Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3805 Feb 15- Mar 1 | Page 23

Feb 15 - Mar 1, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 5 21 Senator Dianne Feinstein Drops Support for WIIN Act Amendment (for Now) S funding for the San Luis Dam seismic remediation over any new dams, according to Deirdre Des Jardins of California Water Research. “I think the SWP and CVP contractors didn’t want to have Representative Jared Huffman hold a hearing and receive testimony on alternatives to new dams and why San Luis is one earthquake away from catastrophe whenever it is full,” said Des Jardins. The letter from the Environmental Water Caucus, Planning and Conservation League, California Sportfishing Protec- tion Alliance, California Water Impact Network, Restore the Delta, California Water Research and the Southern Cali- fornia Watershed Alliance stated: “Our organizations continue to advocate that Congress consider the WIIN Act extension in regular order, with hearings next year. In the new Congress, our organi- zations urge you to consider funding new water supplies that are environmentally superior to new dams, including recycling, storm water capture, and groundwater treatment, including desalination of brackish groundwater. Demand manage- ment, including fallowing of impaired farmland, and increases in efficiency of agricultural and urban water use, is also essential in adapting to severe droughts and climate change. For more details, see the Environmental Water Caucus report, A Sustainable Water Plan for California.” The groups also urged Feinstein to prioritize the San Luis (B.F. Sisk) Dam seismic remediation over funding for new California dams under the WIIN Act extension. “If necessary, major multi-year spending commitments should be delayed until costs for the seismic remediation of San Luis Dam are available. There is a long standing issue with geotechnical deficien- cies in the San Luis Dam embankments. The dam is also in a very seismically active area. Independently reviewed risk assessments for Reclamation have shown that a large earthquake could lead to crest settlement and overtopping of the dam, which would result in large uncontrolled releases and likely dam failure,” they wrote. Opposition by Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA), the California Legislative Delta Caucus and other elected officials also played a key role in defeating the WIIN Act amendment for the time being. In December, Senator Harris announced her opposition to the amendment to the controversial “Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation” (WIIN) Act. The deal was proposed by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senator Dianne Feinstein and was supported by the Jerry Brown and the Donald Trump administration. “We must invest in sustainable water projects that protect critical ecosystems while also supporting our important agri- cultural economies across the state,” said Senator Harris in a tweet. “Extending the controversial and detrimental policies of the WIIN Act is not the way to do this.” On November 30, then-Governor Jerry Brown announced his endorsement of the 7-year extension of the WIIN Act, “including important provisions that House Majority Leader McCarthy and Senator Feinstein have proposed that By Dan Bacher enable California water users to participate extensions are dangerous and irrespon- in voluntary agreements and help improve sible. In her letter, Senator Feinstein river flows to restore fish populations.” stated, ‘I strongly believe that we must Along with Senator Harris, Assembly- continue to look for ways to address the member Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), increasing threat of drought by investing the Co-Chair of the California Legislative in water infrastructure, ensuring a reliable Delta Caucus, strongly opposed proposed water supply, and protecting our state’s extensions to the Water Infrastructure fish and wildlife.’ I agree with the senator. Improvements for WIIN Act. I look forward to working with her to “As Co-Chair of the California Legis- identify sustainable water solutions that lative Delta Caucus, I urge Senator won’t devastate the economy and environ- Feinstein, Governor Brown, and Repre- ment of one third of the state to benefit the sentative McCarthy to end their support other two-thirds.” for the misguided and harmful WIIN Act Assemblymember Frazier represents the extensions currently under consideration 11th Assembly District, which includes in Congress,” he said. “By pursuing this the communities of Antioch, Bethel power grab, they are sending a clear Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, message of support for billionaire agri- Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, business and contractors at the expense Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, of local fishermen, farmers, and the water Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, quality of an entire region. Instead of Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove. giving water away to billionaires, I ask that they stand up for the Delta that we call home, and the millions of Californians who believe that small businesses and the Delta’s precious environment should have a fair chance to thrive.” After Feinstein announced her withdrawal of support, for now, for extending portions of the Water Infrastructure Terry Improvements for 100 Rounds the Nation (WIIN) Raahauge’s Sporting Clays Act, Frazier issued Only $35 a statement praising Memorial Hunt Feb. 23th 1000 Rounds the decision: Pheasants $25 Ea Sporting Clays Only $320 “Senator Feinstein Chukar $15 Ea Company or Corporate shoots is listening to her available at reasonable prices! BOOK EARLY! constituents and that 45 Miles North is to be applauded. of Sacramento www.lincraahauges.com • traahauge@yahoo.com The WIIN Act Pheasant, Chukar and Sporting Clays At Its Finest • 3 PHEASANTS FOR ...$92 • 8 CHUKARS FOR.......$154 3 Pheasants & • 12 PHEASANTS FOR $336 100 Sporting Clays • 3 PHEASANTS + $125 4 CHUKARS FOR ....$164 17 Station Sporting Clay Course! (530) 724-0552 enator Dianne Feinstein said she has withdrawn her support, at least for now, for a proposed amendment to the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN Act) that would have weakened protections for endan- gered salmon and steelhead and other fish species and allowed more pumping of Delta water to corporate agribusiness interests. “I understand that you are concerned about a proposed amendment to fiscal year 2019 funding legislation that would have extended portions of the Water Infrastruc- ture Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (Public Law 114-322) related to California drought,” she wrote. “You may be pleased to learn that this amendment is no longer being considered for inclusion in any current legislative package.” However, she noted, “I strongly believe that we must continue to look for ways to address the increasing threat of drought by investing in water infrastructure, ensuring a reliable water supply, and protecting our state’s fish and wildlife.” “Throughout my time in the Senate, I have sought to balance the competing demands on California’s water resources. Years of prolonged drought have placed unprecedented stress on our state’s water infrastructure, which was designed for the 16 million people who lived in California in the 1960s, but now supplies more than 40 million people. I have worked to secure substantial investment in California’s water infrastructure while ensuring that new laws do not violate existing federal and state environmental protection,” Feinstein concluded. Representatives of fishing and environ- mental groups were glad that Feinstein dropped her dangerous amendment, although they noted that the original WIN Act was still in effect. The WIIN Act, passed in 2016, enacted temporary changes to allow increased pumping of Delta water to agribusiness in the aftermath of a historic drought in California. The proposed extensions would prolong those short-term emergency provi- sions until 2028, without regard to actual drought conditions or Delta water quality. In response to Feinstein’s letter, John McManus, President of the Golden Gate Salmon Association. said: “Don’t be fooled...the WIIN Act is still law until December 2021 and the current federal government is still citing it as justification to crank the Delta pumps sky high.” “They want to take us back to the bad old days of the early 2000’s when they diverted record amounts of salmon water. It’s no coincidence that massive numbers of baby salmon were killed and fishing was shut down for the first time in history in 2008 and 2009,” according to McManus. A broad coalition of Tribal leaders, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, environmental justice advocates, Delta residents, family farmers and elected officials opposed the WIIN Act and its dangerous amendment – and their political pressure worked in defeating the amendment. On December 21, a coalition of environ- mental and fishing groups had requested that funding for environmentally superior alternatives to new dams be prioritized in any WIIN Act extension, as well as The KFBK OUTDOOR SHOW 3507 1 Rated with your Outdoor Radio Show host for 26 years! # Bob Simms Fishing • Hunting • Destinations Conservation • History Dedicated to the Northern California Outdoorsman Listen Every Saturday Morning from 5 am to 8am on BOB SIMMS CALIFORNIA’S LONGEST RUNNING OUTDOOR TALK SHOW!