Drought vs. Species

While the drought in California definitely puts stress on some native species, some of our Congressional Delegation wants to finish the job. Click on Read more! to see the latest alert from Restore the Delta.

In particular, I would like residents of the 23rd, 38th and 43rd Congressional Districts to make sure the call their Representatives and make sure this bill never gets out of committee. Contact info is below. (McClintock - CA 4th CD is such a right wing ideologue that calling him will make no difference... other than to remind him that his election was tenuous.)

Anyone from Arizona (Grijvala), Washington (Hastings, Inslee) or Oregon (DeFazio) who reads this on Green Change... please contact these Water and Power SubCommittee members as well. This is a very bad bill that set a very bad precedent.

Water Exporters Want to End the Endangered Species Act

Restore the Delta is asking you to take special action on behalf of
protecting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

Dear Restore the Delta Supporters,

As reported in The Stockton Record on February 10, 2009, Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) has introduced a bill to bypass the endangered species law so exports of Delta water to corporate agri-business in the Central Valley can be increased during this period of drought.

Alex Breitler of The Stockton Record reports that Radanovich said that "pumping restrictions to protect Delta smelt and other species at the expense of farmers amounts to 'economic eco-terrorism'".

Of course Congressman Radanovich has forgotten the economic eco-terrorism that has been inflicted on commercial fisheries, the Delta sportsfishing economy, and Delta agriculture as a result of years of excessive water exports to support Central Valley agri- business.

Even more disturbing is that Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), one of the bill's co-sponsors, has forgotten that he represents people who live in the secondary zone of the Delta and that the people he represents in central Stockton are alarmed over the condition of Delta fisheries and what water exports have done to our local Delta economy.

So, here's how you can help. First, call the eight sponsors of H.R. 856 to express your outrage at their disregard for the economic eco-interests of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Tell them that the business as usual regarding California water policy must end. Direct them to the Restore the Delta website and tell them that Regional Water Self- Sufficiency, rather
than moving water from Northern California to Southern California, is the best way to meet California's water needs. Tell them that they need to focus on breaking dependence on the Delta to meet the state's water needs. It is the cost effective way, in these difficult economic times, to address our water problems.

In addition, contact the following members of the House Natural Resources Committee to express your opposition to H.R. 856. Let them know that increased Delta exports in a time of drought will deal the final deathblow to Delta fisheries. Let them know that the Delta's $2.5 billion economy is dependent on water flowing into the Delta for fisheries and Delta agriculture. Let them know that Delta farms are mainly family farmers also deserving of economic protection.

Thank you for your participation and support of this vitally important effort.

Yours in service,

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta

Congressional Sponsors of H.R. 856

Representative George Radonovich (R-CA-District 19) - 202-225-4540;
Representative Ken Calvert (R- CA-District 44) - 202-225-1986;
Representative Jim Costa (D-CA-20) - 202-225-3341;
Representative Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-22) -- 202-225-2915;
Representative Devin Nunes (R-CA-21) - 202-225- 2523;
Representative Dennis Cardoza (D-CA-18) - 202-225-6131;
Representative David Dreier (R-CA- 26) - 202-225-2305;
Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-5)-202-225-2006;
Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA-46) - 202-225-2415


Key Members of the House Natural Resource Committee

Representative Rick J. Rahall, II, Chair, (D-WV-3)- 202-225-3452;
Representative Grace F. Napolitano (D- CA-38) 202-225-5256;
Representative Lois Capps (D- CA-23) - 202-225-3601;
Representative Joe Baca (D- CA-43) - 202-225-6161;
Representative Elton Gallegly (R-CA-24) - 202-225-5811;
Representative Tom McClintock (R-CA-4) - 202-225-2511



About Restore the Delta

Restore the Delta is a grassroots campaign committed to making the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta fishable, swimmable, drinkable, and farmable to benefit all of California. Restore the Delta - a coalition of Delta residents, business leaders, civic organizations, community groups, faith-based communities, union locals, farmers, fishermen, and environmentalists - seeks to strengthen the health of the estuary and the well-being of Delta communities. Restore the Delta works to improve water quality so that fisheries and farming can thrive together again in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.