WesternWaterBlog

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Pumps SHut Down By Judge

From the Sacramento Bee:

California water officials on Thursday halted water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta after rising numbers of a rare fish, the Delta smelt, were sucked to their deaths in the pumps.

State Department of Water Resources officials said the action is expected to last seven to 10 days, until water conditions allow the fish to move to safer areas. Shortages are not expected for the 25 million Californians who get water from the Delta.

But if the shutdown lasts longer, some water agencies, mainly in the Bay Area, may have to impose mandatory conservation or rationing measures. Many have called on customers to adopt extra voluntary conservation steps amid what is already one of the driest years on record in the state.

The rest of the article is here.

Stored Water Saves Day for Delta Cities & Farms

This was posted a few days ago on the FlashReport Blog by California Assemblyman Doug LaMalfa:

A judges decison this week to shut off the Delta pumps that 25 million Californians rely on has sent a shock wave through the water user community, [which is everyone in California]

This additional bit of judicial policy making, was ostensibly to save the all so handy species du jour, a fish called the Delta Smelt. 

Thankfully we Californians can draw from reservoirs, such as San Luis, that store water for when situations that affect available water supply, such as drought caused by weather or by activist judges.  50 years ago, leaders had a vision for providing for future needs with our State Water Project.  The elected legislatures reaction weeks ago when this possible judicial action first came public?

Why, it was to vote down a bill in Senate Water Committee that would build more of the reservoirs that store water that a million Californians, new to this state each 2 years, will need!

The rest of the post is here.