Posted by Joe Peterson His lead on natural resource legislation is Alan Gordon, you can reach Alan at the phone number above or by email at Alan.Gordon@sen.ca.gov. You should send him a copy of a any letters you send to Kuehl or other legislators, such as the State Senator who represents you, in opposition to the bill (go to http://www.sen.ca.gov/ to find your senator - you can also search for any bill introduced into the Senate). Please copy Mark Rockwell on your written or email communications so we can keep track of how much support and opposition we have generated (summerhillfarmpv@aol.com). Dear Senator Kuehl: I am writing to voice my opposition to Senator Simitian’s legislation that would authorize a Peripheral Canal to be built around the California Delta. The ecosystem of the Delta has been so compromised that it is on the verge of total collapse. The fisheries and life it once supported helped create cities such as Martinez, Pittsburg, Antioch and Collinsville. Alterations to the Delta and rivers that feed it have had dire consequences to the native aquatic life that depends on this tidal estuary for survival. Invasive species, both plant and animal, are thriving due to already reduced water flows. Pesticides and other toxins languish in the Delta, as flows are insufficient to dilute and flush them from the estuary. Water exports currently take over 60% of the water that should naturally cleanse and refresh the ecosystem. DWR wants even more water without any regard to the health of the Delta. This was made clear at the Congressional Hearing when it came out DWR policy makers kept pumping when there own scientists recommended pumping be curtailed. This information should lead to an investigation of flagrant violation of existing rules and regulations designed to protect the Delta and it’s life forms. In private industry a lot of people would have lost their jobs. It is difficult to understand how they are still employed and being paid salaries by the taxpayers of California. The Delta’s fisheries are remnants of what it used to be. Delta Smelt are at their lowest level ever. Young of the year Striped Bass are almost non-existent. Emergency closures and regulations have been enacted for white sturgeon whose population in 1998 was estimated to be 144,000 adult fish. Current population estimates are 10,000. That is a loss of 52 fish per day for the past 7 years. Organisms, which make up the base of the food chain, are disappearing. SB 1612 could be the final nail in the Delta’s coffin. The Contra Costa Water District has said that removing fresh water the Delta would become a sump of seawater and agricultural drainage. This would be an unfitting end to a tidal estuary that is supposed to be the nursery for aquatic life in our rivers, San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. Fix the Delta and its Fisheries First. A good step in that direction is SB 1574, which I fully support. The Delta is a National Treasure and Natural Resource that should be preserved and protected, not destroyed by greedy water contractors. cc: Senator Simitian Senator Simitian Re: SB 1612 Californians defeated a similar measure in 1982. The introduction of this legislation appears contrary to the wish of the people to protect the largest tidal estuary on the West Coast of North America. A Peripheral Canal is a water grab. It is time for individuals, local governments, water contractors and anyone else receiving water from the Delta to think deeply on how they can conserve water. Would a rate hike in the cost of water encourage conservation? How many desalinization plants can be built for $3 billion? What other means are available to store water for future use? Ratepayers in the Contra Costa Water District have some of the highest water costs in California. That District indicates your legislation would reduce the Delta to a sump of seawater and agricultural drainage. Why would anyone introduce legislation that would destroy water quality for over a half million downstream users? The California Delta is Northern California’s backyard. There are many environmental and conservation organizations as well as individuals banding together to protect and restore this natural resource. Your introduced legislation would only further degrade an already compromised and once magnificent waterway.
on 4/19/2006, 8:26 am
70.97.205.114
We need to stop this legislation. If you can't call these folks I made up a couple of letters to Sen. Simitian and Sen. Keuhl that are in the Word attachment. Please print them out and mail them today. This was just introduced and the public hearing is on the 25th of April so there is not much time to defeat this bill. Talk about a sneak attack, this is it. The Delta needs our help!
CSPA Advisory 4 -13-06
State Senator Moves to Authorize
a Peripheral Canal Around the Delta
State Senator Simitian's SB 1612 is set for its hearing on April 25th in the State Senate's Committee on Natural Resources and Water chaired by Senator Sheila Kuehl. The bill would authorize a Peripheral Canal to be built around the Delta and integrate that plumbing with the current facilities that now export water from the southern Delta. The bill fails to provide any meaningful assurances that the estuary's fisheries and the aquatic ecosystem they depend on will be restored and maintained at self-sustaining levels. It would authorize a $3 billion bond to be paid for by the public to build the facility. Our position stays the same
Help us stop this poorly concieved legislation! Convey this message to chairperson Kuehl and the committee members. "Fix the Delta and its Fisheries First!". To do this, send her a letter, a FAX or call:
Senator Sheila Kuehl, Chairperson,
Senate Committee On Natural Resources & Water
Capitol Office
State Capitol, Room 5108
Sacramento, CA 95814
fax: 916-324-4823
phone: 916-651-4023
Copy Senator Simitian on your letter, FAX, or give his office a call saying you oppose his bill because it doesn't "Fix the Delta and its Fisheries First, but would do just the opposite!"
Senator Simitian
State Capitol, Room 4062,
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (916) 651-4011 / Fax: (916) 323-4529.
Angling groups and anglers also need to attend the Committee hearing which will start at 9:00 AM and will end about 2:00 PM on April 25th. The Senate's Committee on Natural Resources will hold a hearing in the State Capitol in Room 112. A large angler turnout at the hearing is essential!
Additional Information: This missle will be a Delta killer! The bill:
* mandates construction of a peripheral canal around the Delta and will take an estimated 60% of the fresh water that flows into the system
* fails to provide water quality assurrances and will cause increased salt water intrusion and concentrations of pollutants further impacting the ecology of the estuary and fisheries
* contains no meaningful details about the capacity of the canal making it easier to enlarger later
* does not require state of the art fish screens but makes them optional; when they find out how expensive it will be to build them, they won't
* maintains export at highest levels in history, and they could go higher, further degarding fisheries
* provides that the PC facilities may be used in conjunction with the existing delta export facilities - suggesting that two sources of impact could be better than one without any operational guarantees
* an appointed commission would oversee the facility with vague powers & decision making ability
* proposes a wheeling charge for users, monies to be used for Ecosystem Restoration - at last!
* the programs and projects are not subject to the approval by any other state entity
* The public is being asked to pay $3 billion up front, but should costs higher the public will pay for that as well. One wonders why the beneficiarys don't pay for the water they take out of the estuary?
There is some good news. Senator Kuehl has introduced SB 1574, which would mandate DWR and DFG to study a reduced export pumping alternative as a part of SDIP. This would correct one of the failures of the SDIP EIR/EIS and we urge you to support SB 1574. You could combine your opposition to SB 1619 with support for SB 1574. Send mail, fax or make the calls ASAP! Both bills will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources Committee at 9:00 AM, on 25 April.
We're need to flood the office of Senator Kuehl with letters opposing SB 1612! Remember, if you stand by and let them do this without voicing your opposition, the legacy for future generations will be the results of our failure!
April 14, 2006
Senator Sheila Kuehl, Chairperson,
Senate Committee On Natural Resources & Water
Capitol Office State Capitol, Room 5108
Sacramento, CA 95814
Re: SB 1612
Very Truly Yours,
___________________________
Address____________________
___________________________
State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
April 14, 2006
State Capitol, Room 4062
Sacramento, CA 95814
Attn: Mr. Alan Gordon
Dear Senator Simitian:
Attached is a letter sent to Senator Kuehl, Chairperson, Senate Committee On Natural Resources & Water. In my letter I am opposing your bill.
Very Truly Yours,
___________________________
Address____________________
___________________________
Message Thread:
« Back to thread