- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
A mid-course review of the draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan by a panel of scientists found the document to be "fragmented, incomplete and hard to understand," according to a report by McClatchy Newservice reporter Michael Doyle.
UC Berkeley emeritus professor Henry Vaux Jr. chaired the panel that reviewed the plan, which has been in the works since 2006, has already cost about $150 million and involved hundreds of meetings among state and federal agencies, water districts and environmental and conservation groups.
"Given the time and expenditure of money,...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
A group of farmers are "adamantly opposed" to new rules that would require electronic reporting of contaminated water discharges from their farms, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.
Under regulations proposed by the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, farmland would be classified based on the contamination risk. Farms considered most likely to pollute groundwater would have to take certain steps to reduce agricultural runoff. If passed, the new rules would affect...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Mark Twain biographers now believe he never said, "Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over." But that doesn't mean the sentiment isn't true. Take for example yesterday's congressional hearing about California water, held at Fresno City Hall.
Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Elk Grove) said the political left is pushing junk science while attempting to pit fishermen against farmers, according to the Fresno Bee.
Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) asserted that the hearing was designed to reignite the water wars of the past and pit Californians against each other for short-term gain, according a statement issued by...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
Authors of a newly published water policy book say a new approach is needed to manage California’s aquatic ecosystems, according to a Public Policy Institute of California news release about the publication.
Recommendations include moving away from the current strategy, which aims to save one species at a time under the federal and state Endangered Species Acts. Instead, a broader approach would create better conditions for many species and address the multiple causes of ecosystem decline.
Wide-ranging water policy reforms are detailed in Managing California’s Water: From Conflict to...
- Author: Jeannette E. Warnert
The Hansen Research and Extension Center hosted a water workshop this week, touching on a topic that is one of the University of California's top priorities, according to an article in the Ventura County Star.
“We want to make sure the community knows about what Hansen is doing and share some of the research sponsored by Hansen," the story quoted Jose de Soto, the center director.
Sixty to 90 percent of residential water is used outside the home, but typically gardeners irrigate based on estimates of plant...
