Category Archives: Authors

Report on Oroville Describes Urgent Dam Safety and Flood Lessons

Posted on September 19, 2017 by Chris Shutes

Much of California’s dam and flood infrastructure is obsolete and falling apart.  It needs to be fixed now, says a report entitled “The Oroville Dam Spillway Incident and Lessons from the Feather River Basin.”  The authors of report are from … Continue reading →

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CSPA Et Al. Challenges Legality of WaterFix Project Financing

Posted on September 15, 2017 by Bill Jennings

On 13 September 2017, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, California Water Impact Network, AquAlliance and the California Indian Water Commission challenged the legality of proposed bonds that will be used to pay for the construction of the Department of Water … Continue reading →

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CSPA and Coalition Recommend Flows and Habitat for Lower Yuba River

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Chris Shutes

In a hundred-plus page filing with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on August 25, 2017, CSPA and other members of Foothills Water Network coalition filed recommendations for improving flow and habitat conditions in the lower Yuba River.  The filing … Continue reading →

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Oroville Dam Relicensing – Letter to FERC Requests Delay in New License

Posted on August 28, 2017 by Chris Shutes

CSPA has joined a broad-based ad hoc coalition of entities in an August 8, 2017 letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that requests a delay in the issuance of a new hydropower license for the Oroville Facilities Project.  … 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 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 →

Posted in Bill Jennings, California Delta, Fisheries, No Tunnels Campaign, Press Release, State Board Bay-Delta Standards, Water Quality | Comments Off on CSPA Et Al. Sues Over Delta Tunnels Environmental Documents

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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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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CSPA comments on scoping for relicensing the Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Chris Shutes

CSPA presented oral scoping comments on June 28, 2017 for the relicensing of the Potter Valley Project in Mendocino and Lake counties.  The small 1900’s-era hydroelectric project generates power with water that is piped from the upper mainstem Eel River … Continue reading →

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PG&E Completes Recreation Access Site on NF Feather River

Posted on June 28, 2017 by Chris Shutes

On June 13, 2017, PG&E and a group of stakeholders including CSPA dedicated the Rock Creek Bench recreation access and parking area just downstream of Rock Creek Dam on the North Fork Feather River.  The facility will provide safe access … 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 Talks Hydropower Relicensing at Water Agency Conference

Posted on May 12, 2017 by Chris Shutes

Chris Shutes, CSPA’s hydropower advocate, gave a presentation about hydropower relicensing at the conference of the Association of California Water Agencies on May 10, 2017, in Monterey.  He appeared as part of a panel that included the relicensing leads for … Continue reading →

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CSPA, FOR and Others Request Release of Information and Public Involvement at Oroville

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Chris Shutes

CSPA joined Friends of the River and three other groups in an April 19, 2017 clarification and public process request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) concerning repairs of the damaged spillway works at Oroville Reservoir.  The letter asks … 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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Broad Coalition Says Hit the Brakes on Centennial Dam

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Chris Shutes

CSPA has joined a broad coalition in recommending that the Army Corps of Engineers delay work on an Environmental Impact Statement for Centennial Dam, proposed for construction by Nevada Irrigation District on the Bear River near Colfax.  A Comment Letter … 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 →

Posted in Bay Delta Conservation Plan, Bill Jennings, California Delta, Fisheries, No Tunnels Campaign, State Board Bay-Delta Standards, Water Quality, Water Rights | Comments Off on CSPA Submits Rebuttal Testimony in Part I of WaterFix Hearing

Chris Shutes Named “Restorationist of the Year”

Posted on April 3, 2017 by Chris Shutes

The Salmonid Restoration Federation (https://www.calsalmon.org/) named Chris Shutes – me – “Restorationist of the Year” on the concluding day of its 2017 annual conference in Davis.  It is recognition that I did not expect and that I value very greatly. … Continue reading →

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