save!the!californiadeltaalliance!(stcda)! … · 2013. 2. 23. · ! 1!!...
TRANSCRIPT
1
Save the California Delta Alliance (STCDA) Town Hall Delta Water Meeting
February 13, 2013
Discovery Bay, CA
Attendees at the Town Hall Meeting
Photo by Amanda Dove, Delta Sun Times
Save the California (STCDA)
2
Agenda Town Hall – Delta Water
• Welcome & Introduction -‐ Mike Guzzardo, Jr. Staff Commodore DBYC
• Delta Water Overview -‐ Jan McCleery, STCDA President
• Update on Delta Water Policies and Plans -‐ Mary Piepho, Contra Costa County Supervisor
• Solving the State’s Water Issues from the Delta Perspective -‐ Jim Frazier, CA Assemblymember, 11th District
• STCDA Recommendations and Community Actions -‐ Michael Brodsky, STCDA Legal Council
• Town Hall Wrap-‐Up / Movie Intro -‐ Mike Guzzardo / Karen Mann STCDA Director
Movie: “Over Troubled Waters”
The STCDA Team
The 2013 Save the California Delta Alliance team is shown below. • Jan McCleery, President • Jim Mattison, Director (and 2012 DB Citizen of the Year!) • Peter Sustarich, Director • LaVeta Gibbs, Secretary • Peter Hills, Treasurer • Karen Mann, Director • Mike Guzzardo, Press Relations • Michael Brodsky, Legal Council • Other volunteers who comprise our Steering Committee and Event Helpers
We currently have over 400 members throughout the Delta and Bay Area who subscribe to our email list and are concerned about the Delta.
3
What is “The Problem”?
As population and demands increase, California is facing a water shortage. Many interests are looking to the California Delta to solve it.
The Delta has degraded from poor decisions being made. • Inefficient, outdated delivery system
– Open-‐air Aqueduct – water loss due to evaporation • Inefficient use of water
– Irrigating the desert for high-‐demand crops which primarily benefits a handful of private mega-‐agriculture businesses like Paramount Farms
• Lack of Storage • Allowing Water Resale (Greed)
– Handful of multimillion dollar agribusiness owners have taken control of our water supply for personal profits. (Stewart Resnick of Paramount Farms made $77M in one year from reselling subsidized water)
[Additional commentary:
• Outdated system – Besides evaporation, other concerns with the current system are the outdated fish screens and configuration of Clifton Forebay. Instead of looking to move the pumps upstream, the addition of state-‐of-‐the-‐art fish screens and potentially other reconfiguration to improve the flow for fish would do more. If they cannot improve the
4
configuration at Clifton Forebay, how can we trust that they can do any better upstream where the salmon and trout juveniles would be affected?
• Lack of Storage – The State should be looking at how to store water underground in the San Joaquin/Tulare Lake Basin area to regenerate the aquifers that the farmers there are seriously depleting.
What are the Implications of Tunnels?
The answer from the state is to move the pumps and build gigantic tunnels near Sacramento. What will happen if the Tunnels are built?
Today we get our fresh water primarily from the Sacramento River being circulated throughout the Delta. After the Tunnels, the fresh water will be diverted around and under us, salt water will intrude. Brackish stagnant water will not be a good thing.
Fish / Birds and other wildlife WILL BE AFFECTED…as will people and businesses.
Area Real Estate Values could DECLINE.
5
Can a Community Make a Difference?
First, probably the question you are all asking: Can a Community Make a Difference?
In August 2009 Jan’s husband and she were anchored out at Mildred Island and two bass fishermen came up and handed them a flyer about the “2 Gates Fish Protection” project to install gates in two main river channels blocking key boating waterways in and out of Discovery Bay. They didn’t think that was legal! The project had not been communicated to our representatives and was being fast-‐tracked to be installed within 3 months!
In response to the threat of the Two Gates Project,
1. STCDA was quickly formed.
2. The community rallied.
3. We worked with county, state, and US representatives.
6
4. We collected 2,000 comments and our legal council, Michael Brodsky, wrote an 80-‐page document challenging the project
5. We (thanks to your donations) hired a scientist to back up our claims
The application for a permit to build the 2-‐Gates was withdrawn.
We are hopeful to repeat that success and stop the tunnels. The current Plans have many holes and environmental issues. There are better alternatives.
We believe stopping the tunnels will again require community involvement. The first step is to be on our “members” email list so that you can know when to get involved. You can add your email to our petition or sign-‐in sheets.
Or go on-‐line to www.NoDeltaGates.com (or www.stcda.com, whichever is easier to remember) and click the “Become a member” link on the right. Jan tries not to send out too many emails!
7
The website has lots of current information about the Delta – in particular, check out our “Event Tracker” which maintains a list of upcoming events and requests for community involvement.
There’s also a “Sign the Petition” link. We are circulating the Save the California Delta petition opposing the Tunnels to be hand-‐carried to the Governor’s office. If we get enough signatures, we can increase media attention. Tell others about the petition and how to sign it online.
Background – Water Usage in California
*To understand the driving forces behind the water exports, it’s important to first note that, of the available water in the state, 80% is used for Agriculture and only 20% for Urban use. The small amount of urban use was a big surprise to me. You may see other figures from the state and farm bureau. The farm bureau says only 40% is for Agriculture. That is because they include the 50% that is used by the “environment” (forests etc.), then 40% Agriculture, 10% Urban. But that’s the same agriculture to urban ratio. About half the urban use is the Metropolitan Water District (LA).
Of the Agriculture use, almost half is for the area in the center shown in purple on the map: the San Joaquin Valley (South of us) and the newer Westlands agribusiness farms south near I-‐5. The rest of the agricultural water (just over half) is for all other areas of the state – the Delta, North up to the * Source: http://sei-‐us.org/Publications_PDF/SEI-‐WesternWater-‐CWSD-‐0211.pdf plus others listed on the chart.
8
Oregon border, East to the Sierras including all the cattle ranches, the Napa vineyards, the coastal wineries, and citrus trees in the Mohave.
[Additional commentary: While we support farming in general; as is discussed in the next slide, a significant portion of the exported water is focused in the South San Joaquin Valley (where Paramount Farms is located) and Westland Farmers who are subsidized yet are major agribusinesses planting water-‐intensive crops. In addition, areas west of I-‐5 contain a chemical Selenium which was responsible for deformed birds found in the Kesterson Bird Refuge as a result of run-‐off from those farms. Farms in the area have poor drainage which results in chemicals and salts remaining in the land and then leaching down polluting the ground water. Those farm lands should be retired.]
Myth: L.A. is using all the water.
Fact: While L.A. needs to conserve more, it’s the San Joaquin Valley Farmers that use four times as much. [Especially the Westlands and South Valley mega-‐farmers.]
California Almond-‐Bearing Acreage
†
† California Almond Forecast (May 3, 2012) USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service: http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/Publications/Fruits_and_Nuts/201205almpd.pdf and Westlands Water: http://www.westlandswater.org/wwd/publications/GenBro.pdf
9
Water needs are increasing. What crops are expanding? Almond production is the primary one. The farmers South near I-‐5, have converted to almonds which require consistent, year-‐round water even though they have “junior” water rights, which means if there isn’t enough for everyone, their contracts are not fulfilled. The Westlands Water District which uses water from the Central Valley Project (CVP) is controlled by a handful of mega-‐farms. Other huge agribusinesses are influential in the San Joaquin Valley counties which use water from the State Water Project (SWP), like Paramount Farms in Kerns County‡, the largest grower of almonds and pistachios in the world.
We’ll see later how during 2008 – 2010 the pumps were halted due to court orders. Farms west of I-‐5, still have signs about farm losses due to lack of water, like “This drought brought to you by Congress”. Yet the fact is that almond production continued to increase during those years.
Myth: Almond fields were ploughed under and mature trees lost due to drought or congress or court orders
Fact: Almonds and other water-‐intensive crops increased during those years.
Water Exports 5-‐Year Averages/Trends
As a result of the growing water needs, the requirement for water exports has grown. This slide shows the water export 5-‐year averages and trends through 2007.
‡ This version includes a correction. During the presentation, we said Paramount is part of Westlands Water District but it is not. It is south of Westlands on the San Joaquin Valley Westside.
10
There was a 20% Increase in 2000 from agriculture and even more starting in 2004 when the Colorado River began drying up and the Delta was called upon to meet that need.
Affect on Salmon (and other fish) from Excessive Exports
As a result of excessive pumping, by 2008 the survival of the salmon (and other species) became questionable. During 2008 and 2009 the commercial salmon fishing was shut down off the entire coast of California and Oregon putting fisherman out of work.
• Did the Fish and Game step in and halt the pumps? • Did the agencies managing the pumps slow them down?
No – the only thing that stopped the excessive exports were court orders. By limiting exporting, the salmon populations began to improve.
11
The Drought and Court Orders Reduced Pumping 2008-‐2010
§
Exports were limited from 2008 to 2010 and farmers drew water heavily from the aquifers to keep increasing production. What was the response of the exporters?
• The “2 Gates Fish Protection Project” was the exporter’s attempt remove the court order.
• Then Stewart Resnick, who owns the huge agribusiness, Paramount Farms, and is a friend of Senator Feinstein, urged her to add a clause to the Jobs Bill to suspend protection of salmon from the Environmental Species Act in order to keep the pumps going. The Jobs Bill itself was a response to overstated statistics on agriculture job losses which were later exposed to be false. Due to efforts of Northern CA representatives and public outcry from communities like ours writing to the Senator, she removed the offensive clause from the Jobs Bill.
• Bills in the California Assembly and at the US level have been pushed to give 40-‐year guaranteed contracts to exporters and Senior water rights to Westlands farmers over our Delta farmers and urban users! Northern California representatives were able to get those clauses removed from the state bill. The US Senate bill was defeated.
§ Source: http://www.bay.org/assets/graphs/4_WaterExports.pdf
12
That handful of mega farmers have tried, repeatedly, to get more water, guaranteed by senior water rights. Now the exporters are writing the Bay and Delta Conservation Plan (or more aptly called the “Bay and Delta Canal Plan”) to build the canal/tunnels.
Why do they want to Move the Main Pumping Location?
High export rates divert the fresh water south to the pumps, salt water intrudes and water quality is impacted.
The myth is that the main issue with fish is because they get sucked into the pumps but the main problem for fish is that there isn’t enough high quality fresh water going through the Delta.
Also they know that as they keep increasing the exports, salt water will get to the pumps. That was the real reason they wanted the 2-‐Gates – to block the salt water and why the new diversion point nearer the fresh water is so attractive.
Discovery Bay X-2 Line at
Pittsburg
Fresh Sacramento River Water
Lower Quality San Joaquin Water
Salt Water
Water Quality Impacted
13
There are other alternatives they refuse to consider, like regional self-‐sufficiency, conservation. Eric Jensen from Discovery Bay is proposing a modern desalination.
The Legislature Passes the Delta Reform Act of 2009
In 2009 the legislature passed the Delta Reform Act – with the co-‐equal goals of assuring a more reliable water supply for the south while restoring and improving the Delta. It’s an overarching management plan for the Delta with objectives protecting the “Delta as a Place”, Delta farms, communities and boating. That sounds good. The Delta Stewardship Council was appointed to develop the Plan. Any Delta project must then meet the objectives of the Plan to go forward.
The legislature directed the Council to start with scientific information about how much water the Delta needs -‐ to guide how much water can be safely exported. That makes sense. Unfortunately the updated Delta Flow report the State Water Board delivered in August 2010 had the wrong answer (it said to reduce exports) and since then there appears to have been a quandary about how to try to make the science fit the answer the exporters want. The Plan was completed without Delta Flow Requirements. For that reason and others, the Delta Plan is incomplete and does not protect the Delta.
The BDCP “canal” plan, if approved, can go forward without a taxpayer vote. And it is the only alternative being considered.
The Two Sides of the Co-‐Equal Goals
The primary issue is that the “co-‐equal goals” create an equation that is not balanced. It pits the users of the water firmly against each other.
14
From the Water Exporters’ Perspective, they say “We need to move the pumps to stop the court orders. We say they should add better fish screens, reduce exports and keep the pumps where they are. It’s the amount of pumping that is the main issue with the fish populations.
Governor Brown announced he wants to start pumping first and solve the fish problem later. The Plan’s approach to saving the fish is flooding islands for “Habitat Restoration”. But “Habitat Restoration” projects are just experiments and the science doesn’t support them**. Fertile Delta farmlands require much less water than arid desert Westlands farms. Not a good trade-‐off.
The Exporters want to manage salt intrusion with Salinity gates. But salt will ruin Delta farms. Gates will block boating and impact our economy.
They think any fresh water that flows through the Delta and is not exported is wasted – but we need it.
** Note: Some habitat restoration is good – turning unused areas of land into fish and bird habitat is not a bad thing. Our concern is that the Delta Plan is looking to habitat restoration alone to solve the estuary’s environmental issues and (1) the current projects are not showing that they actually improve recovery for salmon and other species and (2) brackish habitat areas or habitat with low quality, salty water which will occur within the Delta due to the tunnels will definitely not protect and recover the fish and bird species.
15
Mary Piepho
Mary Piepho, Contra Costa County Supervisor, then spoke about the Delta Plan and lack of local input, progress made to-‐date, and her recent trip to Washington DC with other representatives that serve the five Delta counties to urge the Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to conduct a cost-‐benefit analysis of alternative proposals. She shared the letter Rep. Jerry McNerney wrote and other information about the proposed tunnels and plans.
Mary also provided an update on the invasive weed and hyacinth issues which affect the local waterways, bays and boaters.
This group really has a lot of power. Collectively, we can make a difference," Piepho said
Jim Frazier
Jim Frazier, the newly elected District 11 CA Assemblyman, spoke about his love for the Delta, his hopes for solving the State’s Water Issues and vowed to do everything he can to stop the tunnels. He noted that the Northern California legislators are out-‐numbered and called for the community support to help sway other legislators’ views.
What the Community Can Do – Next Steps
The STCDA Legal Council, Michael Brodsky then discussed the alternatives to the BDCP such as all of the spring Sacramento River overflow that currently floods into the Sacramento weirs and Yolo Bypass but is not captured or used. The state has the obligation to consider a wide range of alternatives.
Mr. Brodsky also discussed the BDCP and EIR process including the various insertion points where the community action is going to be needed – and laid out other steps we may need to take in order to stop the tunnels.
16
Town Hall Wrap-‐Up – Myth vs. Fact(*)
Is taking more water from the Delta the only solution? (*) Notes: “TOXIC“ refers to farms that leach the chemical Selenium when irrigated. Selenium, like mercury, doesn’t break down over time and was responsible for the bird deformities in the Kesterson Bird Refuge. Selenium and other salts leach into the ground water table hence many believe those farms should be retired. “DESERT” farms take twice as much water to irrigate than Northern California Delta farms.
“Used appropriately” refers to the increase in almonds, pistachios and other crops that are extremely water intensive. Cotton and rice also are water-‐intensive, but almonds take four times the water than cotton does.
Conclusions from the Town Hall
The state is currently relying solely on a Peripheral Canal/Tunnels and “habitat restoration” projects (the basis of the Bay and Delta Conservation Plan or BDCP) to solve the state’s water problems.
The current levels of exporting has been proven to be too high for most water years. The increasing amount of water exports over the past 10 years is the primary issue behind the ecosystem collapse (including near extinction of salmon and halting of the salmon fishing season in 2008/2009). The
17
over-‐export of fresh water has also caused salt intrusion into the Delta impacting Delta farms and Delta community’s drinking water.
The increasing need for exported water is attributable primarily to an increase in water-‐intensive crops, such as almonds, being planted by a handful of mega agribusinesses in the Westlands Water District and Southern San Joaquin Valley. Those farmers have been given contracts for many times more water than is truly available from the Delta.
Implementing the BDCP massive tunnels to allow the state to continue export the same amount of fresh water and even more will cause irrecoverable damage to the Delta fish and, as a result, to the entire Bay-‐Delta ecosystem and the oceans beyond. Resulting impacts to the salmon commercial fishing industry and to the Bay and Delta communities will be significant. The primary benefactors of the tunnels are the handful of mega-‐agribusinesses but the resulting costs will be born by the taxpayers
There is a better way to meet the Delta Plan’s “co-‐equal goals”: For the Delta to recover from the degradation that has occurred due to excessive exports and to provide a reliable water system for the state’s water users. We need a three-‐pronged approach to reduce the need, improve in-‐Delta operations, and increase regional self-‐sufficiency.
• Reduce the need o Farmers need incentives to conserve water instead of the current subsidiary program
which promotes the increase of water-‐intensive crops o Desert farmland should be retired that is poor quality, selenium laced and/or has poor
drainage o Private parties must not be allowed to create massive personal wealth by reselling
subsidized agriculture water shares to urban developers. o Both urban and agriculture conservation must increase.
• Improve in-‐Delta operations o Reduce pumping/exporting overall. The State Water Board reported that an ecosystem
is damaged if any more than 25 percent of the natural flow is taken out of a river. Clearly there is not enough water to go around in dry years.
o Screen and reconfigure the pumps at the current location to avoid fish entrapment. o Potentially consider other pumping locations within the Delta which would still allow the
Delta Communities access to their fresh water but would also help reduce flow and entrapment at the current location. For example, the Contra Costa County pumps are just north of Clifton Forebay. Due to their configuration and modern fish screens, they do not entrap Delta smelt. Another potential site is Dr. Pyke’s Sherman Island proposal.
o Provide ongoing levee maintenance and upgrades to protect Delta communities and the state’s infrastructure (highways, rails, and water transport).
o Cleanup groundwater and farm water run-‐off.
18
o Capture the Sacramento River spring run-‐off overflow from the weirs and Yolo Bypass and transport it to underground storage in the San Joaquin Valley/Tulare Basin or aquifers.
• Increase regional self-‐sufficiency o Local conservation. o Projects in other parts of the state outside of the Delta need to happen to create new
local water supplies for regional self-‐sufficiency; for example, desalination plants or the Tulare Lake Basin restoration project.
The state needs to stop relying solely on the Delta as a “plumbing fixture” and instead recognize the Delta as a place -‐ important to birds, fish, the communities that live here and all others who come here to enjoy its scenic beauty.
19
Town Hall Speakers
Photos thanks to Amanda Dove, Delta Sun Times
Jan McCleery, STCDA President Mary Piepho, Contra Costa Michael Brodsky, STCDA County Supervisor Legal Council
Mike Guzzardo, M.C., STCDA Press Relations Q&A Session with Mary Piepho, Jan McCleery, and DBYC Jr. Staff Commodore Jim Frazier, 11th District Assemblyperson