Archive Page 33

Last day for BDCP Comments

Published July 28, 2014 Tunnel(s) 1 Comment

Tomorrow, July 29, is the last day to send in your BDCP “Stop the Tunnels” comments. See our Take Action page for sample comments.

General directions for making comments: You may type your comment in the body of the email or you may provide the comment as an attachment to the email.

Start with a personal note (so they know you are a real person, not a robot) and tell how this tunnel project will affect you.

If you send the comment as an attachment, save it as a pdf file and attach the pdf file.

Note: BDCP Transparency Concern and inability to verify if your comment was received – At the start of the comment period, the BDCP took down their page where comments were posted. This is a very unusual action and brings into strong question their commitment to transparency. This also means you cannot check to see if your comment was received. If you want, send a CC to our email at NoDeltaGates below and thus we will have a copy to verify comments were sent.

Email to:
BDCP.Comments@noaa.gov

Optional (if you want a copy for verification – this is not the official site.)
Send CC: BDCP.Comments.COPY@nodeltagates.com.

You may make several comments in one email or you can send several emails, each with one or two comments. You can send comments in – as many and as often as you like.

If you prefer regular mail,
Mail to:
BDCP Comments
Ryan Wulff, NMFS
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-100
Sacramento, CA 95814

Invasive Weed Meeting Tuesday July 8 6:30 PM

Published July 7, 2014 Boating , News and Events , Tunnel(s) Leave a Comment

*** REMINDER *** Delta Weed Meeting Tomorrow, Tuesday July 8, 6:30 PM in the DB Elementary School Gymnasium.

I’ve heard of bays where boaters can’t get out, families can’t use their back yard waterways for swimming and fun plus sales are being impacted. This problem isn’t limited to Discovery Bay – our Bethel Island neighbors and marinas throughout the Delta are struggling. Yet the Division of Boating and Waterways recently announced they weren’t going to spray this year.

Assemblymember Jim Frazier is bringing the Division of Boating & Waterways reps to talk to us about their invasive aquatic weed abatement plans (or lack thereof). In addition biologists will be on hand to discuss the invasive species and methods of management.

It looks to be an important and informative meeting plus hopefully enough people will attend to demonstrate that there really is a problem this year.

California Water Mismanagement

Published May 7, 2014 Tunnel(s) Leave a Comment

Gene Beley comments on Dan Batcher’s article and thinks it doesn’t go far enough. He adds

“Not enough is written about the mismanagement of California water and how they practically gave away the Kern Water Bank. It is now in the hands of private individuals like Stewart and Linda Resnick, billionaires who live in the largest mansion in Beverly Hills. They have mega-wealthy partners in that enterprise like Silicon Valley real estate developer, John Vidovich, who sold some of his water several years ago for a cool $77 million. Another partner is the Tejon Ranch Corp., who needs water to build a new city in the desert. These people don’t like you to know their names and Resnicks are famous for not giving interviews. This fact, coupled with the reservoirs are mostly nearly full in Southern California, is part of this non-fiction story being written into California history. Some predict if the twin tunnels get built, we’ll eventually see a dry Sacramento River. BDCP’s reports do say it will lower it at least by three feet. That impact alone would have dire consequences throughout the Delta. As many try to warn, you can’t fix the Delta by taking away fresh water from it. ”

To see Gene’s entire comment, go to https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/05/05/18755355.php?show_comments=1#comments


Pyramid Lake, LA, at the height of the drought. April 2014. Nearly 100% full

BDCP Comment Period ending June 13

Published May 6, 2014 Tunnel(s) Leave a Comment

June 13 is the end of BDCP EIR/EIS comment period. Dan Batcher in the Indy Bay Times today said “State officials are banking on the fact that the general public is too confused or not interested to voice any comment on this boondoggle until it’s too late. The public cannot sit quietly and watch this happen without at least voicing our concerns.”

Go to our Take Action tab which includes suggested comments and backup information from the Town Hall Meeting.

Email to:
BDCP.Comments@noaa.gov

Optional (if you want a copy for verification – this is not the official site.)
Send CC: BDCP.Comments.COPY@nodeltagates.com.

You may make several comments in one email or you can send several emails, each with one or two comments. You can send comments in – as many and as often as you like.

If you prefer regular mail,
Mail to:
BDCP Comments
Ryan Wulff, NMFS
650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-100
Sacramento, CA 95814

Plus here’s a way to get even more information – a comment-writing party May 13th being offered by Restore the Delta. The event will run from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Reserve at Spanos Park, Mt. Diablo Room 6301 W. Eight Mile Rd. in Stockton. Refreshments will be provided. RSVP and letter writing information, language translators or childcare can be arranged: contact stina@restorethedelta.org or call (209) 475-9550. (RSVP is encouraged, but not required.) More info about it here.

Comments Due on the 3 Dams by April 16

Published April 2, 2014 Boating , Delta Dams/Gates , Tunnel(s) 1 Comment

Plans are moving forward to approve putting rock dams in three sloughs: False River (just west of Franks Tract and the typical navigation route for boats traveling from the South Delta to San Francisco), Sutter Slough and Steamboat Slough (in the North Delta). These would impact boating and navigation. Worse, they are being proposed by the water contractors to enable them to continue to over-export water south.

Opinions about the dams vary. There is a chance the False River one could actually help water quality in the South Delta. However, there are more that have negative opinions:

  1. They could (to me, it seems likely) become permanent. They definitely will be full-time over this summer since they are rock dams, not like the previously proposed opening gates.
  2. They are not planned to be fully removed. The wing dams on the side will remain. What will that do to the water flow during high tides? Will it be safe to boat through?
  3. There is a massive hyacinth/egeria densa problem in the Delta that is caused by low water flows. Frank’s Tract could become a meadow if the water flow is tampered with. Marinas are already having to spend millions of dollars of their own money to control invasive plants. If there are dams on Steamboat and Sutter Sloughs, the hyacinth problem there will be horrendous as there will be little or no water flow.
  4. This will have a negative effect on boating all over the area. False River is a well used navigable waterway as are Steamboat and Sutter Sloughs. The boating and marina industry is already suffering in the Delta along with restaurants and resorts.
  5. I worry that the barriers are part of the overall plan to “wall in” the delta and create a pipeline from Sacramento to the Forebay to export water south. These dams are 3 of a dozen or so that were seen on the BDCP maps in 2009 as part of the “through-the-Delta” peripheral canal plan.

UPDATED April 14, 2014: There’s a different email address than the one sent out previously:

SUBMITTING COMMENTS: Written comments, referencing Public Notice SPK-2014-00187 must be submitted to the office listed below on or before April 16, 2014.

Bill Guthrie, Project Manager
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
1325 J Street, Room 1350
Sacramento, California 95814-2922
Email: William.H.Guthrie@usace.army.mil

The Corps is particularly interested in receiving comments related to the proposal’s probable impacts on the affected aquatic environment and the secondary and cumulative effects. Anyone may request, in writing, that a public hearing be held to consider this application. Requests shall specifically state, with particularity, the reason(s) for holding a public hearing. If the Corps determines that the information received in response to this notice is inadequate for thorough evaluation, a public hearing may be warranted. If a public hearing is warranted, interested parties will be notified of the time, date, and location. Please note that all comment letters received are subject to release to the public through the Freedom of Information Act. If you have questions or need additional information please contact the applicant or the Corps’ project manager Bill Guthrie, 916-557-5269, William.H.Guthrie@usace.army.mil.

(Old information below)

If you have concerns about these dams, send your comments in to Zachary.M.Simmons@usace.army.mil, or by telephone at 916-557-6746.

The original Army Corps of Engineers notice is provided below.

——– Original message ——–
From: “Imamura, Eileen R SPK”
Date:04/01/2014 3:07 PM (GMT-08:00)
To: “Simmons, Zachary M SPK”
Subject: Public Notice SPK-2014-00187 – Emergency Drought Barriers project (UNCLASSIFIED)

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District has posted Public Notice SPK-2014-00187 to http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/RegulatoryPublicNotices.aspx

The California Department of Water Resources has applied for a permit to place dredged or fill material in approximately 3.89 acres (0.75 acre permanent and 3.15 acres temporary) of waters of the United States to construct three temporary salinity barriers. Proposed barriers would be located in Sutter Slough, approximately 1.25 miles downstream of the Sacramento River, Steamboat Slough, approximately 0.95 miles downstream of the Sacramento River, and False River, approximately 0.4 miles east of the San Joaquin River.

Written comments and/or a request for a paper copy of the notice may be submitted to project manager Zachary Simmons, by mail at 1325 J Street, Room 1350, Sacramento, California 95814-2922, by email at Zachary.M.Simmons@usace.army.mil, or by telephone at 916-557-6746.

Comments must be received by April 16, 2014.volunteers@nodeltagates.com?subject=I want to get on the bus!
&body=I want to go to Sacramento July 17th! My Name: Address: Phone#:” =”

Eileen Imamura
Administrative Officer, Regulatory Division
US Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento District
1325 J Street, Room 1350, Sacramento, CA 95814-2922
916-557-5262 FAX: 916-557-7803
Eileen.R.Imamura@usace.army.mil

Let us know how we’re doing. Please complete the survey at: http://corpsmapu.usace.army.mil/cm_apex/f?p=regulatory_survey

Information on the Regulatory Program.
http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory.aspx

Regulatory Public Notices: http://www.spk.usace.army.mil/Media/RegulatoryPublicNotices.aspx

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Caveats: NONE

Gates, gates and more gates

Published March 18, 2014 Delta Dams/Gates Leave a Comment

Meetings were held both in the Walnut Grove and in Bethel Island concerning the DWR’s rush plan to install rock barriers in various sloughs throughout the Delta in an attempt to keep salt water out and allow additional pumping during the drought months. The Walnut Grove meeting covered barriers in Sutter Slough and Steamboat Slough. These two are being hotly contested by people in the North Delta.

The Bethel Island meeting covered a barrier in False River (although two additional barriers have been discussed recently as well).

Plans are to start installation by May 1, 2014. These are like the 2 Gates but worse – rock barriers that will not open. 75 to 80 people showed up in Bethel Island and the meeting had to be moved to accommodate all the attendees.

Here’s a report by Pat Borison from the STCDA and Nordic Tug Boats about the Bethel Island Meeting:

Bethel Island Meeting Notes

Meeting of Bradford Island Reclamation District #2059
Presentation by CA Dept. of Water Resources
Re: Proposed Dam at False River
Held at Bethel Island – March 18, 2014

A rancher on Bradford Island passed along an email notice of this meeting. So many people turned up that the location had to be changed to the Community Center on Bethel Island. The audience was quite informed about the background and potential impacts; the speakers seemed unprepared to answer most questions, and clearly did not expect such a large audience.

The main speaker was the head of the South Delta Temporary Barriers Project. When asked how to get further information, he gave the following website:
I have been able to get as far as “waterconditions” but cannot find anything posted about current emergency barriers. Notes from the meeting will be posted at http://www.bradfordisland.com when they are written.

Crux of the presentation:
• Because of the drought, a temporary barrier across False River is proposed to keep water in the Delta fresh.
• The intent is to install the barrier by May 1, 2014.
• The rock barrier will be 7 feet high (above water level) with 75-foot wide abutments on each side and include sheet piles to protect levees.
• There will be no passage across the barrier. “We will block False River.”
• The plan is to remove the “temporary” rock in November, but keep the abutments.

Mainly through written questions, the audience raised many concerns:
• Velocities and water flow; a “high increase” of water flow through Fisherman’s Cut is expected, increasing flow 5 times.
• What is the impact on the ferry, the only access to Bradford Island.
• Iron Horse District, which owns some of the land, “hasn’t been told anything” and must issue encroachment permits. Presentation there on Wednesday, March 19.
• A prior proposal to put moveable gates on False River, called the Frank’s Tract Project” was dropped, apparently because studies showed it wouldn’t solve the problem. (With some searching, a link to that project can be found on the DWR website.)
• Water flow on Georgiana Slough will increase. Barriers will also be put on Sutter and Steamboat Sloughs.
• Is this not pushing water into the east Delta in order to move it south?
• Could you not decrease water releases by EBMUD to achieve same end? Not much inter-agency coordination.
• Permits are needed; a 404 Permit from the Army Corps of Engineers would include sign-off by the Coast Guard. Not clear if they have been contacted.

A representative from Assemblyman Jim Frazier’s office was present.
At least one news reporter (probably from the Contra Costa Times) was present, and someone video-taped the presentation and discussion.

At the very end of the time, almost as an afterthought, the speaker said public meetings were being set up, including one in Antioch, “possibly April 3 or 4.”

Published March 12, 2014 Boating , Delta Dams/Gates , Tunnel(s) Leave a Comment


The Dept of Water Resources is meeting with Reclamation District 799 to get a permit to install “temporary barriers” in the False River due to the drought. Apparently this is just a prelude to installing barriers in Three Mile Slough and Fisherman’’s Cut. It appears the drought is being used as an excuse to put in barriers that will be needed for the Twin Tunnels in the future.

Anyone interested in attending the meeting it is on Tuesday, March 18th at 10 AM at the Reclamation District Office 6325 Bethel Island Rd., Bethel Island, CA.

Please notify everyone you know that opposes our navigable waterways being blocked.

Read more in the Sacramento Bee today.

Private Water Ownership – the Kern Water Bank

Published February 10, 2014 News and Events , Tunnel(s) Leave a Comment

More is coming out in the mainstream media about the private ownership of the Kern Water Bank by Central Valley farmers – primary ownership Stewart Resnick’s Paramount Farms.
Kern Water Bank

Linda Yee who produced a great two-part piece on the Delta Tunnels from the Delta’s perspective just released on CBS Evening News Group Sues California for Privatizing Massive Water Reserve .

She says “There is one place where there’s no shortage of water. The bountiful pomegranate, almond and pistachio fields of paramount farms are as green as ever.
You wouldn’t know it because you can’t see it. But there is a huge underground water reservoir on the south end of the Central valley, near Bakersfield. It’s four times as big as Hetch Hetchy reservoir.”

There is a great deal of money that can be made transferring water at cheap subsidized agriculture rates to urban users at their much higher rates. Cathy Yee interviewed Katy Spanos, an attorney with the California Department of Water Resources, who disagrees. “We don’t see any signs that it will be used to sell water outside the service area,” she said.

Oh yeh?

Today another article came out tracking down the convoluted way water IS getting transferred from the Kern Water Bank to urban use, even though the Bureau of Reclamations Contract with the Kern Water Bank owners is for ag use only.
See Lois Henry: Water From Kern County Sprawls Home Growth in Madeira, CA.

While Sacramento is on water rationing, Delta flows are being cut back (which will be devastating for the salmon) and Eastside Central Valley farmers need to chose between depleting their ground water with those dire effects or letting crops die, Paramount Farms orchards are flush with water and a handful of Westside Central Valley mega-farmers can profit from their privately owned, full water bank.

The latest attempt to steal water from the North

Published February 4, 2014 News and Events Leave a Comment

Last week’s attempt by Central Valley farmers to move water South when there is none to move was to put provisions to start the Delta pumps into the Farm Bill. Fortunately that was an unsuccessful move even though the Central Valley Representatives were able to get the House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) to come out for a photo op to push for their changes to the Farm Bill.

After that Farm Bill trickery failed, Nunes, McCarthy and the other Central Valley representatives jumped right back in with a new bill, H.R. 3964, the “Sacramento–San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act”, also with the goal to start the pumps to move water South even though there is none to move without bringing saltwater further into the delta threatening Northern California’s drinking water, fish and farms.

Restore the Delta is calling for people to write their congressmen and tell them to vote ‘No’ on H.R. 1837. Dan Batcher has posted How to Reach your Rep to vote No on H.R. 3964 to make it easy to contact your representatives.

The media has jumped on the “No on H.R. 3964” bandwagon

Here’s a great report on News10, Attorneys Say California’s Drought was Avoidable is good. I particularly like the last part where they are clearly identifying that permanent crops being grown in the south Central Valley where water is scarce is a huge part of the issue. They say “The notion that people rely on a supply that’s sporadic and not guaranteed and plant permanent crops, is insane.”

Today’s Sacramento Bee also had two great articles:

Sac Bee Editorial on HR 3964. This is today’s Editorial criticizing Rep McCarthy and other Central Valley representatives who are pushing HR 3964 to start the pumps up so farmers can get water saying that is a narrow view and would ensure that more ocean water would encroach in the Delta, which would be destructive for Californians who depend on Delta water. They call for the Central Valley representatives to start looking for what is beneficial to the entire state, not just their area. There are reports that Gov. Brown, John Laird and others who back the BDCP are strongly opposing HR 3964.

Also in today’s Sacramento Bee, a “Viewpoints” article by Congressmembers Mike Thompson and Doris Matsui, House Emergency Drought Bill Just Another Water Grab also lambasts H.R. 3964 as just a thinly veiled attempt to use the statewide drought as an excuse to steal water from Northern California. They add that “it shows zero regard for the fishers, farmers, families and businesses dependent on the Delta for their livelihoods.”

It’s always good to keep getting the messages out:
(1) There are too many crops planted in the Central Valley that are not rotational (they are trees). They can’t be supported during times of drought.
(2) The Central Valley farmers keep making water grabs to take needed water from the north where it is needed for the fishers, farmers, families, etc.
(3) We are currently in a drought – it isn’t about the farmer versus fish – and Bills like H.R. 3964 won’t help.

The Fable of the Farmer and the Fish

Published February 2, 2014 Fish , Tunnel(s) Leave a Comment

I’ve written my first book – a children’s book. Any parallels to the California Delta’s plight are for the reader to decide. Names were changed to protect the innocent.

The Fable of the Farmer and the Fish.

The Farmer   The Fish

(Note: Current version has temporary clipart. Will purchase or replace).

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