Scientists try to explain dismal salmon run

SF Chronicle article on the crashing salmon runs in the Delta. Is the cause river conditions or ocean conditions? Pumping the water south or toxic agricultural runoff? Climate change or a natural cyclical pattern? Or a combination of some or all?

We'll examine these questions (and many others) in the documentary.

California begins study of canal's effect on delta

The study is designed to see whether a "peripheral canal," an engineered waterway that would go around the most environmentally sensitive area of the delta, is a viable solution to some of the delta's troubles.

Back in 1982, there was an epic political fight over the question of a similar canal that was eventually rejected by California voters. The study is supposed to take 30 months, which seems like a long time for a region in crisis.

More on the DWR website.

California's water war heating up

Excellent column in the Sacramento Bee by political reporter Dan Walters. Lays out the political template of the story with some amusing anecdotes from past water wars thrown in.