DWR to build the Peripheral Canal regardless....

[Mike McKenzie]

Department of Water Resources Director Lester Snow claims that according to DWR's analysis, "DWR has the authority to build a peripheral canal without legislative or voter approval."

That statement kinda' says it all, especially in light of this article from this week-end:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/trivall...ews/ci_8351721

When one reads the above article then reads the letter from the PCL below, Ya' gotta' wonder about the arrogance of some of the bureaucrats...Building the peripheral canal and pissing away billons of dollars and ending up with no water to put in it. The inmates are definitely runnin' the asylum called California.

Move Over California Legislature: State Agency Proposes to Build Peripheral Canal By 2015

Traci-Sheehan
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

While countless hours are being spent in the Governor's Delta Vision process and in water bond negotiations to determine how to restore the Bay-Delta Estuary, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) has apparently decided to bypass the Delta altogether.

According to a recent budget change proposal submitted to the state Legislature, DWR intends to start preparing to build a new "Alternative Delta Conveyance" facility, which would divert water directly from the Sacramento River before it enters the Delta, sending it directly to the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. Despite the looming budget deficit, the proposal specifically asks for authorization to hire eight new staff that would be responsible for everything from completing Environmental Impact Reports to negotiating land purchases, and constructing the new facility.

Under its proposal, DWR would revive studies and update construction plans that it abandoned in 1982 after voters overwhelmingly rejected its "Peripheral Canal" proposal in a statewide referendum due to fears that such a facility would result in more Northern California water exported to the ever-growing south state, and that the Delta would be left as a saltwater lake rather than a true estuary.

DWR estimates that the canal, or some new version of the old idea, could be constructed by mid 2015.

The budget request from DWR follows a recent letter sent to Assemblywoman Wolk (D-Davis) by DWR Director Lester Snow, stating that according to DWR's analysis, DWR has the authority to build a peripheral canal without legislative or voter approval. The Legislature has not yet indicated whether they concur with DWR's assessment. However, if the budget change proposal is approved, we can be sure DWR will move forward as quickly as possible.

PCL and others have been deeply engaged in efforts to develop and implement a sustainable Delta solution. Given that those processes are producing real results–but have not yet settled on long-term infrastructure plans for the Delta–DWR's proposal seems particularly premature.

We'll keep you updated as we learn more about DWR's intentions!

Traci Sheehan is the Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League, a statewide, nonprofit lobbying organization. For more than thirty years, PCL has fought to develop a body of environmental laws in California that is the best in the United States. PCL staff review virtually every environmental bill that comes before the California Legislature each year. It has testified in support or opposition of thousands of bills to strengthen California's environmental laws and fight off rollbacks of environmental protections.

[Darian]

Hi Mike,.... I read the article earlier but wasn't aware of the proposed project or the request for additional money. If DWR proceeds with this project in spite of past rejections by voters, etc., there should be some political payback for the current administration.... It suddenly dawned on me, if DWR insists it has legal authority to proceed with the peripheral canal, it might, also, insist that it has the same authority to complete the Governors Action Plan for Strategic Growth. You know, the $11.9 Billion project for partitioning the Delta and building new dams.... I'm getting depressed.

Meanwhile, it's letter writin' time again. If Dave Jones (my Assembly Member) is interested, I might volunteer to help on a campaign opposing this proposal. This would be interesting work.

[HC]

I thought the state was broke? Financially, that is. Pun intended. sad indeed. Harely

[Mike McKenzie]

Well, now the Governator has stepped in and may build the peripheral Canal by Executive Order

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.d...NEWS/802260317

Our poor fish ain't gotta' chance!!

Mike

[Darian]

Mike,.... After reading the article, I think this is more like doing a feasibility study to initiate the process.... Altho, that's not much consolation as state executives feel that any FSR undertaken is a failure if not approved and it's costing $1.4 million for the staff. So, the incentive is to make proposed projects feasible.

It does mean that there's still some time to react. The initial funding will come from DWR existing budget. The rest must come from water bonds (.... voter approval required for issuance by the state) since the state is broke, so to speak. There's a bunch of money in unspent funds throughout departmental budgets but not even close to the amount required for this misguided effort.

The project still requires an EIR and other reviews that offer the opportunity to make our points....