Delta Flows – Weekly Highlights from Restore the Delta

Delta Flows – Weekly Highlights from Restore the Delta
For the Week of April 9, 2007
 
It Has Been a Period of Incremental Gains for the California Delta
 
First, Restore the Delta is happy to announce that Senator Joe Simitian’s bill SB27 has been amended.  In its present form, it does not set aside bond money for the construction of a peripheral canal.  Instead, the bill now describes funding a study of the alternatives for managing the Delta as described in the Public Policy Institute Report.  While there are still questions about the bill, including whether a one-year time period is enough time for a study to flesh out fully how much fresh water is needed for the Delta to maintain ecosystem health, it is an improvement over the initial version.  And we are also heartened that Senator Michael Machado is backing this revised version of SB27.
 
Restore the Delta is also encouraged to see that our State Senators are responding to the lawsuit filed by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, in which the state will be forced to shut down the water export pumps in Tracy as a result of violating the California Endangered Species Act, unless they comply with the law within 60 days. State Senators are holding regular update hearings with the Department of Water Resources in order to question why they haven’t complied with the law in the past and to question what the Department of Water Resources is doing to remedy the situation (such as applying for a fish take permit with the Department of Fish and Game) before the 60 day deadline. 
 
Unfortunately, the Department of Water Resources is preparing to fight to the end, rather than comply with the court order.  They have framed the court order as an overreaction to pumping, rather than acknowledging that under the California Endangered Species Act, the Department is required to apply for take permits because large numbers of salmon and Delta smelt are sucked in and killed at the pumps. 
 
As quoted in numerous newspaper articles this morning, DWR Director Lester Snow continues to express opposition to the ruling out of economic concern for the state if pumping were to cease.  Restore the Delta cannot help wondering  if DWR has given a second thought to the economic loss experienced by Delta fishing communities and Delta agriculture as a result of excessive water exports.  We also question whether DWR recognizes that the California Delta is part of California’s natural heritage and should be protected as a resource of the public trust.  And we question whether DWR understands the negative health impacts on subsistence fishermen who catch and eat contaminated Delta fish to supplement their diet.  Does DWR understand that Delta waterways do not have enough freshwater flow presently to dilute upstream pollution and, thus, excessive water exports contribute to the public health threat for subsistence fishing communities?  
 
That’s Why It’s Important for Local Delta Stakeholders to Get Involved
 
On May 2, 2007, Restore the Delta will be hosting an event open to the Delta community entitled “Healthy Delta Communities.”  This event, unlike those sponsored by government agencies, will be held from 6-9 p.m. so that working Delta locals can participate.  It will be held at Elkhorn School, 10505 N. Davis Road, Stockton.
 
The evening’s program will feature:
 
*An update from Restore the Delta to community members on our efforts over the    
  last six months;
 
*A fascinating Google Map presentation by Dr. Bob Twiss, Professor Emeritus   
  UC Berkeley, on the status and threats to the Delta;
 
*A panel discussion on threats to the Delta, featuring Restore the Delta Board  
  Members and Advisors Mick Canevari, Dan Bacher, Barry Nelson, Andrea
  Treece, and Bill Jennings;
 
*A panel discussion on solutions to managing the Delta featuring Restore the
  Delta Advisors Tom Zuckerman, Dante Nomellini, Barry Nelson, and Mindy
  McIntyre;
 
*Roll out for developing a Healthy Delta Communities Plan and other community
  participation opportunities.
 
This event is free and open to the public; however, we ask that you RSVP to Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla (Barbara [at] restorethedelta.org) so that we have a guess at how many will be attending.  Please tell your friends and neighbors about “Healthy Delta Communities.”
 
In Response to the PPIC Report…
 
One of Restore the Delta’s advisors John Herrick, along with Restore the Delta staffer Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, will be guests on the Capital Public Radio show Insight, hosted by Jeffrey Callison. The discussion will center on the PPIC report, what Restore the Delta is doing, and how some of the problems of the Delta might be addressed.  This live broadcast will air this Friday, April 13th.  The show begins at 2 p.m. with Restore the Delta joining the broadcast at 2:20 p.m.  Capital Public Radio can be found at KXJZ 90.9 Sacramento, KUOP 91.3 Stockton, KKTO 90.5 Tahoe City, KQNC 88.1 Quincy.  For those out of the broadcast areas visit http://www.capradio.org/insight to subscribe to the internet simulcast.
 
 
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Campaign Director
Restore the Delta
Making the Delta fishable, swimmable, drinkable, and farmable by 2010!
Barbara [at] restorethedelta.org
http://www.restorethedelta.org
ph: 209-479-2053
PO Box 691088
Stockton, CA 95269