Category Archives: Water Quality

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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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 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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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 →

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CSPA Joins Broad National Coalition to Oppose Federal Legislation to Reduce Protection Against Invasive Species

Posted on April 1, 2017 by Bill Jennings

CSPA has joined with more than seventy-five other organizations from around the nation to oppose the Commercial Vessel Incidental Discharge Act that would expose our nation’s water to the spread of invasive aquatic species discharged by foreign shipping vessels. The … Continue reading →

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PG&E Withdraws License Application on Butte Creek: Future of Spring-Run Salmon Uncertain

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Chris Shutes

By Chris Shutes (CSPA) and Dave Steindorf (American Whitewater) In a surprise move, PG&E announced on February 2, 2017 that it was withdrawing its application to relicense the DeSabla – Centerville Hydroelectric Project on Butte Creek and the West Branch … Continue reading →

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Sites Reservoir: Many Promises, Many Problems

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Chris Shutes

On November 17, 2016, CSPA’s Water Rights Advocate Chris Shutes joined a panel discussion on the proposed Sites Reservoir.  The panel was held at a conference in Chico produced by the north state non-profit AquAlliance, and also featured Jim Watson … Continue reading →

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

Posted on September 12, 2016 by Bill Jennings

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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California Cannot Wait for Water Quality Protections Any Longer

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Denise Zitnik

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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What Caused the Impending Extinction of Delta Smelt?

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Chris Shutes

CSPA’s fisheries biologist Tom Cannon gave a presentation entitled “Contributing Cause of Smelt Decline: Water Exports” at a symposium on March 29, 2016 at UC Davis. The theme of the conference, sponsored by the Delta Stewardship Council, was: “Delta and … Continue reading →

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CSPA Persists in Challenging the Broken Delta Tunnels Project

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Denise Zitnik

Following a petition by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) requesting to further delay the “Change in Point of Diversion” hearings, CSPA and a broad collation of environmental and water agency groups has … Continue reading →

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CSPA Formally Protests Delta Tunnels to State Water Board

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Bill Jennings

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

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Bill Jennings

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

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

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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CSPA Comments to Army Corps on Pending Water Fix Permits

Posted on November 11, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

On November 8, 2015 CSPA, CWIN, and AquAlliance submitted comments to the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 and River and Harbors Act (RHA) Section 10 permits recently requested for the California Water Fix … Continue reading →

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CSPA’s Submits Comments at the Conclusion of the Water Fix’s RDEIR/SDEIS Public Comment Period

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

On October 30, 2015 the public comment period for the Recirculated Draft EIR/Supplemental Draft EIS for Bay Delta Conservation Plan/California WaterFix (RDEIR/SDEIS) ended. CSPA submitted comments with CWIN and AquAlliance, and in a separate effort worked closely with the Environmental … Continue reading →

Posted in Bay Delta Conservation Plan, California Delta, Denise Zitnik, Fisheries, Water Quality | 1 Comment

Press Release: Governor Signs New Law to Protect Rivers and Fisheries from Gold Mining

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

On October 9, 2015, CSPA and a broad coalition of environmental, fishing, and tribal groups secured a victory for fisheries in the long fight against suction dredging with the signing of Senate Bill 637. The new law requires that all … Continue reading →

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

Posted on October 13, 2015 by Denise Zitnik

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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