I was going to mention the deal that was struck last week to restore the San Joaquin River, but, other things arose.  However, I would like to point out the arrangement, and not my head vigorously in support of the pact.

This week there was good news from farther afield in the South Bay’s “back yard,” the vast San Francisco Bay watershed that extends from the Sierra to the Golden Gate. On Wednesday, environmental groups, Central Valley growers and the federal government announced an agreement to settle an 18-year-old lawsuit and restore the San Joaquin River, dewatered more than a half-century ago by the construction of Friant Dam near Fresno. (SJ Merc 9/14/06)

Think about this.  There are going to be salmon there! Probably.  The river should eventually flow all the way back into the Bay Delta.  This is a river right now that well…underwhelms.  A viable San Joaquin River benefits everybody along its path.