Ron Stork Ron Stork

The Creepiest Zombie the U.S. has Ever “Planned”

As Halloween approaches, one’s thoughts naturally return to movies with a disturbing supernatural theme — perhaps Night of the Living Dead and its zombie apocalypse spawn. Here at Friends of the River, of course, we have struggled with the animated corpses of dead dams walking. Among them are the distinctly creepy proposed Auburn and Temperance Flat dams and the Shasta Dam raise, and though we have knocked them down, it is not clear that they will not rise again. It is, after all, what zombies do.

Recently, a prominent U.S. politician apparently expressed his strong belief in his ability to reanimate the creepiest zombie the U.S. west has ever “planned”…

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Keiko Mertz Keiko Mertz

River Round Up

From the Sierra Nevada to the Pacific, California’s rivers are on the move, shaping ecosystems and communities alike. This round up of river news will take you on a journey through these dynamic waters, bringing you the latest updates from across the state.

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

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....

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John Shelton John Shelton

The Kern River is the Heart of Bakersfield –  But It Needs Some Love

It’s hard to believe that it could happen in the year 2024, but earlier this month the City of Bakersfield turned off the Kern River, causing a massive fish die off. The river shutoff was ostensibly to do maintenance in the river channel and save the water for future supply needs.

“People who care about their rivers would never do this,” said attorney Adam Keats, who represents Bring Back the Kern, one of the local groups working to restore the river...

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Amy Stroud Amy Stroud

Bringing Life to the Tuolumne River

Friends of the River (“FOR”) and Tuolumne River Trust (“TRT”) worked together forty years ago to secure Wild and Scenic designation for the Tuolumne River. This July, the two non-profits collaborated again on behalf of the Tuolumne River...

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Keiko Mertz Keiko Mertz

Sites Reservoir in FOR’s Sights

After years in the making, the process to decide whether to issue a water rights permit for one of California’s biggest water boondoggles has begun. In August, the first hearings for the proposed Sites Reservoir were held by the State Water Resources Control Board’s Administrative Hearings Office. These proceedings, will ultimately determine whether or not the proposed reservoir is granted a water right, and, if so, under what operational conditions...

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Gary Bobker Gary Bobker

Everything Happens Twice in Endangered Species Land - And Not Always for the Better

The hijacking of the process to update Endangered Species Act (ESA) protections happened twice, the first time by President Trump, the second time by Governor Newsom. But nobody’s laughing the second time around. Instead, Friends of the River and its allies are working to prevent a replay and ensure that new, stronger ESA regulations are ultimately adopted.

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

End of Session Dramas or Not?

This year is the end of the 118th Congress’s two-year-long existence, and they usually save the best (or worst) for last. The Congress is likely to finish up early to go campaigning, but a lame-duck session could also be in the works. Here’s a few things we are keeping an eye on...

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The Friends of the River Team The Friends of the River Team

The Lower Kern River May Flow Again

Exciting things are happening on the Lower Kern River. After more than half a century of being dewatered in most years, there’s a serious chance of getting the lower river flowing again.

Almost two years ago, Bring Back the Kern, Water Audit California, Kern River Parkway Foundation, Kern Audubon Society, Sierra Club, and Center for Biological Diversity sued the City of Bakersfield in Kern County Superior Court...

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The Friends of the River Team The Friends of the River Team

Remembering Lloyd Carter

Friends of the River mourns the passing of Lloyd Carter, 76, who played a key role in exposing the environmental catastrophe at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge...

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

PG&E Plan to Sell off Most of its Generation Assets Stumbles - A Win for FOR and Partners

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) supplies electricity to much of northern California. It also has a somewhat diminishing large fleet of hydroelectric dams in the north state.

It’s also been going broke a lot, first because of the ill-advised energy deregulation under Governor Gray Davis some two decades ago, and second because in recent years its equipment has been burning down whole national forests and small mountain communities.

So, to raise some cash, PG&E proposed to create a subsidiary…

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Camping Out at the Water Board

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…

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Déjà vu on the Clean Water Act Beat

Didn’t we just win some significant victories defending the state and tribal role (and our influence) to ensure that federal projects, licenses, and permits meet state/tribal clean water standards?… Nevada Irrigation District is taking another swing at state Clean Water Act Authority…

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Reasons to Fret (and Not Fret)

Threats to the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and McCloud River, illegal dam projects on state parks, and a small win for you…

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Currents - April 2024

This month we’ve created a compiled edition of Currents (CA water policy news), to keep you in the loop on recent happenings that affect California Rivers. Read on for updates about this water year, the California State Legislature, PG&E’s efforts to spin off its hydropower assets, and Sites Reservoir.

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Dangerous Ideas in the Legislature and State Administration

It’s silly season in the California legislature. It’s the time for spot bills (bills introduced with the intention of being amended later) to materialize — and some are pretty ugly. One of those is ACA 2, the Water Resiliency Act of 2024, introduced by Assemblyman Juan Alanis (R-Modesto). This bill would give billions of dollars per year to a water project slush fund…

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Protecting the integrity of the California Wild & Scenic Rivers Act and the McCloud River

U.S. Congressmen Valadao and McCarthy’s latest effort to drown more of the McCloud River under Shasta Reservoir was enshrined in the House-passed Energy & Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 4394). Luckily, the U.S. Senate version did not do so. There was some indication that California’s Senators played a positive role. This is critical since they will need to continue to do so even though the odds favor them being in the minority party next year — and the previous President may return…

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Ron Stork Ron Stork

Clean Water Act Wars

I confess. It’s hard to keep up with the state of play in the nationwide and California efforts to defend Clean Water section 401, which gives states and some tribes authority to ensure that federal actions meet state and tribal water quality standards…

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