Stop Secret Scheme to Create Czar to Build Peripheral Canal!

Stop Secret Scheme to create Czar to Build Peripheral Canal and Dams!

Public Hearings on Critical Water Legislation May Not Take Place

by Dan Bacher

(Sacramento) A rally and press conference is scheduled for 11:00 AM on Tuesday, July 7 on the north steps of the State Capitol to address a legislative bullet aimed at the heart of the fisheries, ecosystem and farming communities of the Delta, according to an urgent announcement from the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA).

"This may be one of the last times that your personal presence will make a difference in the effort to save the estuary and its fisheries," urged John Beuttler, conservation director of CSPA. "We need you to join Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis), CSPA Executive Director Bill Jennings, Restore the Delta's Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, fishermen, environmentalists, farmers, boaters, and other Delta legislators to help make an unequivocal statement to our government about the imperative need for open public process to protect and restore fishery, recreational and farming values in the Delta."

Beuttler condemned the "waffling failure" of our state legislative leadership to address the continuing crisis facing fisheries and the Delta ecosystem has morphed into a shocking ploy by proponents of dams and a peripheral canal to circumvent public participation and legislative oversight.

"It would provide for a politically appointed czar with authority to implement and fund recommendations of the disingenuously named Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP)," said Beuttler. "This czar would have authority to authorize construction of a Panama Canal North around the Delta and issue tens of billions of dollars in fees and revenue bonds necessary to finance the boondoggle."

Sound like a surreal fictional conspiracy out of a Dan Brown or Clive Cussler novel? No, it is actually a 100-plus page "secret" document combining elements of six unfinished bills into a yet unreleased "Water Bill Package" that was scheduled to be considered by Senate and Assembly policy committees on 7 July and then "perhaps" on 9 July and now "perhaps" by a conference committee after the fact.

"In other words, the proposed scheme may circumvent the Senate Natural Resources and Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committees before being voted on by the entire legislature," said Beuttler. "Bluntly put, if this maneuver is successful, the commercial and sportfishing community will be deprived of the right to constructively comment on this nefarious proposal and advocate specific amendments necessary to protect the Delta and restore fisheries."

Budgetary gridlock and dysfunctional leadership created the opportunity for proponents of additional dams and peripheral canal to put together this backroom strategy to bypass responsible legislative consideration and oversight. "As presently formulated, this ploy disenfranchises the public, discards continuing legislative oversight, authorizes the issuance of billions of dollars in fees and bonds and sets the stage for the final solution: termination of viable fisheries and agriculture in the Delta," Beuttler added.

"One public hearing for a set of water policies that has far reaching and expensive implications for the entire state is a mockery of the democratic process," said Barbara Barrigan, campaign director of Restore the Delta. "Not giving ample and certain public notice of the one said hearing exemplifies a complete failure to lead. That is, unfortunately, what is happening in Sacramento."

"We want to make it clear to the Assembly and Senate (while they waffle on if and when public input will be allowed) that it is time to give the Delta a voice on water issues. And that we are tired of the decisions being made without our consent and involvement," emphasized Barrigan-Parrilla.

CSPA, Restore the Delta and a coalition of fishing, environmental, recreational and farming interests call upon everyone who values the Delta and believes in open, deliberative public process to gather on the north steps of the Capitol at 11:00 AM on 7 July (Tuesday) to shine the bright spotlight of public scrutiny on this abominable attempt to undermine responsible legislative process.

"Solutions to the collapse of our fisheries must proceed with deliberative caution through the respective legislative policy committees and be based upon fairness, transparency, the law and best available science.They must include the voices of the Delta community," concluded Beuttler.

Your participation in Sacramento on July 7 is crucial to a healthy Delta and restored fisheries. Arrangements are being made to facilitate visits to individual legislators following the press conference. As events are changing hourly, please check CSPA's website, http://www.calsport.org, on July 4, 5, and 6 for current updates and additional information. Please forward this alert to everybody that you know!