December 2019

The cronyism and conflicts behind Trump's attack on California

Nowhere is this blatant sellout to corporate interests more evident than the Department of the Interior's proposal to award a permanent water supply?contract?to the Westlands Water District, the powerful California water agency. This proposal, which threatens endangered species, would siphon away water for huge San Joaquin Valley agribusiness, including industrial growers of almonds, pistachios and other crops.

San Francisco Chronicle, December 9, 2019

Fishing groups sue federal agencies over latest water plan for California

The fracas over California's scarce water supplies will tumble into a San Francisco courtroom after a lawsuit was filed this week claiming the federal government's plan to loosen previous restrictions on water deliveries to farmers is a blueprint for wiping out fish. Environmental and fishing groups sued the the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Monday for allegedly failing to protect chinook salmon, steelhead trout and delta smelt.

San Francisco Chronicle, December 3, 2019

October 2019

Federal officials rejigger rules on water deliveries -- some say at expense of fish

The ongoing fight between environmentalists and agriculture over California's scarce water supplies was renewed Tuesday after the federal government issued a comprehensive plan to boost water "flexibility" that opponents claim is a giveaway to farmers tantamount to killing off imperiled fish.

San Francisco Chronicle, October 22, 2019