Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition 3812 May 24- June 7 2019 | Page 23

May 24 - June 7, 2019 VOL.38 • ISS. 12 T Newsom Pulls Delta Tunnels Permits, Takes Steps for One Tunnel Planning Process he Newsom administration on project, and work with Delta communi- May 2 shelved the plan to build ties and other stakeholders to limit local twin Delta Tunnels — and announced impacts of the project.” it will start a renewed environmental Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive review for a single Delta Tunnel. director of Restore the Delta, praised As the Delta smelt moves closer and DWR’s withdrawal of the application for closer to extinction in the wild, the the twin tunnels project. Department of Water Resources (DWR) “We are extremely pleased that the reported that it is “taking formal steps” Department of Water Resources has to withdraw proposed permits for the withdrawn its application for the twin WaterFix project and begin a renewed tunnels project,” she said. “We are environmental review and planning relieved that our coalition’s critique process for “a smaller, single tunnel of CA WaterFix made before the State project that will protect a critical source Water Resources Control Board was of water supplies for California.” taken seriously. We support a portfolio Thus, this announcement marks the approach to solving California’s water end of the twin tunnels project that challenges.” Arnold Schwarzenegger began in “We will collaborate and participate 2007, itself a revival of the peripheral in as many processes as possible, and canal plan that the voters overwhelm- we will support other communities in ingly rejected in the November 1982 California working on regional water election. After beginning his third term solutions. Naturally, as Delta people as Governor, Jerry Brown continued to we don’t care for tunnels, but we look pursue the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, forward to engaging in an honest and as it was called, until it was renamed the transparent public process that helps California WaterFix in 2015. move us towards the co-equal goals of “Today’s actions implement Governor the Delta Reform Act of 2009, including Gavin Newsom’s direction earlier this reducing reliance on the Delta,” Barrig- year to modernize the state’s water an-Parrilla stated. delivery infrastructure by pursuing a She listed a sample of some of the smaller, single tunnel project through questions Restore the Delta will be the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,” asking as further details about the new according to a statement from DWR. tunnel plan become public: “The project is needed to protect 1. Will water quality for the Delta water supplies from sea-level rise be protected for all beneficial uses and saltwater intrusion into the Delta, (swimmable, drinkable, fishable, as well as earthquake risk. It will be farmable)? designed to protect water supply reli- 2. Will impacts for residents be ability while limiting impacts on local reduced and will legacy towns be Delta communities and fish.” protected? However, Newsom continues to 3. Will fisheries be restored, including support one smaller Delta Tunnel that is meeting the doubling goals for salmon? based on the same controversial concept 4. Will Delta environmental justice of diverting water from the Sacramento communities in Stockton and Antioch be River under the Delta to fulfill the protected from degraded water quality, “coequal goals” of ecosystem resto- and construction emissions? ration” and “water supply reliability.” 5. Is there enough water available to “A smaller project, coordinated with justify paying for a tunnel, especially a wide variety of actions to strengthen during times of extended drought? And existing levee protections, protect if so, will exported water first be used to Delta water quality, recharge depleted improve drinking water quality for the groundwater reserves, and strengthen 1 million Californians in need of safe local water supplies across the state, drinking water. will build California’s water supply John McManus, President of the resilience,” claimed Natural Resources Golden Gate Salmon Association Secretary Wade Crowfoot. (GGSA), also praised the Newsom DWR Director Karla Nemeth took Administration for withdrawing the twin action to rescind an array of permitting tunnels permit application: applications for the WaterFix project, “We are grateful to Governor Newsom including those in front of the State Water Resources Control Board, Cali- fornia Department *Trolling of Fish and Wildlife, Motors and federal agencies *Fishfinders responsible for *GPS compliance with the *VHF Endangered Species Radios Act. *Radar DWR said it will *Batteries “work with local and public water agencies Chargers that are partners in the conveyance ONE DAY SERVICE Largest Service project to incorporate on Installations with appointment Center the latest science and in the West! innovation to design the new conveyance Marine Electronics Sales • Service • Installation Electric Marine (916) 487-3868 Sunny’s 21 By Dan Bacher and his team for the steps taken today. As a result, we’re more hopeful for the future of the salmon runs we rely on to feed our families and keep our commu- nities whole. We’re more hopeful that California’s incredible salmon runs, natural resources, and environment might have a better chance to heal.” “GGSA was party to a lawsuit chal- lenging the twin tunnels and that suit may have played into the governor’s decision to call for a reset. Salmon fishermen and women look forward to working with the governor’s team on ways forward that share the state’s precious water in ways that work better for everyone,” McManus stated. The water contractors that have been pushing for the construction of the Delta Tunnels also “declared victory” with DWR’s announcement. “We are pleased that Gov. Newsom’s Administration has reaffirmed a strong commitment to modernize the state’s water delivery infrastructure with a single-tunnel project in the Delta,” said Jeff Kightlinger, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). “We will work with the administration to expeditiously advance a project that is long overdue to both meet the water reli- ability needs of the state and minimize impacts to the communities and ecology of the Delta.” Deirdre Des Jardins of California Water Research, in response to DWR’s announcement, commented, “Normally petitions for Change in Point of Diversion go through a protest reso- lution phase, which can take years. At the request of the Department of Water Resources, the protest resolution phase for the WaterFix Change Petition was skipped and a hearing was scheduled.” “During the hearing, the project was changed repeatedly to address protests to the Change Petition, including the signing of a new Coordinated Operating Agreement in December of 2018. The withdrawal of the WaterFix project approval is just the latest effort to resolve protests to the project. The project should never have gone to a hearing,” she concluded. Many Delta leaders, fishermen, Tribal leaders, conservationists and environ- mental justice advocates are opposed to the very concept of the Delta Tunnels, whether one or two, since the plan is based on the concept that taking more water out of the Sacramento River before it reaches the Delta will “restore” the ecosystem, even though there is no case in world or U.S. history where diverting more water out of a river or estuary has resulted in the restoration of that river or estuary. For them, the concept of a Delta Tunnel, canal or similar conveyance is non-negotiable. “The California Delta Chambers & Visitor’s Bureau opposes diverting the Sacramento River around the Delta,” said Bill Wells, the Executive Director of the California Delta Chambers & Visitor’s Bureau., on February 12. “We have never made a distinction over the method of diversion, whether it be canals, tunnels, or any other convey- ance. Diverting the river will destroy what is left of the Delta. The water barons in the south will want as much water as they can get out of the system and they will not finance it unless they are assured of this. We do not trust them!” On April 29, Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order directing state agencies to “prepare a water resilience portfolio” for California. “California’s water challenges are daunting, from severely depleted groundwater basins to vulnerable infra- structure to unsafe drinking water in far too many communities. Climate change magnifies the risks,” said Governor Newsom. “To meet these challenges, we need to harness the best in science, engineering and innovation to prepare for what’s ahead and ensure long-term water resilience and ecosystem health. We’ll need an all-of-above approach to get there.” 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!