Posted by John H. Banks
on 4/28/2009, 3:56 pm
66.53.238.191
I just got home from Sacramento where I attended the Assembly hearing on SB-1253. This bill would remove all DFG protections from the Striped Bass and de-classify this as a non-game fish. This, of course, is a smokescreen to pump more water at Clifton Court. The argument is that the Striped Bass is responsible for the decline of Delta Smelt and Salmon. These fish and others, have co-existed in our Delta for 130 years and all species prospered until massive water diversion began to kill off all species, included Striped Bass.
Assembly Woman Fuller realized that she did not have votes to get this bill through committee, so at 9:00 P.M., last night she pulled all the provisions of SB-1253 and amended the bill to have Cal-Fed Scientists do another study to find out what is causing the decline of our total fish populations, and to see how predation affects fish populations.
Study after study have already been done, and the vast majority of scientists blame water diversions and water polution for the fish population decline.
Are these water agency's going to "shop around" until they get a "scientific opinion" that they agree with ?
We should all move along and work towards solutions that will benefit Agricultue, Fisheries, and our Delta.
I am very proud of our Northern California Fishing Organizations because approximately 100 anglers crowded the hearing room to speak against this bill and the amended version. Unfortunately,the amended version passed, so we will get another Cal-Fed study.
The stated reason for targeting the Striped Bass is because it is a non-native specie. Maybe the water diverters should quit growing NON-NATIVE CROPS. John B
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