Category Archives: Water Quality

CSPA Legal Wins Generate Significant Environmental Mitigation Funds

Posted on June 6, 2019 by Cindy Charles

CSPA is proud to report that our legal work to protect water quality continues to generate monetary settlements that are donated to foundations and other organizations that protect water quality.  While the primary focus of CSPA’s enforcement efforts is to … Continue reading →

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CSPA Submits Comments to EPA on New Selenium Criteria

Posted on April 2, 2019 by Bill Jennings

CSPA and a coalition of environmental, fishing and environmental justice organizations submitted comments to U.S. EPA regarding proposed federal water quality criteria for selenium applicable to California.  A protective water quality criterion for selenium is essential not only for various … Continue reading →

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What the Water Deals Mean, Part 2: Voluntary Settlements Privatize the Public Trust

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Chris Shutes

The holidays are over, and the sales are on.  Karla Nemeth, Director of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) published an op-ed in CALmatters on December 26, 2018 to tell the world “what new water deals mean.”  Tom Birmingham, … Continue reading →

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Delta Tunnels Hearing at State Water Board Drawing to a Close

Posted on December 4, 2018 by Chris Shutes

After more than three years, 104 days of testimony, and over twenty-four thousand pages of hearing transcripts, the hearing before the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) on the proposal to construct two tunnels to convey water under the … Continue reading →

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Irrigation Districts and Trump Administration Bludgeon Federal Fish Agency into Submission

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Chris Shutes

On October 1, 2018, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service wrote a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) retracting its January 29, 2018 flow recommendations for the lower Tuolumne River (see pp. 65-74).  In its October 1 … Continue reading →

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CSPA Sues Stewardship Council Over Revised Delta Plan

Posted on May 29, 2018 by Bill Jennings

On 28 May 2018, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance joined with the California Water Impact Network and AquAlliance (CSPA et al.) in filing a lawsuit against the California Delta Stewardship Council (Council) for amending the state’s Delta Plan to facilitate … Continue reading →

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CSPA Et Al. Sues Over Delta Tunnels Environmental Documents

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Bill Jennings

On 21 August 2017, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and a coalition of environmental groups filed a lawsuit against the Department of Water Resources (DWR) over the inadequacy of its 80,000 plus page Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the WaterFix … Continue reading →

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CSPA Joins in Pattern & Practice Lawsuit: State & Regional Water Boards Fail to Protect Water from Agricultural Pollution

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Cindy Charles

CSPA, in coalition with other environmental and trade organizations, filed a lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board and the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board asserting the Boards have failed to protect clean water from agricultural pollution. … Continue reading →

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CSPA Files For Summary Judgment Against State Water Board

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Bill Jennings

On 27 July 2017, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, joined by the California Water Impact Network and AquAlliance, filed a motion for summary judgment in our pattern and practice and public trust lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board. … Continue reading →

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Opposing Senate Bill AB 623 – Needs Further Refinement to Ensure Prevention of Further Water Pollution

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Cindy Charles

CSPA joined with other environmental groups in submitting a letter opposing SB 623 unless the bill is significantly amended.   We strongly support the stated goals of SB 623 – The “Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund Bill” –  to provide … Continue reading →

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CSPA, Coalition Submits Multiple Comments on Stewardship Council’s Revision of the Delta Plan

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Bill Jennings

The Delta Stewardship Council is in the process of revising the Delta Plan and related environmental documents following the successful litigation by CSPA and others in vacating the previous Plan. Unfortunately, the Council is again ignoring the strict requirements for … Continue reading →

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CSPA Joins With Others in Protesting Westland’s Lobbyist Appointment as Deputy Secretary of Interior

Posted on June 5, 2017 by Bill Jennings

The Trump Administration has appointed David Bernhardt as Deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior. Mr. Bernhardt was a former Interior Solicitor and has been a lobbyist for Westlands Water District. He is a registered lobbyist for Westlands and a … Continue reading →

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CSPA Submits Comments on Amendments to Central Valley Water Quality Control Plan

Posted on April 14, 2017 by Bill Jennings

On 14 April 2017, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) submitted extensive comments on proposed amendments to the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (Regional Board) Water Quality Control Plan for the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys (Basin Plan). … Continue reading →

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CSPA Submits Rebuttal Testimony in Part I of WaterFix Hearing

Posted on April 6, 2017 by Bill Jennings

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance et al. (CSPA, CWIN and AquAlliance) joined the County of San Joaquin and Local Agencies of the North Delta in submitting rebuttal testimony in Part I of the State Water Resource Control Board’s (SWRCB) evidentiary … Continue reading →

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CSPA Joins Broad National Coalition to Oppose Federal Legislation to Reduce Protection Against Invasive Species

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Bill Jennings

CSPA has joined with more than seventy-five other organizations from around the nation to oppose the Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act that would expose our nation’s water to the spread of invasive aquatic species discharged by foreign shipping vessels. The … Continue reading →

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PG&E Withdraws License Application on Butte Creek: Future of Spring-Run Salmon Uncertain

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Chris Shutes

By Chris Shutes (CSPA) and Dave Steindorf (American Whitewater) In a surprise move, PG&E announced on February 2, 2017 that it was withdrawing its application to relicense the DeSabla – Centerville Hydroelectric Project on Butte Creek and the West Branch … Continue reading →

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Sites Reservoir: Many Promises, Many Problems

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Chris Shutes

On November 17, 2016, CSPA’s Water Rights Advocate Chris Shutes joined a panel discussion on the proposed Sites Reservoir.  The panel was held at a conference in Chico produced by the north state non-profit AquAlliance, and also featured Jim Watson … Continue reading →

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CSPA Submits Testimony and Exhibits for State Water Board Hearings on Delta Tunnels

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Bill Jennings

CSPA is a formal protestant and party of record in the continuing battle over the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) scheme to construct twin tunnels to divert the Sacramento River under the Delta to … Continue reading →

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California Cannot Wait for Water Quality Protections Any Longer

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Denise Zitnik

CSPA and more than 150 other environmental, fishing, environmental justice and tribal organizations have submitted two letters regarding the supposed three-year update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan. A letter to the State Water Resources Control Board urges the … Continue reading →

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What Caused the Impending Extinction of Delta Smelt?

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Chris Shutes

CSPA’s fisheries biologist Tom Cannon gave a presentation entitled “Contributing Cause of Smelt Decline: Water Exports” at a symposium on March 29, 2016 at UC Davis. The theme of the conference, sponsored by the Delta Stewardship Council, was: “Delta and … Continue reading →

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