June 12, 2013 Delta Water and News Links

Delta Related and Water News

Apology to Jerry Meral
Burt Wilson
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=jsitf5iab&v=00177_hio5ARRESVgEn-LrhEA2PqJtcqUrb2nzHfke8swjklNAC7N_7HSXjARsNn0lNHt0XWOshOpKTvoTqRvYhc7BDi6P-8ve7l00NXR8b8xelY0x_f1cB9g%3D%3D

Changing the Baseline: The Biggest Problem in the New BDCP Economic Rationalization of the Tunnels
Dr. Jeff Michael
http://valleyecon.blogspot.com/2013/06/changing-baseline-biggest-problem-in.html

Debt Wire Municipals: Bay Delta Conservation Plans 'Twin Tunnels' Add USD 16.6 of Expenses to Southern California Water Utilities
http://www.c-win.org/content/debt-wire-municipals-bay-delta-conservation-plan%E2%80%99s-twin-tunnels-add-usd-166bn-expenses-south

Time for REAL Water Markets in California? 
http://www.aguanomics.com/2013/06/time-for-real-water-markets-in.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+aguanomics+%28Aguanomics%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
 

Delta Related Private/Public Propaganda News
The Sierra Club Exposed
http://epaabuse.com/12848/editorials/the-sierra-club-exposed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-sierra-club-exposed
(Very important read about how using "National Monument" designations shuts down land use, PDQ and ASAP.)

But now, in a season of cover-ups, the Sierra Club has come clean.
This month, they’ve launched a new campaign: Our Wild America—which will call for new national monument designations.

Agenda 21/Sustainable Development
Climate Talks Collapse!
http://www.cfact.org/2013/06/12/climate-talks-collapse/?utm_source=CFACT+Updates&utm_campaign=7248de8360-UN_climate_talks_collapse_6_12_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a28eaedb56-7248de8360-270050485

Mark Pisano: California Demographic Changes Demand New Way to Pay for Infrastructure
http://www.caeconomy.org/reporting/entry/viewpoints-mark-pisano-california-demographic-changes-demand-new-way-to-pay
(Any Council of Governments IS Agenda 21.)

Russia has raised a much needed question as to whether there is a fundamental lack of fairness and due process at the UN climate talks. The Doha outcome, for example, was “agreed to,” but was it ever properly voted upon? Is it proper for the UNFCCC to allow major portions of the outcome of the climate talks to be drafted behind closed doors, present them at the 11^th hour and then proceed based on a “consensus” rather than a recorded vote? Can the UN lawfully slam the gavel on any nation, such as Russia, and refuse to recognize them? Reuters reports that ‘Christiana Figueres, the U.N.’s climate chief, said a consensus was reached,’ but Oleg Shamanov, Russia’s head of delegation, called it an “absolutely obvious violation of the procedure.” - See more at: http://www.cfact.org/2013/06/12/climate-talks-collapse/?utm_source=CFACT+Updates&utm_campaign=7248de8360-UN_climate_talks_collapse_6_12_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a28eaedb56-7248de8360-270050485#sthash.nGzocDsb.dpuf

Russia has raised a much needed question as to whether there is a fundamental lack of fairness and due process at the UN climate talks. The Doha outcome, for example, was “agreed to,” but was it ever properly voted upon? Is it proper for the UNFCCC to allow major portions of the outcome of the climate talks to be drafted behind closed doors, present them at the 11^th hour and then proceed based on a “consensus” rather than a recorded vote? Can the UN lawfully slam the gavel on any nation, such as Russia, and refuse to recognize them? Reuters reports that ‘Christiana Figueres, the U.N.’s climate chief, said a consensus was reached,’ but Oleg Shamanov, Russia’s head of delegation, called it an “absolutely obvious violation of the procedure.” - See more at: http://www.cfact.org/2013/06/12/climate-talks-collapse/?utm_source=CFACT+Updates&utm_campaign=7248de8360-UN_climate_talks_collapse_6_12_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a28eaedb56-7248de8360-270050485#sthash.nGzocDsb.dpuf

Constitutional/2nd Amendment News

Agriculture/Science News 
EPA 'Mistakenly' Gives Names to Farmers to Radical Groups
http://commonamericanjournal.com/epa-mistakenly-gives-names-of-farmers-to-radical-groups/

Interagency Ecological Program for San Francisco Estuary
http://www.water.ca.gov/iep/docs/IEP_Vol26_1.pdf

Levee/Infrastructure News

Fisheries/Wildlife/Habitat News

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/28/5298444/bay-delta-conservation-plan-documents.html#storylink=cpyEnvironmental News

Economic/Tourism News

High Speed Rail/BDCP Conveyance News

National Political News  
Andrew Breitbart Documentary Poised to Set Record Thanks to Liberal Critics
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-sheffield/2013/06/11/andrew-breitbart-documentary-poised-set-record-thanks-liberal-cri

'It DOES Make a Difference'" Citizens Greet @HillaryClinton 9 Months After Benghazi
http://twitchy.com/2013/06/11/it-does-make-a-difference-citizens-greet-hillaryclinton-9-months-after-benghazi/

California Political News

Litigation News
Nine Companies Tied to PRISM, Obama Will Be Smacked With a Class-Action Lawsuit Wednesdayhttp://commonamericanjournal.com/nine-companies-tied-to-prism-obama-will-be-smacked-with-class-action-lawsuit-wednesday/

 
Tribal News

Calendar
 
Written Comment Opportunities
 
Because It's Cool!
Obama - The Great Pretender
http://www.impeachobamacampaign.com/video-obama-the-great-pretender/
 

June 11, 2013 Delta Water and News Links

Delta Related and Water News
River Delta a Sprawling School District
http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/education-news/river-delta-a-sprawling-school-district/
(Our little slice of Heaven!)

Legislative Battle Over Fracking Not Over
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2013/06/10/legislative-battle-over-fracking-not-over/

The Brown Act Means What It Says
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-board-of-supervisors-brown-act-20130610,0,7082265.story

Folsom Rush Is On To Develop Foothills South of Hwy 50
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/10/5484311/folsom-rush-is-on-to-develop-foothills.html
 
Jerry Cadagan's Water Clips 6/11/13

Brenna Norton of Food & Water Watch writes about the Met's action today that will stick Met customers with increased property taxes in order to pay for the Peripheral Tunnels -

http://www.citywatchla.com/lead-stories-hidden/5221-will-angelinos-be-submerged-in-a-new-water-tunnel-tax

and Michael Gardner covers the same issue in this story -

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/10/another-water-fight-means-17-million/

there's a bunch of new stuff in Maven's Notebook (Tim Brick, Felicia Marcus, etc.) -

http://mavensnotebook.com/2013/06/11/blog-round-up-bloggers-on-bdcp-costs-and-benefits-delta-dialogues-a-revuelta-climate-change-and-the-new-normal-and-more/

Bass Angler Magazine does a good job of peeling the skin off the BDCP onion and telling it like it really is and covering a few other recent developments -

http://www.bassanglermag.com/it-looks-so-well-intentioned/

Dan Bacher points out the irony (maybe "hypocrisy" is a better word) in the Governor's proclamation that this is "Great Outdoors Month" at a time he continues to push the Peripheral Tunnels project, which many experts say will be the death sentence for a large part of California's great outdoors: the San Francisco Bay Delta Estuary -

http://www.fishsniffer.com/reports/details/brown-proclaims-great-outdoors-month-as-he-plans-deltas-destruction/

according to one poll Californians are opposed to increased fracking -

http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/california-news/4472-californians-oppose-more-fracking-but-potential-economic-benefits-open-door-for-support.html

four groundwater projects to get cost-sharing BuRec funding under SJ River Restoration Settlement Act -

http://www.watchlistnews.com/2013/06/07/reclamation-selects-recipients-for-groundwater-banking-funding-under-the-san-joaquin-river-restoration-settlement-act/

Turlock ID likely to buy water in a one year "spot" deal with Modesto ID -

http://www.modbee.com/2013/06/10/2755947/modesto-irrigation-district-considers.html

and Modesto Bee editorial board likes that fact that it's a one year deal only (so take that SF) -

http://www.modbee.com/2013/06/10/2756437/one-time-water-sale-from-modesto.html

Klamath Tribe & BuRec exercise call rights on Klamath water  -

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_23429976/klamath-tribes-and-feds-exercise-water-rights

California Water Blog looks at the new normal in a changing California climate -

http://californiawaterblog.com

 

Jerry Cadagan's Water Clips 6/09/13

 

Matt Weiser of the SacBee does a Sunday front page, above the fold story explaining what the BDCP/Peripheral Tunnels project is all about, emphasizing the salinity issue -

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/09/5482530/delta-could-get-saltier-if-tunnels.html

and Matt's story includes this old map (which appears to have been updated recently) showing the locations of some of the facilities and "muck" piles - 

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/28/5375593/interactive-map-sacramento-delta.html

and the June 9 issue of the Bee includes a compilation of prior Delta related stories and editorials -http://www.sacbee.com/delta/

and the electronic media is picking up on Weiser's story saying the Tunnels will make the Delta saltier (3 items) -- http://www.ktvn.com/story/22543692/proposed-tunnels-could-make-delta-water-saltier

http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/landing?Twin-Tunnels-Could-Make-Delta-Saltier=1&blockID=692803&feedID=806

http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/06/09/37647/proposed-tunnels-could-make-delta-water-saltier/

Dennis Wyatt of the Manteca Bulletin bootstraps on Weiser's article emphasizing the likely consequences of increased salinity in the Delta (the death of Delta farming and increased demand on SJ River tribes for more fresh water) -

http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/1/article/76280/

columnist Thomas Elias suggests that concerns that the Tunnels are a Trojan Horse for the fracking business are not irrational - 

http://www.smmirror.com/articles/Opinion/Fracking-Sensible-Regulation-Is-The-Way-To-Go/37729

Clips continues to move out of the 16th Century and closer to the 21st; here's another YouTube, this time a video by Burt Wilson featuring a Delta Blues singer and a bunch of familiar Delta names - 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzpJ4Y2s__E&feature=youtu.be

Courthouse News Service writes in detail about the trial court decision in the QSA case 

 http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/06/10/58349.htm

Karuk Tribe urges closing loophole in suction dredging regs, and Fish & Wildlife responds - 

http://www.times-standard.com/news/ci_23413519/california-moves-close-suction-dredge-mining-loophole

Turlock ID to crack down on water thieves - 

http://www.modbee.com/2013/06/07/2752589/water-districts-crack-down-on.html

Michael Doyle writes about how the pending Congressional farm bill may impact California   http://www.modbee.com/2013/06/07/2752232/senate-expected-to-pass-farm-bill.html

AP's Gosia Wozniacka does  a story about the plight of the Hispanic agricultural workers in the San Joaquin Valley 

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/09/5483032/in-nations-breadbasket-latinos.html

SacBee has a long story about Food & Ag Dept's ambitious video production telling the story of California agriculture (and Clips searched high and low in "Farm Facts" and couldn't find mention of the amount of water used by the Ag sector) - 

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/04/5470798/videos-showcase-california-food.html

UC Irvine's Jay Famiglietti writes about the growing shortage of water on planet earth 

http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2013/06/10/can-we-end-the-global-water-crisis/

Maven's Notebook tells us how bad the lack of precipitation in California has been of late;and in the right hand panel she has a calendar of upcoming meetings, events - http://mavensnotebook.com/2013/06/09/water-conditions-for-june-9-2013/ 

 

Delta Related Private/Public Propaganda News
Farm Water News
http://farmwaternews.blogspot.com/2013/06/news-articles-and-links-for-june-11-2013.html

http://farmwaternews.blogspot.com/2013/06/news-articles-and-links-for-june-10-2013.html

Agenda 21/Sustainable Development
Defend Rural America
Rob Gibson Give a Powerful Presentation on Jurisdiction
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=VRKgGdBfG0g


Kirk MacKenzie What the Future of Rural America Be?
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=VRKgGdBfG0g


Defend Rural America Newsletter
http://www.defendruralamerica.com/DRA/Home.html


NIMBYs, BANANAs and GREENs 
http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=3af5d41d21ad9fce53c86ba9d&id=916aaffde8&e=75b5b6dbb8

Constitutional/2nd Amendment News
27 Edward Snowden Quotes About US Government Spying That Should Send a Chill Up Your Spine
http://www.blacklistednews.com/27_Edward_Snowden_Quotes_About_U.S._Government_Spying_That_Should_Send_A_Chill_Up_Your_Spine/26595/0/38/38/Y/M.html

Agriculture/Science News
 
Levee/Infrastructure News

Fisheries/Wildlife/Habitat News

One of the DRA supporters, who wishes to remain nameless, provided excellent information about government "hearings" vs. "meetings", which I am passing along. FWS refers to the US Fish and Game/Wildlife Service.

[NOTE: The inputs may change as we learn more.]

Hearing vs. Meeting

A "hearing" and a "meeting" are two different things. Here's the explanation and why the differences are important when dealing with Federal agencies.

Commonalities

• Any individual can request either one or both.
• The public can record either type.
• A meeting and hearing can be scheduled back to back.

Hearing

• A "hearing" is the official review process prescribed in the Federal Register notice.
• FWS will try to talk you out of requesting an official review, claiming it takes too much time, effort, and expense. [Balderdash. No time or $$$ to hear from local residents and government representatives?]
• There is a submission deadline to request one.
• There is no discretion. If requested in time, the FWS must hold a hearing.
• It is an official meeting and will be recorded.
• Comments & written submissions will be put in the Federal Register.
• FWS attendees: field supervisor, public coordinator, scientist/biologist, transcriber, and facilitator.
• The facilitator will be a third party hired by FWS.
• Format: Short FWS presentation, then public comment.
• Everyone will be allowed to comment, but the time allocated to each will depend on how many want to speak and the time available. If there is not enough time to complete your remarks, your full presentation can be submitted in writing at the meeting, by email, or by mail to Arlington.

Meeting

• Can be requested any time. There is no deadline.
• FWS probably has the option of holding one or not. (This needs to be checked.)
• Discussion will be recorded, but it is unofficial and won't be reported in the Federal Register.
• There can be a back and forth discussion, but again, it's optional how much FWS will say.
• Everyone will be allowed to comment, but the time allocated will depend on the time and how many want to speak.
• FWS attendees: field supervisor, public coordinator, species expert/biologist, rules drafter, mapping expert.
• Format: FWS presentation, public comments, FWS responses, Q&A, dialogue. 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/28/5298444/bay-delta-conservation-plan-documents.html#storylink=cpyEnvironmental News

Economic/Tourism News

High Speed Rail/BDCP Conveyance News
Republicans Say No to New HSR Investment on the NEC
http://www.cahsrblog.com/2013/06/republicans-now-say-no-new-hsr-investment-on-the-nec/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=republicans-now-say-no-new-hsr-investment-on-the-nec


Why Does Jeff Denham Want to Destroy His Constituents Jobs?
http://www.cahsrblog.com/2013/06/why-does-jeff-denham-want-to-destroy-his-constituents-jobs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-does-jeff-denham-want-to-destroy-his-constituents-jobs

(Maybe because Denham realizes the permanent destruction of long-standing farms on 20% of the remaining Prime Agriculture Soil would have a longer-term detrimental affect than any short-term 'job' passing through on a rail line???  Or maybe he's a conservative that recognizes a rip-off and a con when he sees one???  Just a thought.)

National Political News  
A Warning to Public Servants in the Obama Administration: It's RICO Time
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/55821#When:11:44:04Z
(Warning to all public servants, just a reminder for those who like to play in the shadier places in the 'playground'.)

The Sinister Spiritual Scandal Beneath All the Obama Political Scandals
http://bwcentral.org/2013/06/the-sinister-spiritual-scandal-beneath-all-the-obama-political-scandals/

California Political News
Social Justice, the Central Valley and CA Dems
http://www.calwatchdog.com/2013/06/11/44017/


Colorado Recall Election a Template for Reclaiming Liberty
http://www.calwatchdog.com/2013/06/11/colorado-recall-election-a-template-for-reclaiming-liberty/

Litigation News
Another Water Fight Means $17 Million
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/10/another-water-fight-means-17-million/
 
Tribal News

Calendar
Delta Conservancy Grant Writing 
Tuesday, June 25th
9AM-Noon
Clarksburg Community Church
http://www.deltaconservancy.ca.gov/docs/ssjdc_grant_writing_flier_060713.pdf
 
Delta Stewardship Council
Science Program Brown Bag Lunch
Monday, June 17th
12:00-1:00PM
CalEPA Building
http://deltacouncil.ca.gov/science-event-detail/9526
 
Written Comment Opportunities
 
Because It's Cool!
Capitalism is NOT Imperialism
http://www.learnliberty.org/videos/capitalism-not-imperialism?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+learnliberty+%28LearnLiberty%29&utm_content=Google+Reader