Thumbs Up? Thumbs Down?

Critics in the water industry uniformly panned the fourth draft of the Delta Stewardship Council's Delta Plan - so much so that they submitted an alternative draft.  This week the fifth draft was released - important because while two more drafts scheduled, this is the one the Delta Plan Environmental Impact Report will be based upon. Did it address concerns raised by the water community? The definitive analysis is not yet out, but here's a troubling indicator: the ultra-green Planning and Conservation League says the draft "takes it head on."

Here's the fifth draft

Here's a news report with some detail on the draft

Here's the water industry's alternate Delta plan

And here's what "takes it head on" means

Meanwhile, At The Other Sacramento Delta

If you find the number of Sacramento Delta plans and studies confounding, join the club. Just after the Stewardship Council's new draft came out, the California Resources Agency and U.S. Department of the Interior joined hands (sort of) in calling for the quick completion of their own Bay Delta Conservation Plan.  Resources Secretary John Laird wrote Interior Secretary David Hayes on August 9 saying he wants the report out next June. Hayes wrote back on August 10 saying sure, but with more wiggle words than Delta smelt in the Tracy fish traps. Still, progress is progress.

Here's Laird's letter to Hayes

Here's Hayes' letter to Laird

And here's yet another "X Factor" in all this

Sharks Found In MWD Water!

Some of the most dangerous sharks on the planet have "Esq." after their names, and a particularly bloodthirsty species was found this week hunting for food in MWD's water supply. The San Francisco class action law firm of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhomik & Greatwhite (just kidding on that last name) sued MWD "in the interest of millions of consumers" (wink, wink) claiming MWD's use of "a hydrofluosilicic acid drug" for fluoridation may lead people to have fewer cavities without their consent. Really. The firm's news release threatens other water districts "across the country," so watch out for sharks in your water!

Read what the sharks have to say for themselves here

If you want facts, not allegations, read this, or better yet, this