Category Archives: Chris Shutes

CSPA supports cold water for NF Feather River and protections for Lake Almanor

Posted on March 29, 2015 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and American Whitewater (AW) filed joint comments March 26, 2015 on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Water Quality Certification for relicensing of the Upper North Fork Feather Project. The State Water Resources Control Board issued the … Continue reading →

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CSPA Follows up at State Water Board on Economics, Fisheries and Water Deliveries

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

February 26, 2015 – In a supplementary filing to the State Water Board, CSPA submitted supporting information in opposition to weakening Delta flow and water quality standards as requested by the Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation on … Continue reading →

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CSPA Back before the State Water Board

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

February 18, 2015.  The State Water Board held a workshop on February 18, 2015 to hear comments on its February 3 Order that relaxed Delta flow and water quality standards in the Delta.  The Department of Water Resources, Bureau of … Continue reading →

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CSPA Opposes Weakening of Delta Standards

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

February 13, 2015.  The State Water Project and Central Valley Project have doubled down on last year’s disastrous rollback of Delta flow and water quality standards. The Department of Water Resources and the Bureau of Reclamation, operators of the state … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Colleagues Push Back on FERC’s Yuba Analysis

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Chris Shutes

CSPA, as part of the Foothills Water Network coalition, filed comments on February 9 on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the relicensing of the Yuba-Bear and Drum-Spaulding hydroelectric projects, located in Placer and Nevada counties. CSPA first engaged … Continue reading →

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Irrigation Districts Agree to Study Tuolumne River Fish Passage

Posted on November 25, 2014 by Chris Shutes

Modesto Irrigation District and Turlock Irrigation District, owners and operators of the La Grange and Don Pedro hydroelectric projects on the Tuolumne River, agreed November 21 to conduct studies related to passing salmon and steelhead past both projects. The Districts … Continue reading →

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CSPA Dismisses Protest against North San Joaquin Water Conservation District

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Chris Shutes

CSPA has dismissed its 2009 water rights protest against the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District. CSPA’s dismissal will allow the District to use time-restricted funding to complete a groundwater recharge project. North San Joaquin will report annually to CSPA … Continue reading →

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San Francisco Can Do Better Than Just Say No to Tuolumne Flow

Posted on October 11, 2014 by Chris Shutes

Since 2009, representatives of the City and County of San Francisco have consistently advocated against flow increases in the lower Tuolumne River. In proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the State Water Board, San Francisco’s advocates have argued … Continue reading →

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CSPA Works to Make Delta Flow Work

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Chris Shutes

The 2010 Delta Flow Criteria Report announced findings by the State Water Board that additional flow into and out of the Delta was needed to restore fisheries. The Report stated: “In order to preserve the attributes of a natural variable … Continue reading →

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CSPA Proposes High Spring Flows in Merced River

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and a coalition of environmental and fishing groups filed extensive comments and recommendations on July 22 in the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s relicensing of the Merced River Project on the Merced River. The filing makes recommendations for flows in … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Allies Propose Tuolumne Fish Passage Studies

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and a coalition of environmental and fishing groups filed comments July 22 on scoping for the licensing of La Grange Dam and Powerhouse on the Tuolumne River. The Conservation Groups on the filing also submitted study requests asking that … Continue reading →

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CSPA Asks FERC for Tuolumne Fish Passage Studies

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Chris Shutes

The hydropower licensing of the La Grange Project on the Tuolumne River has begun. The licensing was ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) after the Conservation Groups including CSPA and the National Marine Fisheries Service submitted evidence that … Continue reading →

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CSPA Questions El Dorado Plan to Permit Water in Order to Sell It

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Chris Shutes

On March 13, 2014, El Dorado Water and Power Authority issued a Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for what it now calls the “El Dorado Water Reliability Project.”   The project as proposed is a second run at … Continue reading →

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CSPA Protests Attempt to Roll Back 1998 Water Rights Agreement

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Chris Shutes

In 1992, CSPA protested a water rights application by the June Lakes Public Utilities District in Mono County.  In 1998, June Lakes PUD agreed to incorporate  a minimum streamflow requirement of 200 gallons per minute at its diversion on Fern … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Coalition Comment on Draft Yuba River Application

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and allied conservation groups in the Foothills Water Network have filed comments in the relicensing of the Yuba River Development Project.  Yuba County Water Agency’s (YCWA) project is currently in the relicensing process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. … Continue reading →

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CSPA Presses FERC for Tuolumne River Improvements

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and allies have filed comments on major documents in the relicensing of the Don Pedro Project on the Tuolumne River.  In comments on the Updated Study Report and the Draft License Application, CSPA and nine other Conservation Groups dispute … Continue reading →

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Irrigation Districts begin FERC licensing of La Grange Dam

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Chris Shutes

In  a significant victory for CSPA and conservation allies, Turlock Irrigation District (TID) and Modesto Irrigation District (MID) have begun the process to get a hydropower license for TID’s powerhouse at La Grange Dam.  This process may require a study … Continue reading →

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CSPA Opposes Delay in Licensing La Grange

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and eight allied conservation groups have opposed a requested delay in the licensing of the unlicensed La Grange Powerhouse and Dam on the Tuolumne River.  On December 20, owners of the dam, Modesto Irrigation District and Turlock Irrigation District, … Continue reading →

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FERC Rim Dam Trifecta

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Chris Shutes

Operators of hydroelectric projects licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission have filed Draft License Applications for hydroelectric projects on two major Central Valley rim dams.  A FERC notice requiring recommendations, terms and conditions for a third such project is … Continue reading →

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CSPA intervenes in lawsuits against FERC

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Chris Shutes

CSPA and five other organizations have intervened in two lawsuits against the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concerning FERC’s jurisdiction over La Grange Dam on the Tuolumne River.  The lawsuits contest FERC’s July 19, 2013 Order on La Grange, and … Continue reading →

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