We know you’ve noticed that it has been raining. One Delta business owner observed that with the Mokelumne River nearing flood stage, the state could move toward the “preferred alternative” central canal called for in the CalFed 2000 documents by opening some dams to put more water into the river, thereby flooding the McCormack Williamson tract. The state has already paid $35 million for adjacent Staten Island to flood for in-Delta storage.
Meanwhile, in the North Delta, private landowners are moving ahead with strategies that will inevitably affect the Yolo Bypass.
Everywhere, there are dots to be connected in a ceaseless unfolding of events. We at Restore the Delta are grateful for all the pairs of eyes watching what is going on. Some of it is happening in plain view but not where we’re looking. Some of it is happening in secret because powerful interests don’t want us to see it.
As we prepare this newsletter, Nature is sending the whole state of California more water than it knows what to do with. More mega-dams wouldn’t help too much right now. Local conjunctive use projects would be better. Where local Integrated Regional Water Management Plans are in place, some regions will be recharging overdrafted aquifers presently. Too bad there aren’t more such local water projects aimed at regional self-sufficiency.
Heck, when it rains like this, even cisterns look like a good idea.
In the Delta region, as always, many eyes watch the levees, the water level, the wind, the tides. This is not just the hub of the state’s water system. This is our home, and no one, regardless of wealth or power, has more incentive to protect and manage it wisely than we do. Our wish for the New Year is that the whole state will work with us rather than against us to manage the Delta and its resources.