Analysis Of The Bay Delta Conservation Plan With Donovan Rose

As previously mentioned, the Colorado River compact was written and signed during abnormally wet climate cycles [4]. When the climate cycled back into the more traditional drier climate during the mid-twentieth century, the river no longer made it to the Gulf of California. While this was not an immediate concern as water levels remained well above the critical elevation, recent global warming trends have played a major role in the decline water supply in the Colorado River Basin. Over the past 15 years, the Colorado River Basin has experienced declining annual precipitation rates and higher temperatures throughout the year, which has cascade into higher evaporative loads from the soil and reservoirs, longer growing seasons that require more water, earlier melting times, all of which have reduced runoff and water supply [10]. In addition to the environmental factors, the differing conservation policies, water costs, and infrastructure planning across the basin state has contributed to water consumption that is above the basin’s renewable supply [14]. States like Nevada enforce strict that limit residents use via strict conservation policies, while states like California and Colorado use their senior water rights to maximum legal consumption and are planning to construct larger dams to

As a historically semi-arid environment, California has also suffered heavily from several environmental impacts as a result of the current drought conditions. The first of these is on its forests. The US Forest Service estimates that 12 million trees have died in the past year due to drought; this combined with the drying of forest floor material greatly increases the flammability of the landscape. The result of this is the numerous devastating wildfires that have swept through the state throughout 2015, costing not only wildlife and habitat but also human property (CBS News, 2015) (Lustgarten, et al., 2015) (Google, 2015). Aside from wildfires, the drought and associated loss of habitat is said to be having a negative effect on both flora and fauna due to their contribution to the spread of West Nile Virus, whilst also threatening populations of geese, ducks, salmon and Joshua trees (Lustgarten, et al., 2015) (Beaudry, 2015). Finally, with groundwater contributing up to 50% of stream flow in drought, there is a worry that over usage near the coast could result in irreversible salinization through the drawing in of salt water (USGS, 2016) (Kasler & Reese, 2015).

The Virginia General Assembly enacted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act in 1988 in an effort to promote “the general welfare of the people of the commonwealth.” The act is effective in 84 different localities throughout Virginia. This act was designed to have a positive impact on water quality of the bay itself, and also water throughout Virginia that feed into the bay. Along with improving water quality, it was designed to still allow reasonable development to continue taking place. The act is designed around the theory that land can be used and developed in a way that minimizes negative impacts on water quality. There is a balance between state and local economic interests and water quality that is implemented by a cooperative partnership between the state and Tidewater local government. This partnership helps reduce and prevent nonpoint source pollution.

Daniel Weintraub in the article , River Restoration Project Offers a Sprinkling of Hope , claims that the San Joaquin River restoration will begin in earnest thanks to changes in federal laws . Weintraub supports his claim by telling us that the new river will flow in parts that have been dry for decades , it will also provide fresh water to the Delta. The author’s purpose is to state that the newly restored river will bring back fish and help all kinds of endangered species. The author writes in an informative to for the readers.

Along with wildlife and agriculture, the area is home to much of California’s energy sources such as natural gas, wind turbines and electrical transmission lines which help power the entire state. However, the most important resource the area provides is water (Austin, 2015). California’s growing population and recent droughts have put such a strain on the precious resource, in turn, putting the delicate ecosystem of the delta in danger. Several species of fish have already gone extinct, while many more are becoming endangered (Austin, 2015). Outdated levee structures, recent drought and the potential for earthquakes have forced California law makers to attempt to secure water supplies for the nearly 40 million residents.

Water is essential to sustain life. It is becoming an ever more valuable resource every year as it becomes scarcer. The general problem is that California is in the midst of a severe drought. The specific problem is that the typical urban consumer has little knowledge of how to reduce their every day consumption of water. Urban usage accounts for approximately 5.7 million acre-feet per year, which equates to approximately 10% of California’s annual water supply in a year with normal precipitation (Burt, 2014). In this previous water year (October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2014) California experienced its driest year in 119 years (Ca.Gov/Water Conditions). Serious action needs to be taken immediately to reduce consumptive usage, especially in the case of urban consumption of water. Shakespeare famously said “I to the world am like a drop of water that in the ocean seeks another drop”. While each individual may believe their actions to be insignificant, in the bigger picture, California needs every drop it can get.

The American River is a prime example of a multiple-use, water-resource system. It is the second biggest tributary to the Sacramento River, a basic part of the San Francisco Inlet/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta framework Its basin covers 2,163 mi2 of the western slope of the central Sierra Nevada (fig. 1) east of Sacramento, California. This complicated system consists of three major parts the North and Middle Forks, the South Fork, and the Lower American River downstream from Folsom Lake (fig. 1). These major forks and Folsom Lake represent a natural and modified system of streams and impoundments designed to meet the recreational and water-supply needs of many Californians.

Climate change impact on the state of California over recent decades has generated many environmental fluctuations with the most critical to the city of Sacramento being air temperature increase. Over the next few decades, the local temperature may rise as much as 2° C, badly taxing the environment to new extremes and possibly resulting in unmet demand substantial increase in water

The Sea faces an uncertain future due to water delivery reductions imposed by the Interstate and Federal Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) of 2003 (Miles et al. 2009). Signed in 2003, the QSA was a deal between the U.S. Department of the Interior, California, and various water agencies (e.g., Imperial Irrigation District (IID) and the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA)) that placed California on a Colorado River water diet while transferring some of the river's flow to San Diego and other cities

California Environmental Water Caucus was formed in 1991 to “achieve comprehensive, sustainable water management solutions for all Californians” stated in their official website, ewccalifornia.org. In their website they currently oppose the Tunnels Project because the construction plans does not allow water to flow “for the health of both the Delta and the Bay”

After closely reading the article California tries one solution to water problems -treating seawater I believe that they should not make ocean water drinkable. First off it is a $1 billion dollar project. Second of all it will cause environmental harm. Lastly there are other alternatives than desalination.

Third, while in the article “River Restoration Project” Weintraub quotes Monty Schmitt , a biologist with the Natural Resource Defense Council, in that “When we’re done, we’ll have a river that can safely convey the flows necessary to restore salmon and other native fish to the river”, McEwen says that “No one even knows whether salmon can survive the lower San Joaquin, which has more suitable temperatures for bass and bluegill.”, showing that the first point of the river plan is a

fregelation because clean water is a major concern of the people in Prince George’s County communities. Slogan, “Save the Bay.”

An article by Hudson (2015) gives recommendations for combatting drought with far longer term orientation, all of which, similar to Ostrander, revolve around the management of water. The article argues that restricting people s water use is a temporary measure. In the long term climate change and supply will dictate that California needs to change the way it manages water, particularly

It’s hard to imagine what life would be like without easily accessible and plentiful water. Humans use water in many different ways for a number of important reasons, so the current drought that’s taking place in California is a big deal. Last year, during an outdoor speech, California governor Jerry Brown made this statement: "Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow. This historic drought demands unprecedented action, therefore, I 'm issuing an executive order mandating substantial water reductions across our state”. California is home to 27 million acres of farmland and 38 million people, so this problem is widespread and could be devastating nationwide. Everyone from farmers in somewhat rural areas, to residents in the middle of huge cities feel the repercussions of the drought. The issue at hand is very complex and multidimensional, but can be thoroughly explained by answering these key questions: