California makes its state water right decisions in the CalEPA building in Sacramento, the home of the State Water Resources Control Board. In a water-rights proceeding, you get to speak “on the record” to the Board or it Administrative Hearing Office by “protesting” the new or modified right. In the last year, FOR has protested the water rights of two major water projects…

The proposed Delta Tunnel has reached the water rights stage, and Friends of the River, alongside many partner organizations, submitted two formal “protests” of the Tunnel water rights applications…

The California State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board or Board) recently released its Draft Staff Report for the Phase II Update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Plan or Plan). This report, and the process to update the Bay-Delta Plan, will have critical implications for the health of California rivers and ecosystems. Unfortunately, the Staff Report outlines several options that will fail to protect the Delta and its tributary rivers…

The Karuk Tribe of California and other groups filed a petition to set minimum flows on the Scott River, which has completely ceased to flow at certain locations during the summer months due to excessive withdrawals by local agricultural users. This request was vehemently opposed by the same water users who have drained the Scott and resist governmental efforts toward a balanced ecosystem…

As a relatively new volunteer with FOR, I decided the best way to get familiar with policy was to jump into the deep end and get involved. I recently had the honor to represent FOR during the Green California - Environmental lobby day at the State Capitol on August 30th…

Friends of the River and the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), along with a coalition of tribes and environmental organizations submitted a formal protest against the water rights application of the Sites Project Authority for the proposed Sites Reservoir. This protest is part of a legally required process to ensure public concerns are addressed when granting water rights in California…

Governor Newsom’s Administration continues to push forward Voluntary Settlement Agreements in lieu of updating the decades-late SF Bay/Delta Water Quality Control Plan…

In February 2022 the State Water Resources Control Board controversially approved a petition to reduce flows to and through the Delta despite nature’s bounty…