Tag Archives: Westlands Water District

Jerry Brown sends a message to water agencies on the Delta tunnels – and it’s direct

Jerry Brown took an Old English turn from his Latin wisdom in 2012 by declaring: “I want to get s— done,” a reference to his vision for building two tunnels 30 miles long to move Sacramento River water south from the Delta to the rest of the state. And in 2015, addressing California water agencies, he offered pithy advice to naysayers: “Until you put a million hours into it, shut up.” Critics of the $15 billion project were greatly offended. “Two 40-foot diameter tunnels that can take the entirety of the Sacramento River at most times of the year of just seems like a bad idea to salmon fishermen,” said John McManus, executive director of the Golden Gate Salmon Association. “Rank-and-file salmon fishermen don’t trust them when they say, ‘Trust us.’ ”
There’s an element of hypocrisy on the part of Bay Area environmentalists, who drink water piped from Hetch Hetchy. Delta interests have all the water they could possibly want. But the fishing industry has a real beef. Dams deplete salmon runs. click here to read the story 10:45

Judge: Agency cited improper authority to increase Trinity flows

The Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, along with their legal representative Earthjustice, celebrated the decision Wednesday as a victory for salmon and the commercial fishing industry. The Hoopa Tribe, however, issued a scathing denunciation of O’Neill’s refusal to accept the 1955 law as authority for the increased flows. Read the rest here 13:31

Central Valley irrigators ask judge to stop releases for salmon

Agricultural water providers in California’s Central Valley have asked a federal judge to stop the newly approved releases of extra water intended to help salmon in the Klamath Basin survive the drought. Read more here  08:07