Save Our Groundwater!

June 6, 2018

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) filed a comment in March of 2017 on the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority’s (SCGA) petition to be deemed an acceptable “alternative plan” under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The purpose of our June 6, 2018 letter is to reiterate our opposition to that petition and to urge the Department of Water Resources (DWR) again to find that SCGA is not in compliance with SGMA.

Some highlights:

groundwater levels continue to fall in the portions of the basin that most affect the important ecological resources of the lower Cosumnes watershed
SCGA continues to make little effort to encourage or facilitate public engagement in its ongoing deliberations
SCGA does no targeted outreach, apparently maintains no list of interested parties, and has a web site that is of very limited usefulness
SCGA needs to recognize that public engagement is a key component of SGMA compliance
SCGA is currently reassessing its rate structure and could adjust its rates to account for costs of both plan preparation and projects/programs to which they have committed and to date ignored

Click here to see the letter in full (PDF).

Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority “South American Sub-basin Alternative”

March 31, 2017

ECOS has submitted the following letter to provide comment, and questions, regarding SCGA’s proposal that its existing Groundwater Management Plan (GMP) be accepted as an adequate Alternative to developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) as required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).

Click here to read our letter (PDF).

Project Location: The figure below shows the location of the South American Subbasin (located in the central portion of Sacramento County), the existing SCGA GMP area, and portions of the adjacent California Department of Water Resources’ (State DWR’s) Bulletin 118 (2003) groundwater subbasins located within Sacramento County.

Source: http://www.scgah2o.org/Pages/South-American-Subbasin-Alternative-Submittal.aspx

Hard work, smart science contribute to salmon’s success on Cosumnes River

December 16, 2016

By Mike Eaton

The Sacramento Bee

The Cosumnes River, the natural jewel on Sacramento’s southern flank, is enjoying its best run of Chinook salmon in years. The count so far is impressive, upward of a thousand. Their journey from the ocean toward the mountains is measured by a device mounted above a fish ladder that counts and photographs fish as they follow their ancient genetic drive.

Mike Eaton [is a long-time member and supporter of ECOS and also] worked for The Nature Conservancy from 1995 through 2007. He now advises the Cosumnes Coalition, a watershed restoration partnership. Contact him at michaelreaton[at]fastmail[dot]com.