ICYMI: Guest Commentary: The Delta Tunnel is not a Social Justice Project Maven’s Notebook 6/26/20 In his CalMatters piece on June 20, 2020, Gary Kremen, vice-chair of the Delta Conveyance Finance Authority wraps Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed Delta tunnel project in a strategy of virtue signaling — talking the talk without walking the walk – and without knowing the Delta.“You...Read More
As state slashes budget, director for proposed Delta tunnel earns twice as much as the governor – Sacramento News & Review 6/24/20While the COVID-19 pandemic has blown a $54 billion hole in California’s budget—threatening education and safety programs and forcing 234,000 state employees to take unpaid furloughs—the state’s spending on a proposed massive tunnel project in...Read More
Dear Friends,Tuesday, Valley Water indicated that their funding measure (discussed in yesterday’s alert) for the November ballot will not include funding for Delta tunnels planning. That is good news.We think, however, that you may want to share two observations with Valley Water’s Board of Directors.Tell them that the language for the bond measure cannot be squishy...Read More
DATE: Thursday June 25th, 2020TIME: 11 AMThis webinar will address popular narratives of the California Delta that present the region as a white space. Using an array of primary sources, a panel will contest this view, illustrating how communities of color were fundamental to the development of the Delta region. Our panel includes:Phillip Merlo, San Joaquin County HistorianPhillip Merlo...Read More
On June 23, 2020, the Santa Clara Valley Water District will be discussing the possibility of putting a funding measure on the November ballot. We believe the ballot in part is to raise funding for the Delta tunnel project. Valley Water describes their first priority as: Priority A: Ensure a Safe, Reliable Water Supply This is exact...Read More
This is a message from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley. 6/10/20 Good Afternoon, The Water Boards received a report of significant cyanobacteria harmful algal bloom (HAB) occurring in Discovery Bay, including multiple locations at the DANGER level (highest threshold). This afternoon (6/10/2020) State Water Board’s HAB Hotline received lab results of...Read More
Water’s Not the Issue: California farmers leverage Covid-19 in bid for more waterEast Bay Express 6/10/20“But while tens of millions of pounds of food has been destroyed or buried in the ground, a band of California’s farmers is claiming they can’t produce enough food to feed Americans, and they’re using the pandemic as leverage to...Read More
President Trump, hiding behind the COVID pandemic, has, according to Roll Call, “Signed an executive order that would expedite permitting for infrastructure projects, building on earlier orders to ease regulations for industry. The White House contends the move will help speed the nation’s recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.” “The order directs federal agencies, including Interior, Agriculture...Read More
Restore the Delta has been quiet this year about the Federal water contractors, but it does not mean that we have not been paying attention. This year, our strategy is all about taking action. And that means litigation when necessary against Secretary Bernhardt and the US Bureau of Reclamation.– Barbara—For Immediate Release, Contacts: Jeff Miller, Center for Biological...Read More
For Immediate Release: 5/18/20Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, 209-479-2053, barbara@restorethedelta.orgStockton, CA – This March, during the early days of the pandemic, Restore the Delta and local partner organizations sent a letter to urge the Central Valley Regional Flood Protection Board (a California Resources Agency department) to pull from its agenda an approval for a “statement of no objection,” requested by the Department of...Read More
