Posted by Dave Hurley
on 6/8/2008, 5:50 pm
76.20.97.22
The California State Assembly voted 41-31 on May 29 for Assembly Bill 1806, the Fish Rescue Plans Bill sponsored by Assemblywoman Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to protect the declining fisheries in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The bill was originally set to be heard by the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on June 10, but the hearing has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, June 24. A massive outpouring of letters and phone calls is needed to push this billl through the State Senate. We also need to pack the hearing room at the State Capitol on June 24.
Passage of this bill becomes increasingly crucial when you consider the closure of California and Oregon ocean waters and Central Valley rivers for the first time in history this year. The closure is a result of the collapse of the Sacramento River fall chinook salmon population, the driver of West Coast salmon fisheries.
Although the Bush and Schwarzenegger adminstrations blame "ocean conditions" for the collapse, the real causes of the dramatic fishery decline are massive increases in water exports out of the California Delta and increasing water pollution by a toxic brew of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, selenium and other salts and domestic sewage discharge, including high levels of ammonia. These problems were compounded by the failure of the Department of Fish and Game to put hatchery salmon smolts in acclimation pens on San Pablo Bay two years in a row.
At the same time, four open water species - delta smelt, longfin smelt, threadfin shad and juvenile striped bass - have declined to record low population levels. The top cause of the decline is record increases in water exports, followed by toxics and invasive species.
"The bill requires full fishery mitigation for the impacts of the Federal and State Water Projects," said Gerald Neuburger of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. "This is absolutely essential if we are to stop the horrendous collapse of the fishery resources dependent on the delta and its tributaries."
Please send your letter NOW and make sure that you show up at the hearing on June 24.
Thanks
Dan
Photo: Lois Wolk's AB 1806, the Fish Rescue Plans Bill, aims to stop future environmental disasters like November 2007's
Prospect Island Fish Kill from taking place. The bill also requires full mitigation for the fish-killing impacts of the federal and state water projects upon California Delta fish. Photo by Dan Bacher.
fishkill.jpg
CSPA Advisory 6/4'2008: Your support is critical to move AB 1806 out of Senate Committee Hearings
The Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, originally scheduled for June 10th, has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th. Please send your letters NOW.
Hundreds of letters needed for AB 1806!
Anglers, conservationists and friends of the Delta and the Delta fisheries:
We are calling on YOU for hundreds of letters of support for AB 1806. The bill is critical for restoration of the delta fisheries.
This is NOT a slam-dunk deal. It is expected to be fought hard by water interests who could prevail.
The bill requires full fishery mitigation for the impacts of the Federal and State Water Projects. This is absolutely essential if we are to stop the horrendous collapse of the fishery resources dependent on the delta and its tributaries.
The next few weeks will be crunch time for AB 1806. The bill will have to successfully pass policy and appropriation committees in its route to a senate floor vote. Since it's already passed the assembly, if it passes the senate floor vote, it will go to the governor's desk for signature or veto.
Unfortunately, unlike the large water districts with their millions of dollars in revenue, the CSPA, the delta and delta fishermen have no professional lobbyists. That job has to be filled by YOU.
However, don't give up. YOUR LETTERS and YOUR opinions are much more influential than any lobbyist's maneuvering. Why? Because, you took the time, WITHOUT BEING PAID, to express your views to your state representative. And YOU vote!
CSPA and the fish in the delta are asking each of you to write two, possibly three letters, one each to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee AND, if you live in the district of any of the committee members, an additional letter to your district senator. These letters ARE important. They are recorded in favor and against a particular bill.
We also ask you to ask your significant other, your kids (a good lesson in civics), your friends, fishing buddies and neighbors to write as well. The addresses, e-mails and fax numbers of all of the committee members are listed below. Better yet, the e-mail addresses are hot. You can cut and paste your letter and send it NOW. The letters do not have to be long.
If you do not know your senatorial district, go to:
http://www.calsport.org/billtracker.htm
and enter your address complete with zip code. The program will respond with your district and senator's name.
Here is a sample letter that you may cut and paste. Please revise as you see fit.
*********************
Dear Senator [name, see below for cut and paste]
Re: In support of AB 1806
As a [angler, conservationist, concerned citizen] I am extremely concerned about the rapidly declining fishery resources of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The stocks of every species are in critical decline and some at the point of collapse. Much of this damage is caused by the excessive pumping of water from the delta to water agencies using this water for agricultural (85%) or municipal use (15%). AB 1806 will require full fishery mitigation for the losses suffered by the pumping process. Without this requirement, the delta fisheries will simply never be restored.
The Delta is not a political issue, its health is important to all Californians, Democrat and Republican, north and south, city dweller and farmer. Please support AB 1806 both in committee and when it reaches the senate floor. The state's ability to restore these fisheries is critical to properly protect the public's valuable natural resources.
Respectfully,
Name [Important]
Address including zip code [Important]
Phone number [Important]
E-mail address [Important]
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