ECOS/Habitat 2020 Concerns with Latest Delta Tunnel Plan

Posted on April 20, 2020April 27, 2020 by Alexandra Reagan

On April 17, 2020, the Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) and Habitat 2020 submitted our comments, under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), on the latest iteration of the Delta Conveyance Project.

Our concerns include the following:

Project needs to be defined clearly
Appropriate alternatives must be considered for the project as a whole
Appropriate Alternatives must be considered for infrastructure components
Impact of mechanically assisted flows in the tunnels need to be analyzed
Analysis needs to assume that all Reusable Tunnel Material (RTM) will need to be disposed, rather than repurposed
Accurate transportation impacts must be provided
Impacts to Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge need to be avoided
The full impacts of transmission lines need to be included
Transmission line strikes need to be analyzed for foraging Sandhill Cranes

Click here to read our letter in full.

Photo above by Osha Meserve

Private Wells and Groundwater Sustainability

Posted on April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 by Alexandra Reagan

April 10, 2020

The Environmental Council of Sacramento (ECOS) and Habitat 2020 have submitted a comment letter regarding the subject of significant and unreasonable domestic, shallow agricultural and small system well impact evaluation as part of Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) preparation.

Click here to view the comment letter.

Attachment: NGO letter to California Natural Resource Agency, Department of Water Resources, Cal EPA Special Counsel for Water Policy, and State Water Resources Control Board titled “Reviewing Groundwater Sustainability Plans In Accordance With State Agency Obligations to Consider the Human Right to Drinking Water”, February 10, 2020

How California Can Solve Its Water Crisis With Existing Water

Posted on January 9, 2020January 13, 2020 by Alexandra Reagan

December 26, 2019
By Heather Cooley
ComStock’s Magazine

Californians have made real strides to conserve over the past several decades. San Francisco and Los Angeles use the same amount (or less) water today as they did 30 years ago, despite substantial growth.
…
California has a chance to model what a truly resilient water system looks like, combining nature and technology to make the most of every drop and dollar. Just as we are doing in the energy sector, we should be focusing on no-regrets water projects that make economic and environmental sense.

Click here to read the full article.

(Photo: Pixabay via Pexels)