Some Dam Projects Stumble, Some Fall
There’s an unusual amount of news on California dams this month (some good news, or at least an opportunity for “I told you so” commentary), so put on your reading glasses and buckle up! But first let us start with a brief history....
DWR and the Ongoing Saga of Oroville Dam
The issues with the poor foundation conditions under the Oroville Dam spillways became apparent as far back as 2005, when Friends of the River led a coalition of environmental organizations in asking FERC to confront these problems…
The Sacramento Water Forum: A case study for reasonable water management
They were troubled times.
Large parts of the City of Sacramento had nearly flooded. A big urban water district had recently won an ambiguous court decision to divert water from the City’s cherished American River and down the massive federal canal slated to snake down the east side of the San Joaquin Valley to Tulare County…
United Opposition Against Sites Reservoir
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…
The McCloud River Remains in Peril
In addition Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s desire for the federal and state taxpayers to rebuild, expand, and build more infrastructure to supply water to his Congressional District (he is achieving some success there), he wants to help the giant Westlands Water District expand Shasta Reservoir…
Helping Out More Deadbeat Dams
Getting dams built nowadays requires taxpayer subsidies — and easing the regulatory path to getting them built also seems to be necessary. Needless to say, this is an interest of the speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy…
Dam Roundup
Several pending dam projects throughout the state have had some slight movement recently. Read Senior Policy Advocate Ron Stork’s report out on current dam happenings.
State Water Resources Control Board Wakes Up
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…