Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 2724 Nov 9-23 | Page 24

24 Nov 9 - 23, 2018 VOL.37 • ISS. 24 Memo Directs Department of Interior to Reduce Salmon Protections ongressman Jeff Denham (CA-10) on October 19 joined President Donald Trump in Arizona for the signing of a memorandum directing the Department of Interior to cut environmental protections for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in order to benefit Central Valley agribusiness interests. The memo directs the Department of Interior to deliver more Sacramento and San Joaquin River water to big growers in the San Joaquin Valley — and less to salmon and other imperiled fish populations and the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary. The memo was issued just prior to the midterm elections as Denham and other incumbents face tough election challenges. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, Denham and agribusiness groups praised the memorandum on western water, while fishing and environmental groups condemned it. The memorandum is available here: https://t.co/kNbTDw8DBP The memorandum directs the Depart- ment of the Interior and the Department of Commerce “to work together to deliver western communities the water supplies they need to irrigate millions of acres of farmland and provide water and power to millions of Americans,” according to a statement from Zinke’s Office. “Water is the lifeblood of any thriving economy, and its importance in the West cannot be overstated,” said Secretary Zinke. “We want to use water in the most practical sense, and make sure our water infrastructure is in world class shape for all uses. Working to get our farms the water they need is key to rural pros- perity, and I applaud President Trump for making this key issue a top priority of his administration.” The Memorandum directs the Interior and Commerce Departments to take a number of specific actions, including: • “Expediting regulatory actions essential to the operation of water infrastructure • Improving the information and modeling capabilities related to water availability • Expanding use of water desalination and water recycling • Accelerating and clarifying require- ments for compliance with the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act • Removing unnecessary burdens unique to the operation of the Columbia River Basin’s water infrastructure.” Representative Denham lauded the memo in a press release. “My number one priority has always been to deliver more water to the Central Valley,” said Denham . “This order will reduce regulatory burdens and promote more efficient environ- mental reviews of California water storage projects, ensuring that Valley farmers and residents have a supply of water for genera- tions to come.” Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) also applauded the executive action. “Today’s announcement by the President is the next step in restoring more reliable water supplies to all regions of California,” said Costa. “For years, communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley have been harmed by the regulations imposed under the Endangered Species Act which reduce the Valley’s water supplies in order to restore fish populations.” Fellow Democratic Congressman John Garamendi (CA-3), a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee who represents over 200 miles of the Sacra- mento Valley, slammed the memo. “President Trump is continuing his attack on the environment and on California’s consti- tutional right to determine its water policies,” said Garamendi. “Not only is he attacking the multi-million dollar fishing industry in Cali- fornia, but he’s also attacking the contractual and legal rights of water districts and seems determined to advance the disastrous $20 billion twin tunnels boondoggle.” “This is nothing but a cynical effort to build support for his endangered political allies in the Central Valley. I’ll defend the Delta against anyone, no matter who it is or which political party they belong to,” said Garamendi. Fishing and environmental groups blasted the signing of the memorandum as a political move to bolster the chances of incumbents whose campaigns are heavily funded by corporate agribusiness interests. “Western water mismanagement has been horrendous for commercial, recreational, and guide fisheries in California,” said Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations (PCFFA) executive director Noah Oppenheim in a statement. “Water users have sucked our rivers dry for far too long, and the fish have been paying the price.” “ Just last month the Secretary of Commerce declared our 2016 and 2017 fishing seasons to be official federal fishery disasters. With today’s announcement, the Administration is poised to ram another ill-founded biological opinion down our throats. Why such a short timeline? Seems like things are getting desperate at the Depart- ment of the Interior and a few Central Valley congressional races to me,” said Oppenheim. PCFFA is the largest organiza- tion of commercial fishermen on the West Coast, with over 750 members fishing for sustainable seafood from Santa Barbara to Alaska, according to Oppenheim. Barbara Barrig- an-Parrilla, executive 100 Rounds director of Restore BOOK EARLY! Sporting Clays the Delta, criticized Only $35 Denham for “leading Call Now And Get On 1000 Rounds the charge to interfere Sporting Clays Only $320 with states rights to Target For Our Unbeatable Company or Corporate shoots oversee and operate its Prices & Service! available at reasonable prices! water delivery system” by pressuring Trump 45 Miles North to sign the presidential of Sacramento www.lincraahauges.com • traahauge@yahoo.com memorandum. 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(530) 724-0552 By Dan Bacher of the Central Valley Project.” “The real water grab is what “Our concern is that Congressman Congressman Denham is inflicting on Denham’s effort to stop the needed resto- the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary,” ration of river flows downstream in the said Barrigan-Parrilla-Parrilla. “Denham, Delta, with passage of these riders, would a supposed conservative, is leading the mean that millions of Bay-Delta residents charge to interfere with state rights to would have no legal recourse for deterio- oversee and operate its water delivery rated water quality conditions and reduced systems, by pushing President Trump for access to needed fresh water supplies from Federal intervention in the Water Quality a re-operation of water projects – all to Plan for the Bay-Delta currently before the State Water Resources Control Board. support almond growers up and down the San Joaquin Valley, whose crops are sold In the process, he is splitting his own mostly to foreign markets,” she stated. district, forgetting what is important to “This matches up with recent campaign his constituents in San Joaquin County – contributions Congressman Denham a healthy and restored Delta.” has taken from Stewart Resnick of the “While we would like to see even more Wonderful Company, and board members flows restored to rivers that flow into the from the Oakdale Irrigation District, and San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary than show the Congressman’s concerns for the what is presently being considered by the State Water Board, the present plan before top 1% of agribusiness at the expense of everyday Californians.” the Board, which President Trump and “Californians should not be fooled,” she Interior Secretary Zinke are now trying added. “Congressman Denham is using the to help Representative Denham thwart, San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary to further contains at least an improvement over his political aspirations and to hold onto current in-flow conditions for the San power. He is no friend of the estuary, or his Francisco Bay-Delta estuary,” she stated. constituents who depend on a healthy San She also pointed out that Denham, Francisco Bay-Delta.” supposedly an “opponent” of the tunnels The signing of the memorandum takes project, is promoting two Congressional place as Governor Jerry Brown continues riders that would ban the ability of Delta to promote his Delta Tunnels, considered residents to sue over the tunnels and to be the most environmentally destructive Central Valley Project operations. public works project in California history “Congressman Denham, who claims by opponents, before he leaves office in to be against the Brown Administra- January 2019. tion’s WaterFix tunnels, has, however, also voted for and helped to advance the controversial Calvert and Valadao riders in the Depart- *Trolling ment of Interior Motors House Appropri- ations bill,” she *Fishfinders revealed. “The *GPS Calvert rider would *VHF strip Delta residents Radios of due process *Radar rights by blocking *Batteries their ability to and litigate over the Chargers tunnels project, while the Valadao ONE DAY SERVICE Largest Service rider would block on Installations with appointment Center Delta residents from in the West! being able to litigate over the operation Marine Electronics Sales • Service • Installation Sunny’s Electric Marine 3705 C (916) 487-3868 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!