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Friday, July 25, 2008

California Water Crisis Special PBS Broadcast


THIS WEEK IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
TV9 and KQED HD - Friday 7/25 7:30pm

On Friday, July 25th, KQED (Channel 9, PBS) will rebroadcast, Water Ways: a Special on Water Issues in California.

This Week In Northern California will return to its normal broadcast on August 1st.


Water Ways: a Special on Water Issues in California

Featuring: Spencer Michels, Correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer; Tamara Keith, Sacramento Reporter, KQED Public Radio; Paul Rogers, Environment Writer, San Jose Mercury News; and Dr. Peter Gleick, President of the Pacific Institute in Oakland. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta supplies water for two-thirds of California's population, but the reliability of the state's water supply has been declining. Scientists project that global warming will reduce the Sierra snow pack, which feeds the Delta, by at least 25% by 2050.

Changing water temperatures and runoff patterns may have adversely affected the delta smelt, salmon and other water creatures.
The Chinook salmon population declined so rapidly that in April coastal salmon fishing was banned in California and most of Oregon. And court ordered protection for the delta smelt stopped pumps that supply water to central and southern California, cutting outflows by a third. The move hurt California's $30 Billion agricultural industry which uses over three-fourths of the state's water.

Meanwhile, two dry winters prompted Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a drought in June and many localities, including the East Bay Municipal Utility District, have declared mandatory water rationing. Proposals by the governor to improve the state's water infrastructure with new dams and reservoirs face tough opposition from Democrats and environmentalists. New technological solutions such as large scale desalinization and waste water recycling may be on the horizon.

If you missed the broadcast date, you may watch the program anytime by going to: thisweek.kqed.org

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