Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3807 Mar 15-29 2019 | Page 23

March 15 - 29, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 6 Governor Newsom Appoints San Joaquin Grower Mike Lyons to New ‘Agriculture Liaison’ Position O By Dan Bacher n February 12, Governor Gavin “Bill and or his family and business Newsom has appointed a representative Newson announced the appoint- associates controlled three of the five that’s been on the side of larger corporate agricultural interests rather than small ment of William Lyons, 68, of Modesto, to votes on MID’s Board as long as most can remember (until Jim Mortensen bungled farmers,” said Lynn Plambeck, from the serve in a new position — the Agriculture it),” claimed Blake. “For years they funded Santa Clarita Organization for Planning Liaison in the Office of the Governor. any challenge to his votes/puppets by and the Environment and a local water Lyons, a San Joaquin Valley grower cutting a campaign donation check for district board member. “Perhaps he should who has opposed increased San Joaquin $5,000 anytime they were opposed during create a position for Delta farmers and the River flows, has been chief executive public as well if he is going to create a new officer of Lyons Investments Management, an election (in most elections they ran unopposed due to lack of interest). For position.” LLC since 1976. He previously served as perspective a $5,000 check in past MID On January 31, Cal Matters reported that Secretary of the California Department of terms was more like a $50,000, check Feinstein wrote a letter to the Governor Food and Agriculture from 1999 to 2004. today.” “asking Newsom to appoint Bill Lyons, a According to the Governor’s Office, California Waterfowl applauded Modesto farmer, to the post Marcus held.” “Lyons was selected as the western Newsom’s appointment of Lyons. “Bill Newson decided to not reappoint Felicia regional finalist for the National Fish Lyons understands conservation and water Marcus, the Chair of the State Water and Wildlife Foundation 2010 Conserva- issues that California Waterfowl will be Resources Control Board, under heavy tionist of the Year Award and received the working on with the Governor’s office,” pressure by Lyons and other agribusiness United States Department of Agriculture the group said in a statement. interests. Marcus was under fire by San National Environmentalist Award. He has Some independent policy analysts, Joaquin Valley growers for supporting an extensive background in agriculture and anglers and environmentalists were critical increased flows on the San Joaquin River water policy.” in the Water Quality Plan Update required ’I’m grateful for this opportunity to serve of this appointment, pointing out that having an agribusiness leader with such a under state law. Gov. Newsom and his Administration,” conflict of interest serving in the Gover- Instead, Newsom appointed Joaquin said Lyons in a news release from Mark nor’s Office is not good public policy Esquivel, 36, of Sacramento, as Chair of Looker of the Looker Communications — and just more of the deep regulatory the State Water Resources Control Board. Consulting Company. “I’m committed to capture that pervades California environ- Esquivel has served on the board since exploring balanced, common-sense and mental politics from top to bottom. 2017. Esquivel was assistant secretary science-based solutions for the critically ”This gives special access for some of for federal water policy at the California complex water and agricultural issues the largest water brokers and privately Natural Resources Agency from 2015 to facing the state.” held agribusiness corporations in Cali- 2017. “I understand the issues and concerns fornia,” said Deirdre Des Jardins of the “We have a big state with diverse water of California agriculture when it comes independent policy group California Water needs,” said Newson in his State of the to production issues, as well as environ- Research. “They are seeking to push junk State. “Cities that need clean water to mental and water policy issues,” said science that has been previously rejected drink, farms that need irrigation to keep Lyons. “I look forward to reaching out by the state water board, outside of the feeding the world, fragile ecosystems that to the California agriculture and water water board’s adjudicatory and regulatory must be protected. We need a portfolio communities, and the community at large, processes.” approach to building water infrastruc- to listen to their concerns and bring those In a blog post, she points out how this ture and meeting long-term demand. To issues forward to the Governor and his appointment calls into question whether help bring this balance, I’m appointing a staff so agriculture has a strong voice in Newsom will allow the Water Board to new chair of the California water board, Sacramento.” make its own independent decisions on the Joaquin Esquivel.” This position does not require Senate WQCP update and the “appropriate Delta In a similar vein to Newsom’s State of confirmation and the compensation is flow criteria” for the WaterFix:. Lyons’ the State, Feinstein’s letter cited “Lyons’ $175,008. Lyons is a Democrat. appointment, as well as the appointment knowledge of ‘environmental restoration The Governor’s Office’s press release of a new water board chair and board and agriculture innovation” as the reason didn’t mention that Bill Lyons owns member, is the result of heavy pressure by why he should be appointed as Chair of the Mapes Ranch, a 3,500 acre “diversified agribusiness interests and Senator Dianne State Water Resources Control Board. farming and cattle operation” producing Feinstein. “This unique background makes him almonds, wheat, tomatoes, alfalfa, corn, Environmentalists are also concerned perfectly qualified to guide the board grapes, oats, barley, beans, forage mix, about the lack of balance is Newsom’s through its present serious challenge of and melons, adjacent to 3,000 acres of appointment. “It is discouraging that restoring California’s imperiled fisheries rangeland. 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Grassroots conservationists disagree that Lyons is seriously inter- ested in “restoring California’s imperiled fisheries.” They argue instead that Lyons has strongly opposed the necessary flows to restore these collapsing fish populations. For example, on February 16, 2017, Lyons and a group of Central Valley agribusiness interests called the California Allied Grower Group sent Felicia Marcus a letter opposing “unimpaired flows” from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers into the Bay Delta Estuary that the state’s own scientists say are necessary for fish restoration and proposing “an alternative approach.” “The broad group of the undersigned farmers from throughout the Central Valley are writing to express our continuing concerns with the State Water Resources Control Board’s approach to the Bay-Delta— specifically the persistent reliance on “unimpaired flows” for both Phase I and Phase II of the water quality control plan— and to offer an alternative approach that we believe will work better for California,” Lyons and the other agri- cultural interests wrote. The letter is available here: https:// www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/ water_issues/programs/bay_delta/docs/ sed/app4a_all/4A-Ltrs/WQCP1_0533_ paul_adams.pdf Others who signed the letter include representatives of a virtual who’s who of Big Ag in California: Stewart and Lynda Resnick’s Wonderful Company; Wegis & Young, a full service farm management team; Nickel Family LLC, Bakersfield; Rio Bravo Ranch. Bakersfield; Booth Ranches, Orange Cove; Bowles Farming Company, Los Banos; and Hilmar Cheese Company, Hilmar. The signees also include two members of the Westlands Water District - Harris Ranch and John C. Harris and the Harris Feeding Company and Woolf Farming & Processing; The KFBK OUTDOOR SHOW 3507 with your host Bob Simms Listen Every Saturday Morning from 5 am to 8am on BOB SIMMS CALIFORNIA’S LONGEST RUNNING OUTDOOR TALK SHOW!