California rules anger water agencies, environmental groups – AP 4/1/20
California regulators on Tuesday set new rules about how much water can be taken from the state’s largest rivers, angering water agencies for restricting how much they can take and environmental groups for not making those limits low enough to protect endangered species.
CDFW Issues Permit to DWR for Long-Term Operations of the State Water Project – Mavens
On March 31, 2020 the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) for long-term operations of the State Water Project (SWP). The permit covers four species protected under the California Endangered Species Act: Delta smelt, longfin smelt, winter-run Chinook salmon and spring-run Chinook salmon.
California Moves Forward With Water Project Without Federal Guidance – CNS 3/31/20
The federal government operates the Central Valley Project and California manages the State Water Project, with both sourcing water from the drainage point of the state’s largest rivers in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
But under President Donald Trump’s administration, the seemingly solid relationship has crashed and the sides are now suddenly setting their own playbooks when it comes to California’s prized water.
State’s New Permit Fails to Protect Salmon and the Bay-Delta – Doug Obegi, NRDC 3/31/20
California cannot continue with business as usual in the Delta, but must instead reform water management practices to reduce water diversions, and to invest in new, sustainable water supply projects to reduce our reliance on the Delta.
The state’s new delta water rules don’t end conflict with Washington – LAT 3/31/20
That means the delta’s two big government pumping operations will likely adhere to different environmental standards — possibly allowing the federal project to boost deliveries at the expense of the state project.
Fighting Back
Hoopa Tribe strikes at interiors coveted Westlands Water District corporate deal – KRCR ABC7 3/31/20
The Hoopa Valley Tribe applauded Fresno County Superior Court’s refusal to validate a proposed contract between Westlands Water District and the Bureau of Reclamation.
According to Hoopa Valley Tribe Vice Chairman Oscar Billings, the contract would have allocated up to 1,150,000 acre-feet of Northern California water annually to Westlands, most of which would be imported from the Trinity River, which has sustained the Hupa people since time immemorial.