Possible New Reservoir West of Williams...

[bonish]

Is in the news again. This project, which would pipe in water from the Sac to fill it, is supported by a lot of the big political hitters including the Governor and Senator Feinstein. I think the proposal has been around for well over five years now..........

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2166129.html

[Darian]

This proposal was the subject of a program on Channel 6 called California Heartland. The major sponsor for that series is the J. G. Boswell Foundation. So, they made it sound like a great idea and the lady featured in the SacBee article also appeared in the program. Keep in mind that, from her perspective, the dam makes sense for her families benefit (....not ours).

It looks a lot like San Luis Reservoir all over again.... If built, the project will be larger than Lake Berryessa. Since there's no attempt to hide it's real purpose, it's a transfer facility. The energy generated by it's operations would be used almost entirely to pump water from the river into the lake. Check the map and note the project pipeline will run from the Sacramento River above Colusa to the Dam. That area of the river hosts runs of Shad, Stripers, Salmon and Steelhead depending on the time of year, not to mention resident fish (e.g. Sturgeon, Black Bass, Catfish, etc.)

Now, in some respects this project may sound OK but what happens to the flows in the Sacramento River when the pumps are running Will they be sped up above the intake and reversed below, as in the Delta will all of the fish on the river be entrained or outright killed by the pumps This thing could be full of unintended consequences.

This project will be paid for by Taxpayers (thru bonded indebtedness) and will benefit agri-business. If it's that good, why not have agri-business (the major users) pay for it thru increased water fees

[Tracy Chimenti]

Hey Darian, think about the exponential effects on the entire river-- Sites reservoir, which is bigger than Folsom; the planned Placer County Water Agency diversion at Natomas-- 30,000 ac/feet for west Placer County expansion; New diversions for Sacramento and EBMUD at the city; and now the peripheral canal. Sounds like damn near every inch of the water from Princeton south will be at the mercy of a bureaucratic straw. That's one hell of a lot a flaming hoops for any poor, migrating bastard!

[Darian]

Yep,.... After all of these projects are developed we'll have salt water all the way up thru Lodi....

[Mike McKenzie]

is that the Reservoir will be a real shallow lake and as a result the water going back into the river will be way to warm for any salmon or steelhead smolts to survive...Talk about a double death knell for them..first the pumps them a hot water bath!!

Mike