Urgent Action Alert for AB 1806, Lois Wolk's Fish Rescue Plans Bill

Action Alert from Dick Pool:

Lois Wolk, Chair of the Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee amended a bill this week that can hold great significance for funding some of the salmon recovery projects we urgently need. It is AB 1806. The bill covers mitigation for the Prospect Island fish kill and more important, it requires direct and indirect mitigation for fish losses from the state and federal pumps from the time they were started in the 1960's to the present. If this measure is passed there would be millions of dollars of mitigation money available.

Direct mitigation is for fish killed directly at the pumps or in Clifton Court Forebay. Indirect mitigation is for losses of fish that are pulled out of their normal migration path by the pumps but perish before they get to the pumps. The state has never mitigated for indirect losses and the federal pumps only mitigated for direct losses for a few years. The federal pumps have never mitigated for indirect losses. Many biologists believe that indirect losses are far greater than direct.

The Assembly Water Parks and Wildlife Committee will hold a hearing on the bill next Tuesday beginning at 9:00 AM in room 435 of the capital. Following a panel presentation there will be an opportunity for public comments. The fishery groups have been asked to do two things:

1. Attend the hearing and speak in favor of the bill.
2. Send a letter of support in advance of the hearing if possible.
The letter can be sent by email or fax to Lois Wolk. If you email please try to include an electronic signature.
email - Assemblymember.Wolk [at] assembly.ca.gov
fax - 916-319-2108
I have attached a draft letter for your use.

Please do what you can. If you want to read the bill it can be reached on the Legislature's bill list. Be sure to read the amended version. The key language that would require the mitigation is under Chapter 1.5 Water Rights. It reads:

Chapter 1.5. Water Rights
12210. The state board shall impose terms and conditions on permits issued for the State Water Resources Development System (commencing with Section 1200) of Division 2 with regard to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that provide reasonable mitigation for both direct and indirect adverse impacts on delta fishery resources arising from the operation of water export facilities of the state system and the federal project, respectively, since the construction of those facilities.

Regards,
Dick Pool

Pro-Troll Fishing Products
5700A Imhoff Drive
Concord, CA 94520
(925) 825-8560
Fax (925) 825-8591
email rbpool [at] protroll.com
website http://www.protroll.com


Sample Letter:

April 13, 2008

Assemblymember Lois Wolk
Chair, Water Parks and Wildlife Committee
State Capitol
Sacramento CA 94249

Dear Assemblymember Wolk:

Please accept my (the XXX organizations) strong endorsement of AB 1806 The Fish and Wildlife Rescue or Relocation bill as amended.

I am a dedicated fisherman and resident of xxx (city) (Our organization has xxx members through Nothern California). We are deeply concerned about the unprecedented collapse of the Central Valley salmon runs and other delta species. We are aware there have been a number of contributing problems to the collapse but there is very strong evidence that the State and Federal pumps in the delta and the water movements they have generated in the last several years have been the number one contributor to the decline. The needs of fish have largely been ignored as more and more water has been pumped. Mitigation for these losses has been almost non existent. We believe that it is only appropriate that these facilities be required to mitigate for both the direct and indirect damage to the fisheries that they have caused for many years. We support the provisions of AB 1806.

Salmon stocks can be recovered but it will not be easy or inexpensive. The runs are now so low that their long term survival is seriously in question. We need emergency habitat programs put in place as soon as possible to assist the recovery. Many of these projects will need funding. Mitigation from the primary cause of the problem should be the source.

Yours Truly,

Name
Title