For Release: August 27, 2015 Contact: Brian Smith, 415-320-9384, [email protected] \ Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta, 209-479-2053 [email protected], Twitter: @RestoretheDelta \ Osha Merserve, Delta Water Rights attorney, 916-425-9914 DELTA TUNNELS State and Feds Steamroll Ahead Despite Open Public Comment Period “Change Petition” Filed for New Diversion Points from Sacramento River   Sacramento, CA – The California Department of Water Resources and the United States Bureau of Reclamation today announced that they have jointly submitted permit requests to add three additional points of water diversion from the Sacramento River to supply the State Water Project and Central Valley Project. Read the petition here. The three intakes would each have a capacity of 3,000 cubic feet per second. That potential 9,000cfs is a shocking amount of water exports considering that TODAY, the Sacramento is [...]

For Immediate Release: 7/23/15   Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta, (209) 479-2053, [email protected], @RestoretheDelta Tim Stroshane, Policy Analyst, Restore the Delta (510) 847-7556 [email protected] Restore the Delta Files Protest Over State Water Board’s Changes to Delta Outflows Board is picking winners and losers in a drought Sacramento – Restore the Delta has filed a protest and request for consideration with the State Water Resources Control Board over its prior “Temporary Urgent Change Petitions” regarding water exports, Delta outflows, and water quality standards for the SF Bay-Delta estuary during the drought.   In its protest, RTD bases its request in three key areas: the existing Temporary Urgency Change Petition does not serve the public interest, is contrary to law, and [...]

For Immediate Release: Wednesday 7/8/15 Contact: Brian Smith, 415/320-9384, [email protected] Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, 209/479-2053 [email protected] DELTA TUNNELS: New Plan, New EIR, Same Old Water GrabThree government actions imperil the largest estuary on the West Coast Listen to our teleconference: Sacramento, CA – Today, Restore the Delta and a coalition of advocates for the San Francisco Bay-Delta held a teleconference to preview the EIR/EIS for the revised Delta Tunnels project (formerly known as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan) to be released on Friday, July 10. The old plan failed to meet federal standards under the Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act, or to pencil out for water users. Under the leadership of Governor Brown’s administration, and public relations efforts like Californians [...]

Overly Optimistic By Tim Stroshane “Relax”—Things Will be OK | It Gets Worse | But Wait, There’s More | Gentlemen’s Agreement Mismanagement of the state and federal water projects in California’s Central Valley during the state’s four-year drought was on full display at a June 24th workshop convened by the State Water Resources Control Board in Sacramento. Extinction of winter- and spring-run Chinook salmon and Delta smelt and the threat of dead pool supplies at Folsom Lake for urban and suburban water users are likely legacies of state and federal drought actions in 2015. But by gum, the State Water Board will have also ensured exports from the Delta through it all. Much the way Congress and federal regulators gave [...]

“History never really says goodbye. History says, ‘See you later.” – Eduardo Galeano Articles • Gifted RTD alums • Speaking of the CA Water Fix…The Fix Is In Gifted RTD alums Restore the Delta, throughout its nine-year history, has been fortunate to work with brilliant talented people from every age and background – from Delta farmer Alex Hildebrand to local activist Javier Padilla Reyes; from river advocate Jerry Cadagan to League of Women Voters water leader Jane Wagner-Tyack; from fishing advocate Corey Cate to campaign assistant Jessica Iniguez. Some of our friends have passed from this world; some have retired and taken breaks from extreme public advocacy; some have left to further their education. As it has been with those [...]

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 24, 2015 Contact: Brian Smith 415/320-9384; [email protected] Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 [email protected]; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta;  Bill Jennings 209/464-5067 [email protected];   Native Fish Species Near Extinction; State Water Resources Control Board Violated Prohibition Against Unreasonable Use of Water   Sacramento, CA- Restore the Delta (RTD), the leading opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build massive underground water tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom sustainable farms, salmon and other Pacific fisheries, today, along with with the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance made detailed comments at the State Water Resources Control Board workshop on drought management of the Delta and the State’s water system. Both organizations charge that the SWRCB is violating key laws in its management of the [...]

For Immediate Release: Thursday, June 18, 2015 Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; [email protected]; Twitter: @shopcraft; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 [email protected]; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta; Bill Jennings, CSPA, 209-464-5067 Tunnels Opponents: State Water Contractors Not Satisfied Until They Grab Every Last Drop Out of Delta Watershed Salmon & Other Fisheries Near Extinction, Delta Farmers Reduce Water Use by 25%, State Water Contractors Say It’s Not Enough   <span style="font-size:16px"Sacramento, CA – Restore the Delta (RTD), the leading opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build massive underground water tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom sustainable farms, salmon and other Pacific fisheries, today responded to the Metropolitan Water District and the State Water Contractor’s complaint against the State Water Resources Control Board that Delta farmers [...]

“When we lack the ability to talk back to entities that are culturally and politically powerful, the very foundations of free speech and democratic society are called into question.” – Naomi Klein Articles • He Did It For Love • Drought and the False River Blues —- The TUCP Orders and System Mismanagement —- Barriers to Salt He Did It For Love By Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla It is with great sadness that Restore the Delta shares with our followers the recent passing of our friend and fellow advocate Jerry Cadagan. In addition to providing a number of us with daily media clips that included brilliant commentary and great wit, Jerry was our friend. He always had an encouraging word when we [...]

Press Release 4 June 2015 For Immediate Release Document: Our complaint for declaratory & injunctive relief. Contact:   Bill Jennings, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance: 209-464-5067; cell 209-                  938-9053; email, [email protected]                  Andrew Packard, Law Offices of Andrew Packard; 707-763-7227                  Mike Lozeau, Lozeau/Drury LLP: 510-836-4200                  Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta; 209-479-2053   Groups Sue Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, State Water Board and DWR to Prevent Fishery Extinctions Captive Regulatory Agencies Unable to Enforce and Comply with Laws Protecting Fisheries and Water Quality   On 3 June 2015, The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), California Water Impact Network (C-WIN), AquAlliance and Restore the Delta (RTD), collectively “Petitioners,” filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief, under the Administrative [...]