For The Record: Law Journal Articles Contemplate Future of California Dams

By Traci Sheehan
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

Ideas about water management in the Western United States are in a state of flux, particularly in regard to dams. Recently stakeholders announced an "Agreement in Principle" to work toward removing four dams on the Klamath River. Next week the State Water Resources Control Board will likely revoke the water rights for the oft-proposed Auburn Dam. To learn more about these issues, we recommend that you pick up a copy of the most recent edition of the Golden Gate University's Environmental Law Journal on "The West's Aging Dams: Retain or Remove?"

Don't miss these two articles specific to California dams:

"The Old and New: Evaluating Existing and Proposed Dams in California" (Jonas Minton, PCL's Senior Water Policy Advisor)

Of use to anyone involved in considering removal of existing dams or construction of new dams, Minton's ideas will be particularly relevant to the ongoing discussions of the five potential dams in the CALFED Record of Decision.

"Beyond and Beneath O'Shaughnessy Dam: Options to Restore Hetch Hetchy Valley and Replace Water and Energy Supplies" (Jerry Meral, former Executive Director of PCL)

Noting that there are feasible options for replacing the water and energy provided by Hetch Hetchy Dam, Meral also describes the incredible values that would emerge with restoration of this priceless natural resource.

Traci Sheehan is the Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League, a statewide, nonprofit lobbying organization. For more than thirty years, PCL has fought to develop a body of environmental laws in California that is the best in the United States. PCL staff review virtually every environmental bill that comes before the California Legislature each year. It has testified in support or opposition of thousands of bills to strengthen California's environmental laws and fight off rollbacks of environmental protections.

Comments

Get Email Updates

Want the California Progress Report by email? Once a week, we'll send you the latest and greatest headlines.