Author Archives: Sarah Vardaro

CSPA Submits Scoping Comments on Water Rights Application 29835 – Mokelumne River Conjunctive Use Program

Posted on July 30, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On July 30, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and The Center for Biological Diversity (The Center) submitted public scoping comments on Water Rights Application 29835 (Application 29835) and the associated Mokelumne River Conjunctive Use Program (MICUP). Public scoping comments … Continue reading →

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Merced ID Continues its Attempts to Avoid Compliance with the Clean Water Act and CEQA

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On June 27, 2024, CSPA and allies submitted a letter to Merced Irrigation District (Merced ID). The letter was written in response to Merced ID’s recent Notice of Intent (NOI) to rely on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) produced by … Continue reading →

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CSPA Intervenes in Litigation on Drum-Spaulding and Yuba-Bear Hydroelectric Projects

Posted on May 25, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On May 7, 2024, CSPA and its allies intervened in the ongoing case of Nevada Irrigation District (NID) versus the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). In the case before the United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, NID … Continue reading →

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California Public Utilities Commission Denies PG&E Application for Transfer of Assets: A Big Win for CSPA and California Hydropower Reform Coalition

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On May 9, 2024, the California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) denied an application for transfer of assets filed by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and its subsidiary, Pacific Generation. This decision is a win for the California Hydropower Reform … Continue reading →

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State Board’s Proposed Order Set to Expedite and Strengthen Water Quality Certifications for Hydroelectric Projects

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On April 9, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and other fishing and environmental advocacy groups submitted a response to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) supporting its recent decision to set aside water quality certifications for five … Continue reading →

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Newsom’s 2023 California Water Plan: Supplying Imaginary Water to Meet an Insatiable Demand

Posted on April 23, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On April 2, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the release of the 2023 update of the California Water Plan (Water Plan). Governor Newsom announced the Water Plan at a press conference held at Phillips Station in the high Sierra, just … Continue reading →

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Superior Court Upholds State Board’s Plan to Increase Flows on San Joaquin River but Denies Claims Flows are Inadequate to Protect Fish

Posted on March 30, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

In December 2018 the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) adopted updates to the Bay-Delta Plan (Plan) in accordance with its obligations under the Porter-Cologne Act. The updated Plan included flow objectives intended to restore and protect Chinook salmon … Continue reading →

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Memorial for Bill Jennings: April 7, 2024

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

Join CSPA in celebrating the life and achievements of Bill Jennings, our longtime leader who passed away on December 27, 2022. Bill was chairman of CSPA’s board of directors since 1988 and its executive director since 2005. Bill’s unique legacy … Continue reading →

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Department of Water Resources Gets a Free Pass: CSPA Asks State Water Resources Control Board to Follow its Own Rules

Posted on March 20, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On March 15, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) and allies submitted a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) requesting that it resolve the protests of CSPA and others of a petition for extension of time … Continue reading →

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Show Time: DWR Files Petition to Change Water Rights for Delta Tunnel Despite Pending Lawsuit and Widespread Opposition

Posted on March 8, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On February 22, 2024, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) submitted a water rights petition for change in point of diversion to the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) for the Delta Conveyance Project also known as the Delta … Continue reading →

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CSPA Submits Comments on Proposed Bay-Delta Plan Update

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Sarah Vardaro

On Friday, January 19, 2024, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and AquAlliance submitted comments on the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Board’s) proposed changes to the Bay-Delta Plan. The State Board proposed these changes in a Draft Staff Report (Report) … Continue reading →

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The Delta Conveyance Project: Either We Survive Together or Perish Together

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Sarah Vardaro

On December 8th, 2023, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) issued the Final Environmental Impact Report (Final EIR) for its proposed Delta Conveyance Project, informally called the Delta tunnel. During the required comment period following DWR’s release of its Draft … Continue reading →

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California’s White Sturgeon: An Endangered Species within the Foreseeable Future

Posted on December 16, 2023 by Sarah Vardaro

On November 30th, 2023, San Francisco Baykeeper, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), the Bay Institute, and Restore the Delta petitioned the California Fish and Game Commission to list the state’s white sturgeon as “threatened” under the California Endangered Species Act. … Continue reading →

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Nitrate Pollution: One Place Environmental Justice and Environmental Advocacy Meet

Posted on December 1, 2023 by Sarah Vardaro

In 2021, the Central Coast Regional Water Board (Regional Board) adopted Agricultural Order 4.0. This order contained measures to reduce nitrate pollution in groundwater caused by the agricultural sector. Specifically, Order 4.0 set numeric limits to regulate the amount of … Continue reading →

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Sites Reservoir: Fast-Tracking and Greenwashing a Huge Water Development

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Sarah Vardaro

In the summer of 2023, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill 149 into law. This bill gave the Governor the power to fast-track infrastructure projects deemed beneficial to the state of California’s bid to create a climate-resilient future. On November 6th, … Continue reading →

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