’s executive director Tim Quinn unveiled a detailed political PR campaign designed to convince California voters that “since they are the public, it is in the public interest to invest money in upgrading the Delta infrastructure in order to maintain a reliable water supply for California.”
Of course, the phrase “reliable water supply for California” is really code for sending more water south. In Northern California, we already have a reliable water supply, so it’s just another water grab from Southern California.
The ACWA’s propaganda campaign will originate from a sham organization called Clean Water and Jobs for California. It claims it’s a “broad based public-private partnership.” ACWA’s Quinn himself is listed as president. Some of the “private” partners are the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Building Industry Association, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the Western Growers Association, the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. No “public” partners were listed.
Quinn also talked about the necessity of the campaign appearing to be all “grassroots and low cost.” This is the biggest deception of all. It is an admission by the ACWA that the public can be duped by a disingenuously concocted propaganda campaign designed to do just that.
Finally, the ACWA’s purported main message—that it’s in the public interest to support the 2012 Water Bond measure—is a half-truth. A half-truth is the most devious form of lie, because it can be supported in part by fact. Yes, the public might benefit a little, but all the water agencies, corporations, construction industries, developers, etc. stand to profit immeasurably from it—beyond their wildest dreams!
There’s an old political phrase that describes the ACWA’s fallacious campaign best: “enlightened self-interest.”
This short video details the political machinations by the governor and the state legislature to implement elements of the Water Bill without going through the public ballot process. This is the governor’s very sophisticated secret plan to steal Northern California water and send it south to fuel economic development in the high desert regions east of Los Angeles. This is a water grab, pure and simple, and must be stopped because it spells ruin for the delta ecosystem, the fisheries, delta farming and the Northern California environment.
Please help by sending this video to friends and join our cause by emailing us at bwilson5404@sbcglobal.net
Where will the water come from? From the Delta and Northern California!
This photo illustrates what happens when too much ground water is used over many years. San Joaquin Valley soils collapsed from excess ground water pumping. (photo by Richard Ireland, USGS)
Please watch this excellent video that was created by our friends at Salmon Water Now. The House of Representatives bill 1837 preempts state water and public trust law, eliminates federal and state protection for salmon and other commercially valuable species, and ends a 20-year federal law that was enacted to improve conditions in the Sacramento River watershed and Delta.
AquAlliance submitted comments regarding the need for expanded public participation in the latest regional water planning effort. In 2008, the Center for Collaborative Policy emphasized the need for “an Area-wide Visioning activity” to initiate a planning process that could benefit the region’s water. The report also recognized the importance of having the most vocal and knowledgeable public voices at the table. Choosing to ignore this advice, Butte County, the leader in the current 6 county planning initiative, wrote a proposal that continues dysfunction as usual in the local water world. The California Department of Water Resources, never having a problem squandering the public’s money, will most likely fund this to the tune of $900,000. 12.23.10
The New York Times reports on yet another example of what happens when “the market” and government agencies collude to transfer more wealth to corporations and patrons of politicians. You will read about how existing ground water banks south of the Delta are being charged with damaging ground water basins in a recent lawsuit. Another lawsuit challenges how the State of California gave away one of the ground water banks to a private entity. This is what “the market” and some water districts are trying to establish in the Sacramento Valley with the full support of the state and federal government. Without the courts, the public has virtually no voice and is being taken to the cleaners.
The 10-year, 600,000 acre-feet per year, Sacramento Valley Water Transfer Program continues to move forward. The scoping report was released May 13thdespite the fact that eight water sellers stated publicly that they won’t participate (click for report). AquAlliance submitted comments during the scoping phase and posted other public comments that were sent to us (see below). The next step will be the Bureau of Reclamation’s release of the Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/EIR) in the late summer or fall of 2011.
The scoping report perpetuates misinformation that was presented at the January 2011 public meeting in Chico: “Commenters were concerned that transfers may include up to 600,000 acre-feet of water annually; however, this EIS/EIR will include a much smaller transfer volume (approximately 100,000 to 150,000 acre-feet).” The report’s response is disingenuous. The public’s concerns about the 600,000 acre-feet figure comes right out of the Bureau’s Federal Register notice for this project (click for notice). The larger figure would not have appeared in the Federal Register unless it was the number that will direct the environmental analysis – and remain possible for water transfers from the Sacramento Valley.
As many of you know, wealthy, politically connected water districts south of the Delta have wanted north-state ground water for decades. They already destroyed the abundant natural bounty of south-state watersheds by irrigating marginal lands, transferring massive amounts of water, and excessive ground water pumping. If you follow the money behind this project, you will find desert agriculture south of the Delta with junior water rights pressing to steal more north-state water for private profit.
The San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act (HR 1837) was introduced by California GOP Congressman Devin Nunes, and co-sponsored by GOP Congressmen Jeff Denham and Kevin McCarthy. This bill is bad for northern California’s ground water, farms, cities, reservoirs, fish wildlife and rivers. Northern California politicians, regardless of party affiliation, should oppose this bill.
AquAlliance and a broad coalition of environmental, tribal,and fishing groups sent a strong letter of opposition to the U.S. House of Representative’s committee hearing the bill (below). The next action will take place in mid-July. Listen to the hearings held on June 2nd and 13th by using the links below.
