|
 Department of Water Resources Begins Listening Sessions for Water Conservation Legislation
By Jennifer T. Buckman
March 2, 2010
On March 8 and March 10, 2010, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will hold “Listening Sessions” for members of the public to comment on DWR’s implementation of the Water Conservation Act of 2009 (Senate Bill X7 7). The March 8 meeting will take place in Sacramento, while the March 10 meeting will be held in Los Angeles. SB 7 was part of the new water legislation package passed in late 2009 that addressed a number of water issues, including conservation. See “California Legislature Passes New Delta and Water Policy Legislation.” This bill specifically set urban water use targets designed to result in a 20 percent reduction from the baseline daily per capita water use by December 31, 2020 (20% by 2020).
Judge Wanger Temporarily Enjoins Implementation of Delta Pumping Restrictions Under the Salmon Biological Opinion, then Reverses Course Under Smelt Biological Opinion
By Brian D. Poulsen
February 17, 2010
On February 5, 2010, Judge Oliver Wanger of the United States District Court, Eastern District of California (Court) granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction halting implementation of a Central Valley Project and State Water Project pumping restriction aimed at protecting endangered salmon. The effect of the injunction, however, was short-lived. Less than a week later, on February 10, 2010, Judge Wanger denied an application to enjoin a nearly identical pumping restriction aimed at protecting Delta smelt. The smelt pumping restriction became effective the day of the Court ruling and will likely last until March 2010. State Water Board Takes Initial Steps Towards Establishing New Delta Flow Criteria To Protect Public Trust Resources
By Brian D. Poulsen
January 13, 2010
In late 2009, the California Legislature passed legislation requiring the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to develop new flow criteria for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) ecosystem to protect public trust resources. As an initial step towards complying with this mandate, on January 7, 2010, the State Water Board held a pre-proceeding conference to prepare for and discuss procedural aspects of its upcoming informational proceeding to develop flow criteria for the Delta ecosystem.
California Legislature Passes New Delta and Water Policy Legislation
By Daniel Kelly
November 6, 2009
Earlier this week, the California Legislature sent the Governor a package of bills touted as a “comprehensive solution” to what is viewed by many as California’s current water crisis. This package, passed in the 2009-2010 Seventh Extraordinary Session, consists of four policy bills and one bond bill. The policy bills are Senate Bills 1, 6, 7, and 8, with Senate Bill 2 being the bond bill. A brief overview of each bill is provided below, with a more detailed analysis to follow in the near future. Delta Water Agencies Challenge Bay Delta Conservation Plan Process
By Jacqueline L. McDonald
April 21, 2009
On April 13, 2009, the Central Delta Water Agency and South Delta Water
Agency (Delta Water Agencies) filed a Complaint for Declaratory Relief,
Injunctive Relief, and Mandamus challenging the preliminary actions of
various state and federal agencies, urban and agricultural water
purveyors, agricultural interests, and environmental groups related to
the collaborative Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) process. (Central Delta Water Agency et al. v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service et al.,
United States Eastern District Court, Case No. 09-CV-01003-JAM-GGH.) In
recent years, politicians, state and federal agencies, and various
stakeholders have advocated the BDCP process as a means to improve the
failing San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta)
ecosystem and increase the reliability of water supplies exported
through the Delta, including consideration of a potential isolated
conveyance facility.
Delta Vision Committee Issues Its Implementation Report to the Governor
By Brian D. Poulsen
January 2009
On January 2, 2008, the Delta Vision Committee released its
report to the Governor and Legislature recommending actions to address
the environmental crisis in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta (the
"Delta") and shore up the State's hub for drinking and irrigation water
supply. Among the most significant recommendations is the call to
construct an isolated conveyance facility that would divert water
around the Delta. Other recommendations, however, will likely be
equally contentious to certain stakeholders.
|
