By Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla Whether one disagrees or agrees with Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget for California, one must give the Governor high marks for holding a belief in the democratic process as exemplified by his effort to take the question of taxes directly to voters. It’s too bad that the Governor’s appointee to run the...Read More

Many thanks to those who participated in the Bass Tournament at Russo’s Marina on Bethel Island on April 3.  A special thanks to Bobby Barrack, Michael Frost, Kris DeWolfe and  Andy “Cooch” Cuccia for arranging the event. And congratulations to Dan and Travis Fonte, who won the tournament with a bass weighing in at 37.73...Read More

This past Monday, Congressman Tom McClintock brought the Natural Resources Committee’s Water and Power Subcommittee, which he chairs, to Fresno for a hearing titled “Creating Jobs by Overcoming Man-Made Drought: Time for Congress to Listen and Act.” The purpose of the Fresno hearing was to discuss relaxing or removing export pumping restrictions put in place...Read More

It is significant that Fresno County overall did have an increase of 3,000 farm jobs between February 2010 and February 2011.  When it is time to make cropping decisions, other parts of the county are less vulnerable to fluctuations in Delta water exports.  They have water rights that give them some flexibility. In his April...Read More

On April 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Salmon fishermen and Delta farmers will hold a Salmon Summit in Antioch to demonstrate the region’s broad support for science-based restoration of adequate freshwater flows for Delta communities and for salmon.  This event is free and open to the public. Speakers will include Congress members John...Read More

At its March meeting, Stockton-based Delta Fly Fishers issued “The Delta Fly Fishing Challenge.”   To meet the challenge, anglers must catch, photograph and release six of 15 designated sport fish that swim in Delta waters – all using a fly and fly rod. Click here for article Stockton Record writer Peter Ottesen quotes Bob Fujimura,...Read More

As reported last week, Delta landowners won a significant legal victory – which has now been finalized.  A San Joaquin County judge filed an “Opinion and Final Order Denying Petition for Entry for Geological Activities” on April 8, 2011.  This ruling denies DWR the right to enter many Delta properties to conduct invasive “Geological Activities,”...Read More

Delta landowners won a potentially significant legal victory last week.  A San Joaquin County judge tentatively denied a request by the Department of Water Resources (DWR) that would have allowed DWR to enter many Delta properties to conduct invasive “Geological Activities,” including drilling. DWR insisted that the Geological Activities are necessary to gather data for...Read More

The Department of Fish and Game has agreed to a settlement with the Coalition for a Sustainable Delta regarding striped bass fishing regulations.  Although the record did not support the Coalition’s claim that striped bass predation reduced populations of salmon and smelt, DFG capitulated, apparently because of escalating legal costs. However, under the settlement, DFG...Read More

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutional authority of rules protecting the Delta smelt.   The Pacific Legal Foundation, representing San Joaquin Valley farmers, had argued that the federal protections for smelt had to be tied to regulation of interstate commerce. Sounds far-fetched to us.  The Court thought...Read More