Smelt Delta Ruling

Case Study: Sacramento/SF Delta Ruling on the Delta SMELT

Please jot down notes to enable you to discuss the question you are exploring You do not need to type your answers, but I will check off your notes for participation credit.

ALL GROUPS-- Please read this FIRST (its very short) http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/01/MNPCRT83Q.DTL

Optional Video on Smelt (notice this film relates to the May ruling described above) http://climate.weather.com/video/?ref=7c4e6a0713ba05b6a2f351038b840d5c8467e4fc

Group A (Elyse, Riley, Joel): Association of California Water Agencies http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp? SectionID=94&SubSectionID=801&ArticleID=34948&TM=43863.2 -Be prepared to discuss why the smelt ruling does NOT represent a sound/logical economical, or ecological solution (i.e. pretend to oppose the ruling, even if you believe in it.) http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/09/the_latest_in_c.html

- Kate Pool (Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council) claims that saving the smelt will “protect the delta and clean drinking water.” Do you think this is true? - IF you want to find out more information: http://www.acwa.com/

Group B (Jasmine, Carisa, Michael D.): Environmentalists/fishermen

From “all groups” article (at top of page)

- Be prepared to discuss why the smelt ruling represents a sound/logical economical, or ecological solution (i.e. pretend to be in favor of the ruling, even if you are not); try to think of specific examples (consider within, and downstream of the Sacramento Delta.. such as http://www.sfbayjv.org/news.html#Longfin)

- Consider the last line of the article, but replace “global warming” with ”planetary alteration.” Think of specific ways in which this ruling could, in fact, help Californians to move toward sustainability. Consider if/how the outcome different than a tax on water (or a removal of a water subsidy)? Read: http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/09/the_latest_in_c.html

- Kate Pool (Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council) claims that saving the smelt will “protect the delta and clean drinking water.” Do you think this is true? Group C (Shawn C., Nicole, Nathan): Pretend you are Governor Schwarzenneger.. Skim the following articles: http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/7320/ http://www.cfbf.com/agalert/AgAlertStory.cfm? ID=868&ck=DD45045F8C68DB9F54E70C67048D32E8

- As the Governor of California, how do you feel about the smelt ruling? (infer from reading) - The governor’s[your] strategic water plan relies primarily on what source for future water needs? http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/issue/sgp-backpage/sgp-flood-water

- Brainstorm the pro’s and con’s of your strategy, from both an economic and ecological perspective.

Group D (Diana, Vanessa, Julie O.): Delta Ecosystem Ecologist

Read the Science Magazine article “Delta Blues,” posted on the course website. - Be prepared to discuss other major threats to the delta smelt (besides high pump/flow rates) - Be able to explain the process by which the “islands” in the delta have subsided. - In what sense is the smelt a “canary in the coal mine”?

Group E (Alyssa, Anna, Joseph): Invasive Species Specialist http://www.savesfbay.org/site/apps/nl/content3.asp? c=dgKLLSOwEnH&b=1335213&ct=1576657 - The article claims that the smelt are an “indicator species”: what would a high abundance of smelt “indicate”? Why are the smelt so vulnerable? http://www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/lakepond/factsheet/Asian%20Clam.pdf Consider: -Why makes the Asian clam tend to be a successful invader? -How does do the clams alter the ecosystem? Speculate on specific ways that the clam might affect the delta smelt. - How did it arrive? -What are the economic costs associated with the clam? - How do you think we should control the clam? http://toxics.usgs.gov/highlights/invasives/ - Consider the ecosystem effects of the Asian clam described in this article (be sure to read the gray box on the right hand side). How can we predict changes in an ecoysystem with natural variability? Group F (Kelly, Mike M.,): Opinion from the South

- Pretend that you are a farmer in southern California. Be prepared to discuss how the smelt ruling will negatively affect you: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/06/26/news/top_stories/1_01_296_25_07.txt Be sure to read the comments from San Diego readers, below story, they are funny. - Given the instability of the Delta water supply, where else might you get your water from? Jot down the pro’s and con’s of each the options. http://www.water-ed.org/cabriefing.asp Read/skim the sections “Growth” through “The Bay-Delta”. - What would be likely economic and ecological impacts associated with turning to this (these) sources?