Posted by red on 9/18/2009, 5:03 pm
4.246.220.174
Greetings!
"We are just looking for a makeover of our current image."." ---Damian Breaux
BDCP Makeover
Upcoming Meetings Slated for Delta Communities
Restore the Delta staff members have spent considerable time recently evaluating overall Bay Delta Conservation Plan and current strategies being implement by the California Resources Agency to "involve" Delta communities in the BDCP process.
The Resources Agency is hosting four meetings starting this coming Saturday. The schedule is as follows: Sept 19, 2009, 8 am to 1 pm, Brentwood; Sept 22, 2009; Sept 22, 2009 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm Stockton; Sept. 24, 2009, 8 am to 1pm, West Sacramento; September 29, 2009, 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm, Walnut Grove. (For location and directions click here for the BDCP calendar.)
Restore the Delta's response to these meetings and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is twofold. First, despite its name, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan has always been a tool for ensuring reliable water supplies for export. It is a tool for the Schwarzenegger peripheral canal strategy.
For instance, as Jane Wagner-Tyack with RTD writes, "It was clear from the outset of the BDCP process that the preferred strategy for conservation of Bay Delta habitat would be some kind of conveyance to move Sacramento River water from Hood to the exports pumps at the south end of the Delta, with diversions as necessary to supposedly meet requirements for fish."
Wagner-Tyack adds, "In its formation, the BDCP steering committee originally had 23 members, including three fish agencies and six carefully- selected environmental organizations that are willing to support a peripheral canal. Contra Costa Water District, which has export contracts, is the only agency in the five Delta counties that has a place on the steering committee. San Joaquin, Yolo, Sacramento, Solano, and Contra Costa counties have formed the Five Counties Coalition to speak with one voice to the BDCP, since their local governments and communities are not otherwise represented. South Delta Water Agency and Central Delta Water Agency, declined to apply to be on the steering committee when it was made clear to them that they could have no meaningful impact on the decisions made by the Potentially Regulated Entities (PREs), that is, the export agencies. Representatives from Delta fishery organizations, who believe that new conveyance is not in the best interests of Delta fisheries, were excluded from the Steering Committee." Eventually, a paid staff position for the North Delta Water Agency was eventually added to the Steering Committee.
Because of continuous criticism by Delta advocates regarding the lack of Delta representation, the Resources Agency has embarked on its new community outreach effort, described by us as the BDCP makeover. The published agenda for these community meetings shows a heavily controlled meeting process that will not allow for really any open comments from Delta community members. In addition, when we consider that the Steering Committee, in particular the water export agencies have final say on the BDCP's outcome, this public process, like the CalFed process of the 1990's and most recently the Delta Vision Stakeholders process, appears to be another exercise in futility. As a rule of thumb, recommendations made by Delta advocates, tribal advocates, fishery advocates, and representatives for the environmental justice community, are documented and then placed in a bureaucrat's drawer and never included in any final recommendations.
That is why we are inviting all our supporters to join us for a rally before the Stockton Bay Delta Conservation Plan Meeting on September 22, 2009 at 3 p.m. across the street from the Civic Memorial Auditorium - 525 North Center Street, Stockton, CA 94513 -- Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Let's make it known what we think of a conservation plan that fails to include Delta farming and fishing representatives, as well as our local elected officials. Let's let them know what we want for the Delta's future.
Second, Restore the Delta recognizes that many people may also wish to make comments during the workshop. It is advised that people wanting to participate read the conservation plan at http://baydeltaconservationplan.com and review the workshop agenda. In addition, check back on Monday at the Restore the Delta website for our talking points on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.
Paul Rodriguez Fails to Respond to Delta Invitation
Paul Rodriguez who is a represenatative for the Latino Water Coalition was invited by Restore the Delta staff (Babarbara Barrigan-Parrilla) via a personal invitation at the Capitol 4 weeks ago to meet with Delta farm workers and local Latino advocates to talk about Delta farm community needs. When approached by Restore the Delta and invited to consider the job needs of Delta people and that we cannot fix Central Valley communities by destroying Delta communities, his response was a flip comment about the poor fishermen. Ms. Barrigan-Parrilla made it clear to him that he needed to meet with our local farming and farm worker community. His people told Restore the Delta staff that they would be in contact with us. We have never heard back from his people.
Tonight on Fox News Paul Rodriguez continued to perpetuate the false fish vs. people myth. He talks about the need to grow food, but won't acknowledge the 500,000 acres of prime Delta farmland that grows food for our nation, rather than export to China like Central Valley almond growers. When presented with facts, he chooses to ignore them.
Our supporters have repeatedly asked Sean Hannity to come to the Delta. Fox News has repeatedly ignored our requests. We are asking each and every one of you to call, write, and email Sean Hannity. Demand that he comes to the Delta and interviews Delta farmers, Delta farm workers, and fishermen who have experienced two years of unemployment.
Demand that Fox News ask Governor Schwarzenegger, the Delta Terminator, where is the protection for Delta family farmers and California's commercial fishermen?
Make a Donation
Restore the Delta is working everyday through public education and citizen activism to ensure the restoration and future sustainability of the California Delta. Your general contribution can help us sponsor outreach events, enable us to educate Californians on what makes the Delta so special, and assist us in building a coalition that will be recognized by government water agencies as they make water management decisions.
Restore the Delta is a charitable 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible.
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