Tag Archives: Bay Delta Conservation Plan
Bay Delta Conservation Plan: Will it help, or hurt? Fate still unclear for nine species in Delta water tunnel plan
Those nine species include some of the same imperiled fish that are symbolic of the Delta’s environmental troubles and which originally prompted the plan: Delta smelt, longfin smelt, three runs of chinook salmon, green and white sturgeon, and steelhead. The last is the greater sandhill crane, a majestic bird that roosts on land where tunnel construction is proposed. The project is overseen by the California Department of Water Resources. But the “not determined” findings come from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service. They are cooperating with DWR in preparing the document and are guided by federal law, the National Environmental Policy Act. more@sacbee 05:30
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta could get saltier if tunnels are built
This marks just one of the complex trade-offs sprinkled through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, the massive proposal to re-engineer California’s primary water delivery system that includes the two tunnels. continued @ Sac Bee
Another View: Bay Delta Conservation plan still evolving as more is learned – William Stelle Jr.,West Coast salmon coordinator , NMFS
sacbee.com – An April 25 Viewpoints article, “Twin tunnels water grab is doomed to fail,” noted a number of concerns with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, citing the comments of the National Marine Fisheries Service on how to improve the current draft. The agency offers additional thoughts on the state’s plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. continued
Bay-Delta salmon population just one fifth of mandated goal by Dan Bacher
indybay.org -“More than a decade past the law’s deadline, the salmon fishery continues to struggle due, in large part, to excessive pumping of fresh water from the Bay-Delta that deprives salmon of the cold, flowing rivers and healthy habitat they need to thrive,” according to a joint release from GGSA and NRDC. “After two closed salmon fishing seasons in 2008 and 2009, and a token season in 2010, fishermen are fishing again, but we remain far below the abundant runs required by law,” said Zeke Grader, executive director of Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Association and GGSA board member. “Stronger Delta pumping restrictions are paying off but we have to finish the job and get these salmon runs rebuilt.” continued
Editorial: Feds need to press Brown to look at all options for a Bay-Delta fix
The Sacramento Bee – If Gov. Jerry Brown had his way, the tunneling machines would be boring right now under the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, carving out space for a pair of 40-foot-wide tunnels to ship Sacramento River water to cities and irrigation districts south of the Delta. But things aren’t going well for Brown’s tunnel project, continued
Viewpoints: Bay Delta Conservation Plan Twin tunnels water grab is doomed to fail
The Sacramento Bee – The Bay Delta Conservation Plan, a scheme to divert water from the Sacramento River around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the south state via two 35-mile-long tunnels, is touted by proponents as the last great hope for the Delta’s beleaguered fisheries. Commercial fishermen, sport anglers and conservationists have been wary of this hype – and recent comments from the National Marine Fisheries Service indicate their concerns are well-founded. continued
Fish agencies still have concerns about Bay Delta Conservation Plan tunnels
Federal wildlife agencies still have serious concerns about how two giant water diversion tunnels proposed in the Delta may harm imperiled species such as salmon and Delta smelt. In comment letters made public Thursday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service praised Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration for making progress on many concerns they raised in so-called “red flag letters” released last year. But the agencies also said the Bay Delta Conservation Plan still presents a number of major concerns, some of which they labeled “critical.” continued
