Wednesday, March 20, 2013

March 8-20, 2013 Delta, Water and News Links

Delta/California/Water News
Towns of the Sacramento River Delta: Phil Pezzaglia's Latest Historical Book
River News Herald
http://rivernewsherald.org/articles2013/philpezzaglia_3-6-2013.html

Sacramento River Delta Historical Society Presents
Phil Pezzaglia's Towns of the Sacramento River Delta
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Jean Harvie Center
7:00 PM

Restore the Delta Criticizes Two Water Plans
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=xp76ilcab&v=001dDyPakhdhuqTpIuWqA7bWmyXnJ3mMN_KyLtCdSWyMaWDbZqVLL9G36YIOVmmOm6zK7tutVtpX82kq7xZ8eAqb67eZU3EjT23lFi3vzAKDkOPE4iDBjTtqg%3D%3D

News from Restore the Delta
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=xp76ilcab&v=001Uw9QefivccLAel1cSq0JHO47T5CW9uR7TIcp4SiF0vBxM5EXXUE0bKzPfFxrp_xsXuIm9IqEo9761tsiTwPwife8kGw0JtPQQU5i70YJoXvUcU_7IS4smw%3D%3D

Delta Twin-Pipe Plan Moves Ahead: Why Bay Area Residents Care About Delta Water
SFGate.com
http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Delta-twin-pipe-plan-moves-ahead-4359512.php

Experts: Latest BDCP Proposal Still 'Fatally Flawed'
Restore the Delta
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=xp76ilcab&v=001NbQR3PfROKnoFiSuDUjHccF5bCr2Rslqq5TyBecV_z41tzNOb_-NCXg823Y3G1nFJ7SroCH7iLO9vDFbMagxRgZaRH1EzLlFbAiq1tNWALumwpS3OtblgQ%3D%3D

Daily Kos: Latest Bay Delta Conservation Plan Proposal Still 'Fatally Flawed'
Dan Bacher
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/15/1194330/-Latest-Bay-Delta-Conservation-Plan-Proposal-Is-Still-Fatally-Flawed

Highlights from Restore the Delta's Media Work
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=xp76ilcab&v=00157CTivewlimzVvhp_mc55RJEgYZPYvYqnajc3Bsu8OdhgYGvoNBm-70ibF_iU7WWIV2wJPEen5FayWqnOwMF32UZROm7v8zX7hAXx9YzvKQsjVcisdd4DA%3D%3D

ACTION ALERT: Stop the Wildlands Project from Destroying Private Property
Bear Witness Central
http://bwcentral.org/2013/03/action-alert-stop-the-wildlands-project-from-destroying-private-property/
(They are going after the headwaters now. Pay Attention folks.)

Consider this about a National Blueways System: The National Blueways System is massive in scope. It covers rivers from their mouth to their source, the whole watershed. This isn’t just about river corridors. It’s about entire river watersheds.

Property Assault: New Blueways and Wildlands Programs Could End Up in Omnibus Bill
Bear Witness Central
http://bwcentral.org/2013/03/private-property-assault-new-blueways-and-wildlands-programs-could-end-up-in-omnibus/

Any designation by a federal agency that directly or indirectly attempts to manage the non-navigable headwaters of many of our nation’s rivers, would be a usurpation of state authority.

Stuart Leavenworth: Scope and Impact of Delta Twin Tunnels is Starting to Hit Home
Sacbee.com
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/17/5267210/scope-and-impact-of-delta-twin.html

The Might Power of a Tiny Fish
SFGate.com
http://blog.sfgate.com/opinionshop/2013/03/17/the-mighty-power-of-a-tiny-fish/

Tunnel Vision: Who Really Determines California's Water Flow?
KQED
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2013/03/19/where-californias-water-future-is-really-being-decided-hint-its-not-about-tunnels/#disqus_thread

“The water board process is the number one, two and three most important things that could lead to restoration of the Delta,” says Jon Rosenfield of the Bay Institute. “BDCP is a distant fourth or fifth.”

The good news: A grassroots revolt outside the Beltway bubble is swelling. Families are taking their children’s academic and privacy matters out of the snoopercrats’ grip and into their own hands. You can now download a Common Core opt-out form to submit to your school district, courtesy of the group Truth in American Education.

2nd Amendment News
Feinstein Fails in Senate, Gun Ban Dropped
WND.com
http://www.wnd.com/2013/03/feinstein-fails-in-senate-gun-ban-dropped/?cat_orig=politics

Bushman, Colt, Remington, Smith & Wesson Win Rejection of Assault Weapons Ban
AllGov.com
http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/bushmaster-colt-remington-smith-and-wesson-win-rejection-of-assault-weapons-ban-130320?news=849489

Agriculture/Science News
King's County Declared Natural Disaster
AgProfessional.com
http://www.agprofessional.com/newsletters/agpro-weekly/articles/California-Kings-County-declared-natural-disaster-area-198511051.html

Levee/Infrastructure News

Fisheries/Wildlife/Habitat News
Large Vegetation Fire Burning on Sherman Island
Claycord.com
http://claycord.com/2013/03/17/large-vegetation-fire-burning-on-sherman-island-in-the-delta/

Environmental News
h/t Nature Watch
California Fracking May Boost State Economy 14%, USC Says -- Development of oil-shale deposits through Central California using fracking and other techniques may boost the state’s economic activity by as much as 14.3 percent, a University of Southern California study said. Alison Vekshin & James Nash Bloomberg -- 3/14/13

Former EPA Expert: States Can Control Fracking Rules
EPAAbuse.com
http://epaabuse.com/11662/news/former-epa-expert-states-can-control-fracking-rules/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=former-epa-expert-states-can-control-fracking-rules

Economic/Tourism News
Local Business Internet Marketing Opportunities See a Big Shift
http://ruraltourismmarketing.com/2013/03/big-shifts-in-local-business-internet-marketing-opportunities/

California Doesn't Need Enterprise Zones
Bloomberg.com
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-17/california-doesn-t-need-enterprise-zones.html

Since 1986, California has used an “enterprise zone” program in an effort to spur investment and job creation in specified areas. The state awards tax credits, more than $700 million a year as of 2010, to businesses that hire designated kinds of workers within the zones. The program is popular with businesses and local officials.

High Speed Rail/BDCP Conveyance News
Dan Walters: Lawsuits Loom as California's HIgh Speed Rail Moves Forward
San Jose Mercury News
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_22822938/dan-walters-lawsuits-loom-californias-high-speed-rail

California High-Speed Rail Authority Sued Again
San Mateo Daily Journal
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=1765109&title=California%20High-Speed%20Rail%20Authority%20sued%20again

California Rail Renaissance or Reluctant Locomotion?
California Economic Summit
http://www.caeconomy.org/reporting/entry/rail-renaissance-or-reluctant-locomotion

National Political News
First Confirmed Case of Cyberfraud in U.S. Election
http://www.allgov.com/news/controversies/first-confirmed-case-of-attempted-cyberfraud-in-us-election-130320?news=849488

Judge Rules National Security Letters Unconstitutional
http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/judge-rules-national-security-letters-unconstitutional-130318?news=849467

White House to Move Drone Operations Out of CIA, Centralize at Pentagon
FoxNews.com
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/20/white-house-to-move-drone-operations-out-cia-centralize-at-pentagon/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Internal+-+Politics+-+Text%29

This is just gross...
U.S. Companies Seek Final Approval to Start Slaughtering Horses for Food
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/20/white-house-to-move-drone-operations-out-cia-centralize-at-pentagon/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fpolitics+%28Internal+-+Politics+-+Text%29

California Political News
CEQA Roundup: Muscle-Flexing in Sacramento Complictes Reform Debate
California Economic Summit
http://www.caeconomy.org/reporting/entry/ceqa-roundup-muscle-flexing-in-sacramento-complicates-reform-debate

Litigation News
Federal Appeals Panel Orders CIA to Reveal Info About Drones
http://www.allgov.com/news/top-stories/judge-rules-national-security-letters-unconstitutional-130318?news=849467

Tribal News

Calendar
Delta Independent Science Board
March Public/Teleconference
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
10:30-2:00
980 9th Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room
http://deltacouncil.ca.gov/science-event-detail/8742

Delta Protection Commission
Save the Date Delta Trail\
Thursday, April 11, 2013
5:00-6:00 Social Hour
6:00-8:00 Meeting
Old Sugar Mill
http://www.sacramentoriverdelta.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Save-the-Date_Delat-Trail1.pdf

DWR's Delta eNews
http://www.water.ca.gov/deltainit/docs/Delta_eNews031413.pdf

Delta Stewardship Council
March 28-29, 2013
9:30-4:30
300 J Street, Holiday Inn Capital Plaza
http://deltacouncil.ca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Draft%20Meeting%20Notice%20March%2028_29_13.pdf

Written Comment Opportunities

Because It's Cool!
Today, the American Legion, which began as "a movement" dedicated to preserving America by walking in the footsteps of America's Founding Fathers rather than transforming America, is the American Legionnaires of this day continue to serve America in peace as they served in war, dedicated to protecting and preserving America as the 'land of the free and the home of the brave' as envisioned by the Founding Fathers of America, and the Legion Founding Father veterans of WWI.
The American Legion: For God and Country
http://www.newswithviews.com/Lloyd/rees140.htm

Supreme Court Gives Timber Industry Victory

Defend Rural America:

Supreme Court gives timber industry victory against environmentalists

March 20, 2013 | 12:32 pm

The Supreme Court sided with the timber industry against environmentalists today in a ruling that loggers do not need a special Environmental Protection Agency permit because of gravel and dirt that can fall from logging roads into waterways.

The decision overturned a lower-court ruling that the runoff is the same as other industrial pollution and therefore requires a permit under the EPA’s Clean Water Act, according to Fox News.

The timber industry said it would cost millions of dollars to get a permit for every logging site, and could even put the industry out of business.

Environmentalists argued that the regulations would not impose a heavy administrative burden, and that logging runoff hurts salmon spawning, Forbes reported in November.

But even the EPA disagreed with the lower-court ruling and recently changed its rules related to logging runoff, placing it in the same category as runoff from a farmer’s field and not industrial pollution.

The consolidated cases in the decision are Decker v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center and Georgia-Pacific West, Inc. v. Northwest Environmental Defense Center.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/supreme-court-gives-timber-industry-victory-against-environmentalists/article/2524904

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs

-- is to be ruled by evil men! -- Plato

Town of Danville Adopts International Principles from UN in Their 2030 General Plan! By Heather Gass

Recap of Town of Danville's March 19, 2013 Votes to ADOPT UN Sustainable Development
By Heather Gass

Town of Danville adopts International principles from UN in their 2030 General Plan!

Last night the town of Danville voted to adopt their 2030 General Plan, EIR (Environmental Impact Report) and optional SAP (Sustainable Action Plan). With a crowd of over 250+ voicing their concerns the meeting went into the wee hours of the night. The council made substantial changes to the plan. Many of these changes were debated and discussed with council during the hearing and should have led to a new public notice of the plan changes prior to a vote, but instead the town ended the meeting by unanimously voting to adopt all three documents setting the town on a new course for the next 17 years. The most disturbing part of this is that the City Council has set the small town of Danville on a path following international principles and ideology by the United Nations, but refused to acknowledge and disclose that fact to the public at the meeting or in the planning documents.

The word “Sustainable” appears 158 times throughout the Danville’s Plan and SAP to describe everything from business, water, air, housing and more. The entire foundation of the plan and direction of the town is dependent on the exact meaning and understanding of this term by those reading the plan. After all general plans are meant to provide clear, concise and easy to understand information to the public. So a precise definition and understanding of the word Sustainable would seem obvious and necessary.

So what does the word “Sustainability” mean?

Well, The dictionary defines the verb “sustain” as meaning to “support,” “maintain” and to “keep from ruin.” But on page 1-3 of the Danville General Plan, we find the concept of “sustainability” strangely re-defined as “the ability to meet the needs of current residents without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” Where did this new definition come from?

Danville’s General Plan consultants, DCE Planning (formerly known as Urban Ecology) are responsible for inserting this new definition into our plan. This re-definition is unclear, nonspecific and carries substantial ideological baggage. And since this new definition is NOT in the dictionary but is posited as the foundational basis for this 17 year plan it would seem necessary to minimally understand its origin, yet no credit or sourcing of this information is given in the documents. So where did DCE Planning get this new definition?

The concept of “sustainability” as “the ability to meet the needs of current residents without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs” appeared in nearly identical terms in Our Common Future (http://conspect.nl/pdf/Our_Common_Future-Brundtland_Report_1987.pdf),

also known as the Brundtland Report, published by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987. Wikipedia also cites this same source.

[“Sustainable development,” says Our Common Future, “is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Chapter 2, Principle 1 — page 37 in the available 247-page PDF compilation)]

[Two paragraphs later, Our Common Future calls for “a progressive transformation of economy and society” (Sound familiar?), and demands “a concern for social equity between generations, a concern that must logically be extended to equity within each generation.” The document overtly seeks a remaking of global society “From One Earth to One World.” Unsurprisingly, Danville citizens are saying “thank you, no, that’s not a trip we want to take.”]

Why is the town of Danville allowing an outside consultant, Barry Miller who is the front man for DCE Planning (who wrote the regional One Bay Area Plan) to inject a term into a small town General Plan with such radical implications? And if that is what the definition the UN has given for Sustainability then you then have to ask yourself what does the UN consider unsustainable?

In the following quote, former Under Secretary of the UN, Maurice Strong - In an UNCED PrepCom report, dated August 1991, Titled; ("The relationship between demographic trends, economic growth, unsustainable consumption patterns and environmental degradation," identifies several items which are considered to be unsustainable…..

"It is clear that current lifestyles and consumption patterns of the affluent middle-class ... involving high meat intake, consumption of large amounts of frozen and 'convenience' foods, ownership of motor-vehicles, numerous electric household appliances, home and workplace air-conditioning ... expansive suburban housing ... are not sustainable."

As a citizen of the town of Danville this should elicit immediate concern as the fabric of our lives, suburban lifestyles, are held in contempt.

It is important to note that in1997, DCE Planning along with unelected unaccountable agencies like ABAG (the Association of Bay Area Governments) and MTC (the Metropolitan Transportation Commission) signed a Compact forming “the Bay Area Alliance for Sustainable Communities” (http://www.bayareaalliance.org/compact.pdf). This Alliance congratulated itself for having embraced and adopted the same definition of sustainable development endorsed by the United Nations’ World Commission on Environment and Development: (p.22 of the Compact) and the International Earth Charter.

On Feb 7^th of this year, I e-mailed the Town Council documentation alerting them of the worrisome connections between DC&E Planning, ABAG, the Bay Area Alliance, and their adoption of the UN definition for “sustainable development,” including endorsement of the international Earth Charter. Last night I reminded the Town Council of all of these connectins and asked if they knowingly intended to align Danville with the UN’s Sustainable Development plan and its foundational definition of “sustainability” as defined by Barry Miller and DCE Planning Center. And if they did, then they should declare such intentions verbally and in writing, properly crediting and sourcing the origin the definition within the General Plan. Otherwise, the Plan and SAP’s current definition of sustainability is unsustainably misleading.

I asked the town to do one of the following….

1.     Remove the word Sustainable from the General Plan and EIR and go back to the language and direction from the previous general plan. Danville can continue to conserve and preserve without this misleading and controversial language in our plan.
2.     Reject the adoption of the SAP Plan entirely. This plan is according to the town “Optional and Common Sense” and therefore unnecessary.
3.     Redefine the word “Sustainable”
4.     Or source and credit it properly within the town documents

When the town was ready to discuss issues after the open hearing the town manager, Joe Calabrigo tried to quickly whitewash the concerns about the meaning and origin of “Sustainabilty” by saying it was common definition. Even though the definition is NOT in any dictionary. Once the council took over the only member to bring up a concern about this was Karen Stepper. She questioned the definition and tried to discuss it. Mayor Arnerich said he didn’t care where the definition came from and did not want to source it in the document. Council members Robert Storer said he was fine with the definition and agreed they should not source it in the documents. Renee Morgan and Mike Doyle basically said nothing about this controversial issue and then they all agreed that the undisclosed definition should stay in the document as defined by the Consultant and quickly moved on to other less toxic issues.

So there you have it…… The town of Danville was made aware of the true origin of the word “Sustainable” and will full knowledge of has refused to openly credit and source this in their General Plan, EIR and SAP. So much for transparency…Who’s wearing the tin foil hat now?

Video of this will be released shortly!

Heather Gass

DRE # 01478987

Better Homes and Gardens | Mason-McDuffie

Tel: 510-220-0603

email: heather.gass@bhghome.com

Website: www.bhghome.com/gasshomes

Confidentiality Notice:
This private email message, including any attachment(s) is limited to the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain Privileged and/or Confidential Information. Any and All Political, Private or Public Entities, Federal, State, or Local Corporate Government(s), Municipality(ies), International Organizations, Corporation(s), agent(s), investigator(s), or informant(s), et. al., and/or Third Party(ies) working in collusion by collecting and/or monitoring My email(s),and any other means of spying and collecting these Communications Without my Exclusive Permission are Barred from Any and All Unauthorized Review, Use, Disclosure or Distribution. With Explicit Reservation of All My Rights, Without Prejudice and Without Recourse to Me. Any omission does not constitute a waiver of any and/or ALL Intellectual Property Rights or Reserved Rights U.C.C.1-308. NOTICE TO AGENTS IS NOTICE TO PRINCIPALS. NOTICE TO PRINCIPALS IS NOTICE TO AGENTS.

California Spigot's 'A Cautionary Tale for California; BDCP Fails in Dry and Wet Years'

Excellent article at California Spigot. The points being made by Carole Kreidler, California Water Impact Network, Santa Barbara and by Greg Gartrell, Contra Costa Water District cut right to the heart of the matter.

Dear Friends,

My new blog, A CAUTIONARY TALE FOR CALIFORNIA; BDCP FAILS IN DRY AND WET YEARS, dives beneath the promises of the big twin tunnel plan, showing that they can hardly be used during dry years in California (which are increasing with climate change) and deliver more water than can be stored south of the delta during very wet years. According to close observers, southern water contractors are being misled by "computer water." The twenty-year-old story of a pipeline to Santa Barbara provides a cautionary tale for the State this year. Meanwhile, a "portfolio" proposal by a large cross section of environmentalists, water districts, business groups and legislators demands attention.

Take a look,

Patricia McBroom

(925) 686-6806

patricia@phch.org

www.californiaspigot.blogspot.com

Monday, March 18, 2013

Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage Implementation

US Bureau Reclamation/Bay Delta Office

Chapter 1

http://www.usbr.gov/mp/BayDeltaOffice/docs/Yolo_Bypass_Salmonid_Habitat_Restoration_and_Fish_Passage_Implementation_Plan.pdf

USACE Willow Poles Along Sacramento River

From Snug Harbor Resorts, LLC
USACE Willow Poles Along Sacramento

USACE (Us,the taxpayers) is spending $1.8 million for the placement of willow branches along the Sacramento River banks. It is supposed to help the fish by creating shady overhang. However, from our actual, "on the ground" experience at Snug Harbor, here is what happens:

1. Spring planting of willow branches close to water's edge or in the water.

2. Willows take off and grow pretty well until the fall months.

3. Beaver climb up to the willows, or burrow under the rocks to get at the willow roots. Willows seem to be their favorite trees!

4. By December, any willow that is not ALSO protected by metal mesh fencing is cut down and dragged off by the beaver, leaving a hole where the rocks protecting the banks were moved, allowing for erosion of the bank we tried to protect.

They have to know this. So why is USACE allowing the planting of a tree that is going to attract MORE beaver?

History of Education in America Parts 1, 2 and 3

The following video series is critical to understanding how we got to where we are today. It is through our socialized, compulsory school system, that we got here. It's the Prussian school system that started in America in the 1840s.

The school system has reduced us to little more than drones/slaves. Right now, we are at the abyss of the complete control and destruction of the minds of our children, who are supposed to be our future.

If we don't understand this history, we are spinning our wheels, no matter what our area of concern regarding what is happening in America. Without knowing this history, we might as well stop now, and wave the white flag.

Why? Because we have to stop what is happening, and we can't do that without informed minds.

"Informed": adjective -
having or prepared with information or knowledge in order to ask the correct questions".

"Misinformed": verb - used with object

to give false or misleading information to.

"Uninformed":
not knowing about something: lacking facts or knowledge about something

Synonyms: ignorant, uneducated, in the dark, unaware, unacquainted, unfamiliar

What does the American school system do? It deprives us of history so that we have no knowledge to base our current situations on. It's like going into a movie when it's almost over; there is no beginning or middle, just the end. ~ GL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhclWco8fA8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeJJvtMx1-M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn8NEcmSOJo