The peripheral canal is dead: for this year...

That is great news. BUT is this part of Arnold's $58B water resources proposal? Or are Arnold's ideas still alive and well? I'm a bit confused and would appreciate knowledgeable folks on this forum to get me updated on all of this.

Thanks! FB
 
SB 27 was intended to fast-track the peripheral canal by sidestepping the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force process. The Task force will issue it's recommendations in October (which will undoubtedly recommend a peripheral or cross-delta canal) but action on that recommendation will not happen until next year.

Given the state of the economy, Delta environment and rapidly escalating costs, building a new canal is looking less and less attractive. But the Governor, water districts and water users are still as determined as ever to get a big canal somewhere betwen Hood and the South Delta pumps.
 
Thanks yzer! I guess I hadn't been aware of the fast-track canal proposal. So glad that it got killed in committee. We must all stay vigilant and proactive.
 
I've started reading a lot on the canal and other Delta issues, and there are some serious problems. My brother knows the Senator who is/was the remaining name on the bill, and I am trying to get some answers from him, no luck so far. I read the bill from end-to-end and the majority of it talks about improving the levys, fish habitat, etc, but I think it is just a cover for taking more water. I am getting cynical and hope I am wrong, but it feels like that to me. If you folks want a real eye opener, do a google search on saving the delta or delta issues and you will just how serious some of these issues are. I love the Delta - it is like going back in time and I sure hope it is around for my grandkids to enjoy.

Jim
 
Jim, I think your take of those issues being a cover for taking more water is right! I'm glad you are studying the Delta Issues for yourself. More informed voters will understand that what is said is not what will result. To protect the Delta for our future generations, we must remain informed and vigilant!
 
Flutterby,

I have been a boater for 40 odd years, and the Delta is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifull places I have ever been. It never ends, and can be so quiet, or you can go to Lost Isle! I live 20 minutes from Lake Tahoe, but I drive 3 hours to get to the Delta (not terribly green & not sure how to deal with that). I am getting into a semi-retirment mode, have a great guy running my company, and have time to get involved in these things now. My brother is in politics, school board, and has been a big help in getting to understand the system. One very important thing for all of you to really pay heed to - it does not take more than a handfull of highly motivated people to shift the direction of an issue - get involved!

Great site, glad to be involved. I will pass info on as I see it.

Jim
 
Jim, yzer is our resident guru in researching and informing us about delta water issues, so read his posts carefully to help you be well informed. Also there is a guy named Joe Camsomethingorother from the east bay area who is leading the fight against big water interests in the delta. I'll try to locate his website and post it here.

Here is that website: http://www.stopthecanal.org./

And the guy's name is Joe Canciamilla. He's a strong friend of the delta and protecting it.
 
now that this issue has been put into remission, how are things coming along with the Clean Boating Act of 2008? Will we all need an EPA permit to go boating or will this finally get passed?
 
I keep tabs with BoatUS government dept for input on this one. Last I heard Barbara Boxer, Chairwoman for the key committee, has promised to move this bill to the senate floor in a timely manner. Of course, you have to trust her word........we will see!
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

I keep tabs with BoatUS government dept for input on this one. Last I heard Barbara Boxer, Chairwoman for the key committee, has promised to move this bill to the senate floor in a timely manner. Of course, you have to trust her word........we will see!

Click to expand...
I guess she is good for her word because she introduced the bill to Congress back in March and it seems to be picking up momentum.

http://blog.nj.com/boating/2008/04/clean_boating_act.html
 
I would be shocked if this bill doesn't pass. It was just an oversight by the ignorant federal regulators who put the legislation together. They were targeting the large ocean going cargo ships and didn't even consider the impact it would have on the recreational boater. Even the EPA wants this resolved as they don't want to have to deal with the overhead of having to administer millions of pointless permits.
 
yzer,

Hello, and thank you for the good work in protecting the Delta. I am already on Joe's stopthecanal mailing list - are there any other good ways you have found to keep track of these kind of issues? What do you know about the Blue Ribbon Task Force? Is it a bi-partisan group with honest and good intentions or a political "puppet" appearing to have good intentions to get legislation passed? I really have no idea - any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jim
 
Thanks for that article, Jim. It seems to be "right on" with everything except the slaps at Bush. The water robbing and mismanagement started long before he was President. He hasn't done anything to help, but do not blame him for the cause. Clinton is just as guilty.

Our state's water policies have been strictly political in favor of the very strong southern California and AgriBusiness interests. And now with two drought years in a row, we are all going to be in a world of hurt waterwise.
 
Jim, I just know what I read on the subject. Online newspapers have been a lot of help. Some good ones are Sacramento Bee, Modesto Bee, Fresno Bee, Stockton Record, Contra Costa Times, San Francisco Chronicle, San Jose Mercury News, LA Times and San Diego Union Tribune.

Every paper has its bias and the truth is read somewhere between the different accounts. The Three "Bees" were established along with KCRA TV & radio by the old McClatchy media giant a long time ago. Those outlets still share a lot of editorial similarities. The Sacramento Bee was solidly against the first peripheral canal but that isn't the case any more. The Three Bees often run different articles. Sacramento Bee will carry news on Delta/state water issues but often buries the stories well off of front page. LA Times and San Diego Union Tribune are predominately pro-Delta and anti-canal!

Beside the elected officials mentioned in the posts above, don't forget Assembly member Lois Wolk: she's the Assembly's representative on the Delta Protection Commission. She is a very effective long-time defender of the Delta and one of our few elected officials that has a big picture view of the Delta, its challenges and its future possibilities.

I’ve posted comments earlier about Governor Schwarzenegger's Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. This is an advisory panel for the Governor and cannot implement legal change in the Delta. It primarily seeks economic solutions for Delta issues. The Task Force does not conduct its own scientific research but relies on science done by CALFED Science Dept.

CALFED Science does excellent work in all fields of Delta science including Delta ecological issues. As of this month, CALFED Science maintains that they do not have science available to predict ecological effects of the proposed Delta conveyance systems and it will be years from now before they have working models available to evaluate the effects such systems may have on Delta ecology and water quality.

What the Blue Ribbon Panels says in October may be something entirely different than what CALFED is saying.
 
yzer,
Thanks. As you might have read, I am becomming a real fan of the Delta and do not want to see it destroyed. I do a lot of reading, mostly on line, and will work with you and the others to keep these issues from blindsiding everyone. You are well informed - thank you for sharing! You too Flutterby - great info, opinions, and support.

Jim
 
Not to pour kerosene on this fire but, I spoke with former colleagues in Los Angeles this week and there is no discussion about water rationing in LA county - None. Can you believe that? You have to live there to understand how much water is consumed by residential customers and the water (our water) is cheaper.

Bill
 
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