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• Redline returns

• From Zion Christian Fellowship to Gravity

• City of Lodi considers options for burned playground at Century Park

• Assemblyman Bill Berryhill aims to preserve Delta, avoid peripheral canal

• Woodbridge names Jim Severi as postmaster

• Police investigate credit card thefts at schools

• Liberty Ranch High School teacher Donna Hartje honored as 2010 Teacher of the Year

February 8th, 2010

• Public Meetings

• Locals pick best, most memorable Super Bowl commercials

• Regional Roundup

February 6th, 2010

• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch

• Meet Larry, Curly and Moe

• Baboon business

• Regional Roundup

• Several Lodi venues let you watch the Super Bowl in style

• Lodi Library celebrates 100 years of serving the community

• Culinary craft

February 5th, 2010

• Kids, teachers help Haiti by collecting pennies for Learning Link

• Lodi, Galt students reach out to help Haiti earthquake survivors

• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam

• Hours of sweat and work go into putting on crab feeds

• Things looking up for state's real estate

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Stray bullet strikes Lodi home; police suspect gang activity may be factor

February 4th, 2010

• Managers at Geweke Toyota answer questions about recall

• Lodi City Council votes to replace play structure at Century Park

• Lodi extends ban on pot shops for another year

• Mokelumne River triathlon set for June

• Family, friends to run half-marathon in memory of Galt family

February 3rd, 2010

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Lodi-area senators Dave Cox, Lois Wolk admit to gifts; Tom Berryhill case pending

• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts

• Galt City Council avoids budget cuts — for now

• New Lodi Memorial Hospital emergency room opens to the public without a hitch

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

February 2nd, 2010

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Jumpers across California

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

February 1st, 2010

• Find cuddly alpacas not too far from Lodi

• Public Meetings

• Patients can expect faster, better service when Lodi Memorial Hospital's new emergency room opens

• Man killed by Amtrak train in Lodi

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (70)
• President Obama's first year (67)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future (60)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (49)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (37)
• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen (31)
• We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)

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Assemblyman Bill Berryhill aims to preserve Delta, avoid peripheral canal

Assemblyman Bill Berryhill grew up farming winegrapes, almonds and apples in California.

Twelve years ago he purchased land in Clements, and grows grapes and walnuts there. He is an avid duck and pheasant hunter in the Delta and wants to find a way to preserve the Delta, while avoiding the construction of a peripheral canal.

He is championing an idea presented by Russ Brown that would make the San Joaquin River flow into Old River with a flood-gate downstream from the head of Old River.

Q: Why do you oppose a peripheral canal?

A: It doesn't develop a drop of water and it has potential to damage Delta wetlands. There is a large risk of saltwater intrusion. It's basically a big, dirt ditch the size of the Panama Canal. It was a bad idea 30 years ago, and it is a bad idea today.

Q: How real is the possibility of a peripheral canal getting built?

A: It's a real part of the long-term plan. If they move forward, it will likely get caught up in court battle, after court battle, after court battle. The water discussion in California is like watching a dog chasing its tail. It's important that we find a long-term solution so Southern California doesn't depend on 80 percent of its water coming from the North. It doesn't make me comfortable. Earthquakes or terrorist attacks could put them at risk.

Q: Will something be done by the end of the special legislative session?

A: If a deal we can live with is struck by Oct. 10 it would be great, but time is running out. If I were a betting man, I would say there is a 30 percent chance of something getting done. The question is: Are voters going to want to pass a $12 billion bond in this economy?

Q: What's the best way to describe your plan?

A: I would refer to it as replumbing the Delta. It restores the flow of the Old River and keeps Delta smelt out of the water supply that gets pumped south. The smelt will stay in their natural habitat, the estuary, and will not be sucked into the pumps. It also helps the San Joaquin River salmon run to return. The salmon will be able to swim through the Delta, into the estuary, then to the bay and finally to the ocean. It will improve water quality in the Delta because cleaner Sacramento River water will be used to flush water from the central and southern Delta.

Q: How long would your plan take to build?

A: We have had private studies regarding selenium and hydrology done already, but the government needs to conduct studies of its own. However, our studies are far enough along that we are putting it into language. The construction of the project itself should only take about a year to a year and a half.

Q: Are we nearing or past the point of no return with our water issues?

A: Anything we do we should have done yesterday. Even if my plan goes through, it would take at least two years, and that is two years too late for some farmers. My heart bleeds for them; we can't give them a real rosy picture. We are the world's breadbasket and it's a tragedy we don't save any water.

Contact Jordan Guinn at jordang@lodinews.com.