Salmon are a sign of hope in a long-dry stretch of the San Joaquin

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-me-san-joaquin-20130329-dto,0,7862113.htmlstory

Thanks for the link Howard.  Hope things will work out in near future.

This subject is a difficult one for many in this area. The idea of catching salmon sounds great, but the salmon being introduced are already on the endangered list ... this could mean the closure of the river for protection.  Another area of local concern is, where will the water come from? Millerton lake is already at min pool during this time of year to meet water allocations down south. There is also a concern about the thriving warm water species that will be sevearly stressed with the decreased water temps required to acomidate the salmon.
Many locals have expressed concern about the true nature of this project, and are concerned that this isn't about salmon, but about increasing water flows, which would allow (if the salmon project fails) more alotments to be sold to the southern intrests.
I for one am not so sure where I stand on this project. I have seen a few things done to this river, that are confusing. Many of the side ponds that flourish have been blocked off which has pretty much killed some of the best bass in the state. Thefilling in of these ponds has quite literally turns some stretches of the river into a basic canal.
I dont see the advantage to killing a thriving eco system, to try and bring back one species...maybe!!!

This subject is a difficult one for many in this area. The idea of catching salmon sounds great, but the salmon being introduced are already on the endangered list ... this could mean the closure of the river for protection.  Another area of local concern is, where will the water come from? Millerton lake is already at min pool during this time of year to meet water allocations down south. There is also a concern about the thriving warm water species that will be sevearly stressed with the decreased water temps required to acomidate the salmon.
Many locals have expressed concern about the true nature of this project, and are concerned that this isn't about salmon, but about increasing water flows, which would allow (if the salmon project fails) more alotments to be sold to the southern intrests.
I for one am not so sure where I stand on this project. I have seen a few things done to this river, that are confusing. Many of the side ponds that flourish have been blocked off which has pretty much killed some of the best bass in the state. Thefilling in of these ponds has quite literally turns some stretches of the river into a basic canal.
I dont see the advantage to killing a thriving eco system, to try and bring back one species...maybe!!!

+1.  When I heard the proposal to re-introduce salmon to the San Joaquin at a public forum a couple years ago, I was a bit skeptical.  Namely because sections of the San Jo often dry up in the summer due to water diversions.  If minimum flows are now required, where are the farmers going to get their extra water?  The Sac?  Delta?  They gotta get it somewhere.  I've thought the money and energy could be spent on our currently living stocks of salmon across the state, versus artificially introducing an extinct stock.

Yeah, interesting history concerning the H2o interests down there.
The whole EG Brown taking care of his rich farmer buddies back in the day tops it off.