water quality standards

Restore the Delta Files Protest Over State Water Board’s Changes to Delta Outflows

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 [...]

10 Questions Delta Tunnels Boosters Don’t Want Asked

Contact: Brian Smith 415-320-9384 [email protected]; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209-479-2053 [email protected] Top Ten Questions Delta Tunnels Boosters Don’t Want You to Ask 1. How will construction of the tunnels over a fourteen-year period help with drought? 2. Will the state conduct a full cost-benefit analysis of the project that includes the value of freshwater to the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary? 3. How much water is available for export through the tunnels in a drought after prior water rights and public trust needs are met? And if there isn’t any, how often will the tunnels be dry? 4. How does California Water Fix help reduce reliance on Delta imports as mandated by the 2009 Delta Reform Act? 5. The State Water Resources Control [...]

DELTA TUNNELS: New Plan, New EIR, Same Old Water Grab

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 [...]

Action Alert: Oppose H.R. 2898, Bill Will Override Delta & Wildlife Protections

Dear Restore the Delta friends,   We need you to express your opposition to the federal drought bill, H.R. 2898, the Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015, by House Rep. David Valadao, a congressman who represents Big Ag in the Central Valley desert.   Please call your senator ASAP – especially Senator Barbara Boxer. If you already called, please continue to call your Senator until this bill dies. Thank you for your dedication.   H.R. 2898 will harm west coast salmon and fisheries, override key environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act, and will ruin Delta water quality for all Bay-Delta users (farmers, drinking water, native fish, and wildlife refuges).   This House bill is fast tracked [...]

CA Water Export Pumps Have Run Every Day During Drought

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 [...]

State Water Contractors Not Satisfied Until They Grab Every Last Drop Out of Delta Watershed

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 [...]

Delta Flows: June 9, 2015

“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 [...]

Restore the Delta & Partners Sue Over Drought Mismanagement

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 [...]

Water Export Pumps Have Run Every Single Day During Drought

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, June 3, 2015  Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; [email protected]; Twitter: @shopcraft;  Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 [email protected]; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta Tunnels Opponents: Water Export Pumps Have Run Every Single Day During Drought Salmon & Other Fisheries Near Extinction, Federal Hearing Shuts Out Delta Farmers 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 testimony given by San Joaquin Valley farm advocates at the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on the status of drought conditions throughout the western United States, and also at the Drought Update given to the California State [...]

Our responses to Gov. Brown on drought barriers and renaming of “tunnels” to “pipes”

For Immediate Release: Friday, May 29, 2015  Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; [email protected]; Twitter: @shopcraft;  Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 [email protected]; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta • Media Release #1: Tunnels Opponents Respond to Gov. Brown • Media Release #2: Tunnels Opponents Criticize Drought Barriers Tunnels Opponents Respond to Gov. Brown Sacramento, CA- Restore the Delta (RTD) and other 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 Gov. Brown’s continued advocacy of his tunnels. “In addressing Sacramento business leaders yesterday, Governor Brown said that he is now going to call the Delta tunnels, pipes, because pipes are more popular. His reference here to pipes, and his [...]