California Water Wars....

The Water Issues facing the Delta

The current government water plans include huge Delta Tunnels which will cost 2.5 times the benefits according to the University of the Pacific Study and will decimate the Delta fish, fowl, wildlife and Delta Communities. The tunnels are the latest plan which started with the Peripheral Canal proposal voted down in 1982 because of the known environmental impacts.

The goal of the State Water Contractors is to increase the amount of water exported from the Delta to the Westland farmers in the central valley desert and to Los Angeles Metropolitan District water users.

The issue is that even the current level of water exporting has caused an environmental collapse to the region and has lowered the water quality for the Delta farmers who farm the most fertile soil in the state. Southern interests are doing everything they can to point fingers everywhere except on the effects of over-pumping. Right now the Water Contractors are running the show and the results of their efforts will be bad for the Delta and Northern California. Regardless of the environmental impacts, projects have been continued to be proposed to support increased exports from the Delta. Proposals the past few years have included adding salinization Gates in major waterways throughout the Delta (which would have further impacted fish migration), stopping environmental protections for salmon (to allow more pumping without concern for numerous species of fish), and removing the striped bass from the Delta (a diversionary tactic to avoid reducing the water exports which caused the salmon crisis and to target the bass fisherman who have been loud and vocal opponents of the canal and tunnel projects). These plans and projects are being controlled by the State Water Contractors and have little or no input from the Delta communities that would be so negatively affected by the plans. The projects are moving ahead even though their own scientific advisors report that moving ahead will seriously impact the environment. The proponents are special interests who stand to benefit financially from shipping products (cotton, rice, almonds) overseas and others who are making millions on the resale of agricultural water to urban users. These millionaires are only “concerned” about the Delta ecology in order to obtain their canal permits. Hence Governor Brown is pushing the construction of the tunnels to begin even though his own scientific reports show the significant impact they will have on the environment. Governor Brown plans to build the tunnels now and solve the environmental issues later! The Delta is more than a “plumbing fixture” to export drinking water to Central and Southern California. The Delta is an important freshwater estuary: important for the ecosystem; important the local farmers and local economy; and important to thousands who enjoy swimming, fishing, boating, and water sports. The Delta Tunnels These tunnels would be longer and wider than the Chunnel, which connects Great Britain and France. Their cost, like their precise route, is unknowable at this time; estimates range up to just south of $20 billion and increase each month. Read more in the SFGate Article “Some Thoughts on the Delta Tunnels”. The Tunnels pose the greatest risk to the Delta. The elimination of fresh water flowing through the Delta will cause a total collapse of the ecosystem and destroy the farming and communities in the Delta. Gates In 2009 the 2-Gates “Fish Protection” Project was planned for installation in October 2009 but has been temporarily postponed due to actions by the STCDA (but not “dead”). An alternate Frank’s Tract 2-Gates was planned. These Gates will severely impact recreational boating, impact safety rescue operations (coast guard, marine sheriffs – could cost lives), impact local economies, and negatively effect affect the fish and wildlife. The list of concerns and issues with installing gates in primary navigation waterways is long and significant. In addition, the gates will isolate Discovery Bay by periodically closing off the only unbridged waterway from that town to the rest of the Delta thus could easily end up impacting home values as well as boating safety. The Old River/Connection Slough 2-Gates project was put on-hold by the Obama Administration in December 2009, due to lack of scientific evidence of positive results and additional expense of the project. The California Assembly spent the next 2 years busily implementing MANY new bills that include re-starting and expediting the 2-Gates project. In 2011 there was a proposal to re-start the prior Franks Tract Gates proposal. Any gates are a significant issue. They restrict waterways, negatively impact endangered species their proponents claim to be trying to save, are a significant risk to navigation and boater safety. Currently this project is also shown as “delayed.” Removing Environmental Protections for Salmon Other types of efforts that have been underway include the 2010 “Feinstein Senate Jobs Bill Amendment” to mandate increased pumping levels and suspend protection for the chinook salmon (an amendment which could finally cause the destruction of the remaining salmon in California). This amendment is currently on-hold but Sen. Feinstein has said she “reserves the right to bring it back should it become necessary.” Erradicating the Striped Bass Also in November 2011 – a proposal was being considered by the Fish & Game due to a Agricultural lawsuit which would eliminate the striped bass from the Delta. It proposed that the striped bass were causing the demise of salmon and smelt, NOT excessive pumping of water (opposite all scientific evidence – read more). The bass fish industry provides millions of dollars to the Delta local economies and have co-existed with the salmon for over 100 years. When salmon populations are high, bass populations are high. When salmon populations are low, bass populations are also low. The bass do not feed off or impact the salmon. Fortunately the California Fish and Game Commission in February 2012 took final action to reject the Department of Fish and Game’s controversial proposed changes to striped bass regulations. Seven species of fish in the Delta are listed as threatened or endangered, including Delta smelt, salmon and steelhead. Although the ultimate cause of decline in these species is adverse water management throughout the Central Valley, there is a constant search for ways to increase their numbers without any water costs. Such was the case with the Fish & Game proposal and in the end it was obvious the striped bass are not the issue. It’s the pumps.