Tribal Members and Youth Ask for North State Hearings and River Protection` at Sacramento

“The Governor’s water portfolio, Sites Reservoir plan, and Delta Tunnel proposal all threaten the Trinity, Klamath and Sacramento rivers, however the state is not having any public hearings in the North State,” stated Regina Chichizola from Save California Salmon. “It feels like the Governor wants the North State’s water, but not our opinions.”

Chichizola explained that early January, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom released his highly anticipated Water Resilience Portfolio. She said that although the portfolio discusses prioritizing restoration and water savings, it also prioritizes the three most controversial and environmentally impactful threats to California’s rivers- the Delta Tunnel project, The Sites reservoir project; and voluntary agreements in lieu of new state instream flow criteria. She said that all of these proposals endanger the North State and North Coast’s water quality and fisheries, and thus the economy, health, and food security of Northern California’s people.

Chief Caleen Sisk from the Winnemem Wintu Tribe also voiced concerns that the tunnel project is connected to the controversial Shasta Dam raise. She said that the building of the Shasta Dam did not benefit her people in any way however it did flood 26 miles of their land. “The dam made us jobless and homeless, now they are talking about raising the Shasta dam for the second time, that has to be connected to these tunnels, because they are not talking about shutting down the current fish killing diversions. They are only talking about taking more water”

The commenters pointed out that these projects are in line with the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks and plans to divert more of California’s water, and that the governor has not followed through with his promise to sue the Trump administration for their new water plan and biological opinion. Instead, the Governor is relying on the Trump administration’s flawed science to create California’s plan for water releases and diversions.

The Governor’s portfolio even suggests accelerating environmental permitting and approval for new diversions and the Sites Reservoir, despite the fact that fisheries in the areas targeted, such as the Sacramento and Trinity River, are facing extinction and agencies have warned of potentially devastating fisheries impacts from the new diversions. Recently several counties, tribes and even the State Advisory Group on Salmon and Steelhead have asked for more environmental review and safeguards for the Sites Reservoir project due to reports that show the project will have negative impacts on the Trinity River, and concerns it will harm the Klamath and Sacramento Rivers. The state has already shelled out $817 million for the Sites Reservoir Project. No public meetings about the Sites Reservoir have occured north of Sacramento. Comments on the water portfolio are due on February 7.

The state has allocated out $817 million for the Sites Reservoir Project with $40 million provided up front. However no public meetings about the Sites Reservoir have occurred north of Maxwell or on the North Coast.

Danielle Ray Frank from the Hoopa High School water protector club said that she came down to get the information she needed to educate more people back home in Hoopa about the threats to the Trinity River, and to ask for public hearings about the tunnel in Northern California. “We came to ask for more meetings so more people from our Tribe, and more people that are directly affected, can go to a meetings and voice their concerns.” Frank commented that the Trinity River means everything to the Hoopa Valley people, but they have to continually fight for the river because so much water is diverted.

Frank said that she will provide information on the hearing Hoopa High School Water Protectors Club’s Water Hearing meeting. The hearing is at the Hoopa High School on Saturday, February 8th at 2pm. Students will serve dinner and discuss the Delta Tunnel Project and other threats to the Trinity River.

More information on the Water Portfolio and Delta Tunnel, including information on how to comment and request North State meetings are available at californiasalmon.org or at https://www.change.org/p/california-governor-save-our-salmon-no-new-massive-diversions-and-reservoirs-in-northern-california