The DSC worked through lunch to hear from Richard Roos-Collins about an item that wasn’t even on the original agenda: the proposed plan for implementing the BDCP. This involves a BDCP Implementation Office (IO). Thus yet another layer of Delta governance was slipped in while most of the audience was out to lunch. The BDCP...Read More
The DSC heard from Dr. Richard Norgaard, the new Delta Independent Science Board Chair. Dr. Norgaard showed an inclination to be . . . well, independent. He told the DSC that the charge to the Board is immense and expressed concern with the time frame for reviewing White Papers. He commented on the conflict with...Read More
It will come as no surprise to anyone who has been observing the arrogance of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan’s Potentially Regulated Entities (PREs) that they don’t intend to acquire land for habitat restoration using willing sellers. Restore the Delta has learned that the BDCP is looking at eminent domain as the process to achieve...Read More
Back in March of 2009, the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority issued revenue notes to fund the Delta Habitat Conservation and Conveyance Program (DHCCP) Development Project. The DHCCP is the entity that is supposed to assess potential habitat restoration and water conveyance options for the BDCP and conduct an environmental review. Fitch Ratings, a...Read More
Last week, the New York Times reported on a new study warning of the risk of municipal bonds that finance water supply. The study is one of the first to assess the potential impact of water shortages on the municipal bond market. (Read the NY Times report click here) According to the study, credit ratings...Read More
So export water contractors plan to seize Delta land to create a combination of habitat and infrastructure so complicated that they can’t even figure out how to describe it in a proper public project description. Their plan to pay for this hodgepodge includes issuing bonds based on a degree of water supply availability and stability...Read More
Restore the Delta thanks the following sponsors who helped with the Bass Tournament benefit on October 17: • BlackDog Baits • Mel Cotton’s Sporting Goods of San Jose • Snagproof Lures • The Fly Shop in Redding • Lamiglass • Mike Keopke/Pure Fishing • Simms(John Sherman) • Dan Blanton • Roger Stegal (ABA TD scales)...Read More
We now know something about what has been going on the BDCP Principals’ meetings, (which were not “secret” but which anybody present had to promise not to talk about). We reported on October 10 that Lester Snow has said that decision-making about the BDCP would take place in public meetings. Forget that. Last week Interior...Read More
It is our understanding that representatives from the Five Delta Counties participated in this October 15th meeting in Tracy with Salazar and Hayes, either in person or on the phone. We have also heard that the Five Delta Counties have to decide if they as a group or individually want to participate in the BDCP...Read More
The Environmental Water Caucus (EWC) gave the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) recommendations for meeting California’s water needs without building a canunnel, and – no surprise – the BDCP folks didn’t like those recommendations. Byron Buck, Executive Director of the State and Federal Contractors Water Agency, fired off a letter to Phil Isenberg taking issue with...Read More
