California’s fall salmon run has declined 97% since 2002, according to a front page article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle reporting on the “Salmon Summit” happening today in Half Moon Bay. Meanwhile the Sonoma County wine industry complains about the State Water Control Board’s proposed regulations to protect the salmon and pressures the Board of […]
Read MoreCategory: Pesticide pollution
Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Basin Planning Workshop Nov. 17
Santa Rosa Plain Groundwater Basin Planning Workshop November 17 About the Workshop The Sierra Club, Sonoma County Water Coalition and League of Women Voters are sponsoring a workshop to inform interested parties about groundwater planning currently under consideration. Workshop Date and Location The workshop will be held on November 17, 2010, from 6:30-9:00 p.m. located […]
Read MoreSpraying Permit Affecting Water on USFS Lands
Hi All, As I read the active ingredients in the spray, where only the active ingredients and not the inert are noted, two spring up: malathion and glyphosate are deadly carcinogens. Do we know the area they are spraying as one document mentions for cotton which we don’t have here. Glyphosate has recently been in […]
Read MoreKLAMATH RIVER WATER QUALITY STANDARDS APPROVED
The RB is already working on it – and a Dairy WDR and Waiver too. Hi all,I have heard it said for many years by a number of folks, including staff with the NCRWQCB, that after the Klamath TMDL is done, the Russian TMDL is next. Anyone have the latest heads up on this reality […]
Read MoreSalmon Forum
Salmon Forum September 21, 2010 Where: Sonoma County Farm Bureau Time: 9:00 am to 10:30 am Proposed Agenda 1. Introductions 2. Trout Unlimited – Update on Implementation of AB 2121 3. CEMAR – Discussions on Efforts with RRPOA and in the West County 4. National Marine Fisheries Service – Update: Frost Protection and Irrigation Program […]
Read MoreThe Importance of a Stream’s Physical Habitat Condition and How to Measure It
We are pleased to be able reschedule the webinar “The Importance of a Stream’sPhysical Habitat Condition and How to Measure It” for August 5, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The webinar will be presented by James Harrington, Staff Environmental Scientist in Department of Fish and Game (DFG Water Pollution Control Laboratory). Healthy streams […]
Read MoreKnights Valley’s Pelton House Winery Ruling Documents
Here is the Order granting Petition For Writ of Mandate from Judge Boyd requiring an EIR for the Pelton House (Maacama Watershed Alliance vs. County of Sonoma and Jess Jackson). Particularly noteworthy here is that every issue brought up by Maacama Watershed Alliance counsel Paul V. Carroll was decided against Sonoma County and Jess Jackson. […]
Read MoreEPA Will Limit Pesticides Near Salmon Streams
Jeff Barnard, North County Times May 17, 2010 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will impose restrictions on spraying three agricultural pesticides to keep them out of salmon streams after manufacturers refused to adopt the limits voluntarily. EPA will develop new rules for applying the chemicals diazinon, malathion and chlorpyrifos that will include […]
Read MoreDiscussion: “Drugs in Wastewater” Article
Clean Water Friends: This is a wonderful first step and one that has been requested for at least 15 years now. Unfortunately, they don’t include study of estrogens and other hormones, which may be the most critically important substances to study. That will happen down the road, but at least we are now on the […]
Read MoreLetter Exposing the Myth of “Feeding the Nation” Ag Article
Thanks to whoever sent out the article on the myth being created by agribusiness, media, and politicians to the effect that supplying water to Westlands Water District is important for feeding the nation. (Was it Brock?) Sen. Feinstein needs to receive a lot of letters protesting her position on Westlands, and western water subsidies in […]
Read MoreUse of potentially harmful chemicals kept secret under law
By Lyndsey Layton, Washington Post , January 4, 2010 Of the 84,000 chemicals in commercial use in the United States — from flame retardants in furniture to household cleaners — nearly 20 percent are secret, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, their names and physical properties guarded from consumers and virtually all public officials under […]
Read MoreEven at Sublethal Levels, Pesticides may slow the Recovery of Wild Salmon Populations
Exposure to common pesticides may hinder the growth and survival of ESA-listed salmon Biologists determined that short-term, seasonal exposure to pesticides in rivers and basins may limit the growth and size of wild salmon populations. In addition to the widespread deterioration of salmon habitats, these findings suggest that exposure to commonly used pesticides may further […]
Read MoreScott River Salmon Survey Produces Infection and Dead Fish
To All, California Department of Fish and Game did a Reconnaissance Survey on the Scott River, September 28, and found many Chinook Salmon infected or dead. Click on the pdf document for photos and more information. –Larry Scott River Sept 28 2009 Recon Survey
Read MoreNew Winery and Vineyard Permits
To All, Looking through the permit applications at PRMD since last June, here are new winery/vineyard permits. Will these all sail through the PRMD process (BZA, Planning Commission, BOS) without real consideration of water (drought, future water needs, conservation, etc.), wine glut, economical diversity, wildlife areas and wildlife corridors, intrusions upon the impacts and character […]
Read MoreWater Board Meeting on Stormwater Discharge Permits for SR and SCWA
Hi everyone! On October 1st, sometime after 8:30 (probably 9 AM) the North Coast Regional Board will consider final approval of the MS4 Storm Water and Non-Storm Water Discharge Permit for SCWA and Santa Rosa at their office at 5550 Skylane Blvd. In general, this is a good permit in terms of addressing storm water […]
Read MoreEPA INCREASES RESTRICTIONS ON 3 PESTICIDES HARMFUL TO SALMON
To All, On 11 September 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it will be placing additional limitations on three types of organophosphate pesticides in order to protect Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed salmon and steelhead in California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The pesticides chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion are know to impair the olfactory senses […]
Read MoreComments on the Klamath TMDL
August 21, 2009Matt St. John North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board 5550 Skyline Blvd, Suite ASanta Rosa, CA 95403Email to: MStJohn@waterboards.ca.gov Subject: Comments on the Klamath Mainstem TMDL Water Quality Restoration PlanGeneral Comments We are pleased with and fully supportive of Staff’s efforts in these Draft Water Quality Restoration Plan (“Implementation Plan”) provisions as well as in […]
Read MoreEnvironmental Impacts from Vineyards
I have watched the changes in agriculture from apples and timber to grapes over the years. I have also watched the increase in local flash flooding events in Atascadero Creek and other areas in the county. Vineyards are the obvious culprit responsible for the flash flooding, hot dry creek beds, and the loss of endangered […]
Read MoreWatershed Impacts Due to Vineyards
To All, Is there a unified policy on the flows and frost protection issue? NO. I have almost one mile of MWC (Mark West Creek) running through my property where I have lived for over 40 years and am in the timber business. About 5 or 6 years ago, I noticed a significant loss of summertime […]
Read MoreTake Action on Protecting Drinking Water
The Senate Must Protect Our Drinking Water Recent Supreme Court rulings have narrowed the scope of protections of the Clean Water Act, putting the drinking water of millions of Americans at risk for contamination. But the Senate has an opportunity to restore the original protections of the Clean Water Act by supporting the Clean Water […]
Read MoreAction to Support Clean Water!
Contact Your Local County Commissioner and Tell Him or Her to Support Clean Water! The National Association of Counties (NACo) represents county governments all throughout the U.S. Each year, NACo meets to consider resolutions on federal issues that affect their local governments. Because this organization is made up of local officials, NACo is very influential with Congress. In […]
Read MoreBasin Plan Amendment Decisions at Water Board Meeting
Hi everyone: There is an extremely critical meeting coming up at the North Coast Regional Board on July 23rd at about 9 AM at their offices near the airport at 5550 Skylane Blvd. This is the meeting where they will decide on a Basin Plan Amendment (water law for the North Coast and Russian River) […]
Read MoreIt’s Time to Learn From Frogs
June 28, 2009 By NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF Some of the first eerie signs of a potential health catastrophe came as bizarre deformities in water animals, often in their sexual organs. Frogs, salamanders and other amphibians began to sprout extra legs. In heavily polluted Lake Apopka, one of the largest lakes in Florida, male alligators developed […]
Read MoreStudy: Pesticide Mixtures, Endocrine Disruption, and Amphibian Declines: Are We Underestimating the Impact?
Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 114, Supplement 1, April 2006 Tyrone B. Hayes, Paola Case, Sarah Chui, Duc Chung, Cathryn Haeffele, Kelly Haston, Melissa Lee, Vien Phoung Mai, Youssra Marjuoa, John Parker, and Mable Tsui Laboratory for Integrative Studies in Amphibian Biology, Department of Integrative Biology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Group in Endocrinology, and Energy and […]
Read MoreClean Water Restoration Act Passes on to Senate Floor
Hi Everyone – Just wanted to let you know that by a straight party line vote (12 Democrats to 7 Republicans) the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Clean Water Restoration Act on to the full Senate. Senator Barbara Boxer deserves full credit and a ton of congratulations for getting this passed. Even […]
Read More4th Annual Spring-run Chinook Symposium
4th Annual Spring-run Chinook Symposium July 23-24 on the Salmon River Following the annual Salmon River dives, SRF and Salmon River Restoration Council will host the 4th Annual Spring-run Chinook Symposium featuring rafting tours of Creek Mouth Enhancement Projects on the Mid Klamath tributaries, field trips to fish passage projects on the Salmon River; hands-on […]
Read MoreClean Water Network’s Update on Capitol Hill
News from Capitol Hill Thanks to the hard work of so many Clean Water Network members, the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) is taking a giant leap forward by considering critical clean water legislation tomorrow! Tomorrow, June 18 at 9:30 AM, the EPW Committee will mark up (vote on) and consider a number of […]
Read MoreClean Water Act Alert
Finally, after years of delay, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) is going to mark up (vote on) a compromise version of the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) THIS Thursday, June 18. This is an all-hands-on-deck alert! We need your help to make sure our Senators know how critically important it is […]
Read MoreAntibiotic Vancomycin Showing Up
Very bad news from HR. Vancomycin is the only antibiotic that currently works vs MRSA. Jane Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) in Swedish sewage sludge 28.may.09 BioMed Central Graeme Baldwin http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/bc-arb052709.php Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) have been found in sewage sludge, a by-product of waste-water treatment frequently used as a fertilizer. Researchers writing in the […]
Read MoreAlert Call-in for SB 416 on Antibiotics
Today is a statewide Call-In Day of Action to support SB 416! Can you call your state senator? Call Your Senator today and ask for a YES vote on SB 416! Thanks to activists like you, SB 416, legislation that would ban the practice of using important human antibiotics in livestock and poultry, passed out of the appropriations […]
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