Schwarzenegger the "Fish Slasher" Proposes DFG Budget Cuts, Park Closures

Schwarzenegger the "Fish Slasher" Proposes DFG Budget Cuts, Park Closures

by Dan Bacher

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has always styled himself as the "action hero," but he is looking more like a bad actor in a bloody slasher/horror movie, based on his proposed budget cuts to the Department of Fish and Game, California State Parks and the State EPA.

Schwarzenegger, after calling for support for his $9 billion water bond to bail out corporate agribusiness in his "state of the state" address on January 8, announced a proposed budget cut of $2.6 million in the Department of Fish and Game's budget on January 10. This fall of the budget ax would reduce 38 Fish and Game warden positions.

"We are facing a very tough situation, but with tough times come historic opportunities," said Schwarznegger upon announcing his budget cuts. "I am convinced the legislature will help turn today's temporary problem into a permanent victory for the people of California by joining me to enact true budget reform.

What is the Governor thinking? If he is going to slash the already besieged DFG's budget like this, drastically reducing the number of wardens in the field to supposedly save some money, why is he calling on the taxpayers to indebt their children's children's children with a fiscally irrresponsible water bond that includes two new dams and the peripheral canal?

If he wants to slash the Department's budget so much, wouldn't it make sense for him to issue an executive order to suspend the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) process until there is money to enforce the existing and future no-fishing zones? How will MPAs be enforced when an already demoralized and underfunded department is eviscerated by his budget cuts?

Most of the media still believes that Schwarzenegger, the worst ever governor for fish, fishing rights and the environment in California history, is a "green" governor because of his rhetorical grandstanding about climate change and other issues. But those of us who actually have studied his actions in office see his administration as an unparalleled disaster for fish and the outdoors.

Not only does he want to destroy the Bay-Delta estuary and northern California fisheries by exporting more water to subsidized agribusiness and southern California while gutting the DFG, but Schwarzenegger's budget proposal calls for the closure of 48 of California's 279 state parks to "save" $13.3 million. These include many public accesses for fishing such as Woodson Bridge State Recreation Area, Clear Lake State Park, Tomales Bay State Park, Benicia State Recreation Area, Candlestick Point State Recreation Area, McConnell State Recreation Area and Henry Coe State Park. Many state beaches are either proposed for closure or for lifeguard reductions.

Fishing access is a huge issue now, with many reclamation districts in the Delta and landowners throughout the state illegally closing access to navigable rivers and sloughs, in complete violation of the State Constitution. If the Governor has his way, much of the existing public fishing access in California would be closed until regional governments are able to purchase state property.

In addition, Schwarzenegger has proposed "budget-balancing reductions" for the State Environmental Protection Agency that would hurt the already limited pollution controls on the state's rivers, lakes bays and ocean waters.

Total "budget-balancing" reductions for the Environmental Protection Agency amount to $1.6 million in 2007-08 and $8.3 million and 16.5 personnel years in 2008-09. The major reductions include $4.3 million and 12.0 personnel years in 2008-09 for the State Water Resources Control Board. These reductions will result in delays to the Board's capacity to issue permits for pollutant discharge elimination systems that regulate the discharge of wastewater to surface waters in the state.

The reduction will also decrease contract funding for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) action plans to restore clean water. The federal Clean Water Act requires that states identify water bodies -- bays, rivers, streams, creeks, and coastal areas -- that do not meet water quality standards, and identify the pollutants that impair them, and develop solutions. The contracts support scientific research, assessment, and monitoring as part of TMDL development.

Is anybody out there mad enough about what the Governor has done to our fisheries and our fishing rights - and what further damage he proposes to do to them - to consider launching a recall campaign against Schwarzenegger? Is there any way to get this guy to listen? Is there any way to get him to reverse course?

I certainly hope that the Legislature and the public are able to block the Governor's plan to slash the DFG and Cal EPA's budget and close state parks.

Just when you think that the "Fish Slasher" has sunk to the lowest level he possibly could, Schwarzenegger has the uncanny ability to sink even lower! If you've had enough, call, write or email the Governor to tell him what you think of his proposed budget cuts!

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-558-3160
Email: go to http://gov.ca.gov/interact