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CA Tribes and EJ Groups file Comments on Water Voluntary Agreements

For Immediate Release: 2/9/23Contact: Brian Smith, 415-320-9384 [email protected], CA – A coalition of California Tribes and Bay-Delta Environmental Justice groups submitted comments on 2/8/23 regarding the Draft Scientific Basis Report for proposed Voluntary Agreements (VAs) for the Sacramento River, Delta, and Tributaries Update to the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Quality Control Plan. The comments were filed with the State Water Board in Sacramento by Stanford Environmental Law Clinic, acting in the role of attorneys for Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Little Manila Rising, Restore the Delta, and Save California Salmon. This same coalition filed a civil rights complaint with the federal EPA against the State Water Board in December 2022.The VA comments begin by establishing the coalition’s standing and rights in California water negotiations:“For [...]

ICYMI 1/30/23
Droughts and Floods – What’s The Plan, California? 

VIDEO – Hell or High Water: How Stockton Can Prepare for the Risk of Flood Disaster? – River Partners/Restore the Delta 1/26/23Panelists included local and state government entities, community leaders, flood experts and esteemed researchers. Topics included: Stockton’s Growing Flood Risk, Flood Risk from the Community Perspective, The View from the Capitol, and Planning and Building Solutions.Storms dumped snow on California. Will it bring a reprieve from the drought? – Guardian 1/27/23But as most Californians relish a sunny reprieve from stormy skies this week, officials and scientists are hoping for more snowstorms in the forecast before spring. Strong starts don’t always guarantee strong finishes, especially as spikes in early-onset warm weather become more common.“It is definitely good news – but good news [...]

ICYMI 1/19/23: Preventing a Flood Disaster in Stockton

 California’s next flood could destroy one of its most diverse cities. Will lawmakers try to save it? – GRIST, 1/19/23Climate change could submerge Stockton beneath 10 feet of water. The city’s aging levees aren’t prepared.“Thanks to decades of disinvestment, the city’s only flood protection comes from decades-old, leak-prone levees. If a major rain event caused enough runoff to surge down the mountains and northward along the San Joaquin, it could burst through those levees, inundating the city and flooding tens of thousands of homes. One federal study found that much of Stockton would vanish beneath 10 to 12 feet of water, and floods in the lowest-lying areas could be twice as deep. The result would be a humanitarian disaster just as costly and as deadly as Hurricane [...]

Upcoming Water Events/Public Hearings

Wednesday, Jan 18, 12-2 p.m.EIS Army Corps hearing The public draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Delta Conveyance project is available for public review and comment from December 16, 2022 through March 16, 2023.Draft EIS Public MeetingWebinar Link Passcode: 026045Provide your comments here [email protected] Comments due by March 16, 2023Some talking points from Restore the Delta here.Wednesday, Jan 18, 6-7 p.m.Josh Harder Town Hall on Water Health Plan of San Joaquin MeetingThe congressman and panelists including Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta will also give a brief overview and then we will head to Q&A and a Call-to-Action.RSVP online hereThursday, Jan 19, 10 a.m.State Water Board Voluntary Agreements Science Report WorkshopDate: January 19, 2023, 10:00 a.m.Location: CalEPA Building1001 I Street, Sacramento Watch VA Workshop Virtually  Link to register for Public CommentThursday, Jan 26, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Hell [...]

San Joaquin County Added to FEMA storm disaster relief list

For Immediate Release: 1/10/23Contact:Artie Valencia, Restore the Delta, (209) 345-5880, [email protected], Calif. – After initially being left off the list of California counties eligible for FEMA disaster funding, San Joaquin County and other counties have now been added to the list. San Joaquin County will now be eligible for FEMA Category B measures, which include flood fighting; evacuation and sheltering; medical care and transportation; use and lease of temporary power generators; elimination of threats on public or private property; construction of temporary structures; emergency repairs to prevent further damage; or extracting and clearing water, mud, and other forms of debris.San Joaquin County added to federal storm relief after being left off Monday – Stockton Record 1/10/23 Statement by Artie Valencia, Community Organizer & Government Liaison for Restore [...]

Restore the Delta and River Partners presents “Hell or High Water: How Stockton Can Prepare for the Risk of Flood Disaster” a virtual symposium on January 26th. 

This symposium will be led by panelists from local and state government entities, community leaders, flood experts and esteemed researchers who will provide insight on flood management issues, their solutions and will inform the public on what to expect from the capitol regarding investments in flood protection. This event will cover various topics that will explore Stockton’s Growing Flood Risk, Flood Risk from the Community Perspective, The View from the Capitol, and Planning and Building Solutions. With atmospheric storms on the rise, it is imperative that we talk through potential and projected risks, have transparency on flood infrastructure improvement challenges, and discuss the solutions on the local and state level. Speakers include Congressman Josh Harder, Stockton City Council Womxn Kimberly Warmsley, UCLA [...]

Bay-Delta Flood Resources (January 2023)

Please share with friends and family in the region Delta Flood Ready (Resources for all 5 counties)Check your Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, or Yolo County Office of Emergency Services to learn what alert systems, evacuation plans, and other resources are available in the event of a flood emergency.San Joaquin County Emergency Services SJ Readyhttps://sjready.org/disasters/flooding.html Sign up here for San Joaquin emergency alerts https://member.everbridge.net/397890065268824/login City of Stockton – Emergency Preparednesshttp://www.stocktonca.gov/government/departments/fire/emeStorm.html National Weather Service Stockton forecasthttps://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=37.9537&lon=-121.2905 Evacuation mapshttps://www.sjmap.org/evacmaps/ Sacramento County Emergency Services Prepare your homehttps://sacramentoready.saccounty.gov/Emergencies/Pages/Floods-and-Rain.aspx Storm updateshttps://www.saccounty.gov/news/latest-news/Pages/Stay-Safe-During-Storms.aspx Evacuation mapshttps://waterresources.saccounty.gov/stormready/Pages/Maps—Flood-Scenarios-and-Evacuation-Routes.aspx Sandbag locationshttps://waterresources.saccounty.gov/stormready/Pages/Sandbag-Information.aspx NOAACurrent California watches, warnings, and advisorieshttps://alerts.weather.gov/cap/ca.php?x=1 Emergency Management Radio StationsSan Joaquin County – KVIN 920 AMSacramento – KFBK 1530 AM Bay Area – KQED 89.3 FMNational Weather ServiceFlood Safety flyerhttps://www.weather.gov/media/owlie/FloodSafety-OnePager-11-29-2018.pdf

Legendary California Fishery and Water Quality Activist Bill Jennings Dies at Age 79

“We are deeply saddened to share that California Sportfishing Protection Alliance has released a statement that activist and legendary water leader Bill Jennings, died on December 27, 2022. Bill was a co-founder of Restore the Delta, Board Member Emeritus of our organization, mentor and friend. Bill will be deeply missed.”– Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director, Restore the Delta Read the announcement and story of this amazing life, from The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. Contributions in Bill’s memory can be made to the Stockton-based organization he directed, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, whose mailing address is P.O. Box 1061, Groveland, CA 95321. Donations can also be made on the CSPA website (https://calsport.org/news/).

Civil Rights Complaint Seeks US EPA Oversight of CA State Water Board:  Bay-Delta ecological crisis harms California Tribes and Delta EJ communities

For Immediate Release: 12/16/2022Contact: Brian Smith, 415-320-9384 [email protected] WASHINGTON, D.C./SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Little Manila Rising, Restore the Delta, and Save California Salmon filed a Title VI (Civil Rights) Complaint and a Petition for Rulemaking with the US Environmental Protection Agency. The coalition is represented by the Stanford Environmental Law Clinic. The complaint and petition seek relief for California Tribal nations and disadvantaged Delta communities. In May 2022, this same coalition of groups petitioned the State Water Resources Control Board to update water quality standards for the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary (the “Bay-Delta”) to improve instream flows to save fish species and address harmful algal blooms (HABs) that plague their communities. The State Board refused to act on these requests. The [...]

Restore the Delta Files Comments on Delta Conveyance DEIR;  Lack of climate planning “embarrassing” for DWR

For Immediate Release: December 14, 2022Contact: Tim Stroshane, Restore the Delta, 510-847-7556, [email protected] Stockton, CA – Today, Restore the Delta submitted detailed comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report on the Delta Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnel) to the California Department of Water Resources. Read the comment letter and attachments by Restore the Delta.  The Delta Conveyance Project (Delta Tunnel)The proposed project would construct new water intake facilities on the Sacramento River in the north Delta to fill a single tunnel with diverted freshwater flows. That water would be shipped to large farming operations and water wholesalers south of the Delta. The Delta Conveyance project would divert up to 6,000 cubic feet of water per second. The project is estimated to cost between $16-40 billion and won’t be [...]