Author Archives: Cindy Charles

Foothills Network Files for Rehearing of 401 Waiver on Nevada Irrigation District’s Yuba-Bear Project

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Cindy Charles

By Cindy Charles CSPA and allies in the Foothills Water Network (Network) filed a Request for Rehearing on an “Order on Waiver of Water Quality Certification” for Nevada Irrigation District’s (NID) Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Project.  The Network filed the Request with … Continue reading →

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Letter Sent to Governor – Preserve the Application of the Clean Water Act to California’s Hydroelectric Projects

Posted on May 17, 2020 by Cindy Charles

By Cindy Charles CSPA, as a leading member of a coalition of environmental and fishing organizations, sent a joint letter to Governor Newsom on May 11, 2020 urging his Administration to prioritize action on an urgent threat to California’s rivers, … Continue reading →

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Risky Business Again – Merced Irrigation District Selling Water Out of District in Critically Dry Year

Posted on May 7, 2020 by Cindy Charles

By Cindy Charles In March, Merced Irrigation District (Merced ID) filed a petition with the CA State Water Board (Board) for a temporary change to transfer up to 45,000 acre-feet of water to out-of-district water agencies[1].  Merced ID plans to … Continue reading →

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We’ve Waited Long Enough – It’s Time to Restart the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan

Posted on January 25, 2020 by Cindy Charles

CSPA, as part of a coalition of environmental, fishing, tribal and environmental justice groups and businesses, sent a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board on January 17, 2020 urging the Board to move forward on the update of … Continue reading →

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A Fresh Disaster for Fish – Bureau of Reclamation’s New Plan for Long-Term Operations of the CVP and SWP Water Export Business

Posted on September 17, 2019 by Cindy Charles

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, California Water Impact Network and AquAlliance submitted joint comments September 3, 2019 on the Bureau of Reclamation’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Long-Term Operations of the Central Valley Project and the California State … Continue reading →

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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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WaterFix: Down One Tunnel, in Holding Pattern. What’s Next??

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Cindy Charles

In his State of the State address on February 12, 2019, newly elected Governor Gavin Newsom announced he didn’t support the “California WaterFix” as a two-tunnel project, and that he favored downsizing it to just one tunnel.  What does this … Continue reading →

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Draft EIS for Yuba River Development Project Omits Key Recommendations to Improve the Lower Yuba River

Posted on August 7, 2018 by Cindy Charles

The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, as a member of the Foothills Water Network (FWN), submitted 74 pages of comments on July 30, 2018 to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the relicensing … Continue reading →

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Tuolumne River Salmon and Steelhead’s Future Under Serious Political Attack

Posted on May 27, 2018 by Cindy Charles

Last week, San Joaquin Valley Republican Congressman Valadao attached an amendment to the appropriations bill for the Department of Commerce that would prohibit the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) from participation in the licensing proceedings of the Don Pedro and … Continue reading →

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CSPA Presents at Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference

Posted on April 24, 2018 by Cindy Charles

Chris Shutes, CSPA’s FERC Projects Director and Water Rights Advocate, gave a presentation at the 36th Annual Salmonid Restoration Federation Conference recently held in Eureka, CA.  The SRF Conference is the largest salmon restoration conference in California and brings together … Continue reading →

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CSPA Comments on Sites Reservoir Project

Posted on January 28, 2018 by Cindy Charles

CSPA, AquAlliance and the California Water Impact Network submitted comments on January 12, 2018 on the proposed Sites Reservoir Draft Environmental Impact Report/Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/DEIS).  The proposed Sites Project would create a $4 billion reservoir outside of Maxwell, … Continue reading →

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Potter Valley Project Dam Relicensing – Second Comment Letter Submitted to FERC Urging Dam Safety Considerations

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Cindy Charles

In early November, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Friends of the River and American Whitewater filed a comment letter with FERC (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) in response to their Scoping Document 2 for the Potter Valley Project. The letter calls for … Continue reading →

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Potter Valley Project Dam Relicensing Begins

Posted on August 26, 2017 by Cindy Charles

CSPA, along with several other Conservation Groups[1], submitted extensive comments in early August to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in the just-initiated relicensing of two PG&E dams on the mainstem Eel River.  Cape Horn Dam (built 1908) and Scott … 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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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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Opposing AB 313 – Negatively Effects State Water Control Board Water Rights Hearings

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Cindy Charles

On July 5th, CSPA joined with other environmental organizations in opposing AB 313 which would impede the orderly administration of water rights in California. It threatens water rights holders, California’s rivers and fisheries and the communities and jobs that depend … Continue reading →

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