Category Archives: State Board Bay-Delta Standards

State Water Board Postpones Decision on San Joaquin River Flows

“Let’s go.” “We can’t.” “Why not?” “We’re waiting for Godot.” ― Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot In response to a joint written request[1] from Governor Brown and incoming Governor Gavin Newsom, the State Water Resources Control Board on November 7, … Continue reading

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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Unanimously Supports Update of Bay-Delta Plan

In an 11-0 vote on October 30, 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution supporting the State Water Resources Control Board’s immediate update of the San Joaquin Flow portion of the Bay-Delta Plan.  Introduced by Supervisor Aaron … Continue reading

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Conservation Groups Submit Complete Flow Recommendation for Tuolumne River

CSPA and nine other Conservation Groups filed extensive comments and recommendations January 29, 2018 for flow requirements and non-flow measures for the lower Tuolumne River.    The filing is an important milestone in the multi-year licensing process of the Don Pedro … Continue reading

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CSPA Et Al. Sues Over Delta Tunnels Environmental Documents

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 Files For Summary Judgment Against State Water Board

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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CSPA Submits Rebuttal Testimony in Part I of WaterFix Hearing

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 Comments on San Joaquin River Flow and Salinity

CSPA filed extensive comments March 17, 2017 on the State Water Board’s plan for improving flows in the lower San Joaquin River and for allowing more salinity in the southern Delta during the growing season. CSPA supports the Board’s approach … Continue reading

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CSPA Testifies on San Joaquin River Flow and South Delta Salinity

On December 16, 2016, CSPA’s Bill Jennings and Chris Shutes made presentations to the State Water Board regarding the need to increase flow from the San Joaquin River into the Delta.  The hearings held in Stockton are part of Phase … Continue reading

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

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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CSPA Objects to Reduced San Joaquin River Flows

CSPA and allied groups California Water Impact Network and AquAlliance have filed an Objection to an April 19, 2016 Order that allows reductions of April-June flows in the lower San Joaquin River from the flows required in Water Rights Decision … Continue reading

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California Cannot Wait for Water Quality Protections Any Longer

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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CSPA Says “NO” to Privatizing the Public Trust

Oral Comments of Chris Shutes, CSPA Water Rights Advocate, to the State Water Resources Control Board, April 5, 2016. Item 9: 2016 Operation of New Melones Reservoir on the Stanislaus River [based on notes as read; exact delivery was slightly … Continue reading

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CSPA Formally Protests Delta Tunnels to State Water Board

On 5 January 2016, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) filed a formal protest of the WaterFix Project petition to change the point of diversion for the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP) WaterFix Project that was … Continue reading

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CSPA et al. Assails Water Board’s Delta Tunnel Hearing Process

On 24 November 2015, CSPA joined Friends of the River, Restore the Delta and the Environmental Water Caucus in sending a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board regarding the hearing process with respect to the petition by the … Continue reading

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CSPA and Coalition Urges the SWRCB Implement Sustainable Flow Requirements

On October 26, 2015 CSPA, as part of a broad coalition of 87 environmental, fishing, and tribal organizations, submitted a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) supporting the use of a percentage of unimpaired flow as the … Continue reading

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Delta Independent Science Board Finds Current Draft of “Water Fix” Environmental Documents Incomplete and Vague

On September 30, 2015 the Delta Independent Science Board released its review of the BDCP/ Water Fix’s partially Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report and Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Overall, the Delta Independent Science Board found the document unsatisfactory for … Continue reading

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CSPA Files Amended Lawsuit Against State Water Board

On 16 September 2015, attorneys for CSPA, CWIN and AquAlliance filed an amended lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) seeking declaratory and injunctive relief invalidating the SWRCB’s pattern and practice policy of weakening water quality protection standards … Continue reading

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CSPA Sues State Water Board to Prevent Fish Extinctions

On 4 August 2015, The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA), California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) and AquAlliance, collectively “Petitioners,” filed a lawsuit against the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) seeking declaratory and injunctive relief and a writ … Continue reading

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CSPA Protests Water Board’s Serial Weakening of Delta Fish Protection Standards

On 3 August 2015, CSPA filed a protest, objection and petition for reconsideration of the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Board) issuance of a 3 July 2015 Order further weakening Bay-Delta water quality and flow standards protecting fish and … Continue reading

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CSPA Files Complaint Against SWRCB, USBR, DWR for Violations During Current Drought

On Tuesday, July 21 CSPA filed a complaint with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) against the SWRCB, US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), and California Department of Water Resources (DWR) alleging a multitude of serious water quality violations during … Continue reading

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