HR 2898, an agribusiness-backed “drought relief” bill that would strip environmental protections for Central Valley salmon and steelhead and Delta smelt, is back for the third time, according to an action alert from Restore the Delta (RTD).
Despite the efforts of Central Valley House Republicans to push the bill through, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer have spoken out against the bill.
Senator Barbara Boxer released this statement: "It is outrageous that Congressman McCarthy is making a last-minute attempt to place a complicated and unvetted water bill that impacts millions of Californians on the omnibus at the 11th hour."
Senator Dianne Feinstein also this morning released the following statement on the bill: “I understand that late Thursday night a drought bill was proposed as an addition to the omnibus. I am told it was proposed in my name, which I did not approve. This is regrettable, not only because I believe we remain close to an agreement on a broader bill, but also because it stands in opposition to my desire to do a bill in an open and public manner."
Senator Feinstein then issued another statement this afternoon:
“I want to set the record straight. To imply that the federal or state governments have signed off on a water bill is patently false. While we have reached agreement on major provisions, there are others that we do not have agreement on at this time.
“I spoke with Leader McCarthy and clearly said that we had to have sign-off on the bill from the federal and state governments, and that was the process we were undergoing.
“To pass any bill out of the Senate, it must be supported by both California senators. Senator Boxer has urged an open process and the sign-off of both the federal and state governments, which is a very reasonable request. It is my intention to finish this process and submit the bill for regular order.
Restore the Delta urged people to call Senator Boxer and Senator Feinstein to thank and remind them to protect the Delta in future drought negotiations.
Tell them: "Thank for you for NOT agreeing to a bad drought bill for the Delta (HR 2898). In future drought negotiations, please continue to protect and save the San Francisco Bay-Delta."
Senator Dianne Feinstein: (202) 224-3841 Click to Tweet RTD’s message to @SenFeinstein: clicktotweet.com/...
Senator Barbara Boxer: (202) 224-3553 Click to Tweet RTD’s message to @SenatorBoxer: clicktotweet.com/...
Call Congressman Kevin McCarthy and tell him this simple message: "The San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary must be protected. It is on the verge of collapse."
Rep. Kevin McCarthy: (202) 225-2915 Click to Tweet RTD’s message to Rep. McCarthy: clicktotweet.com/...
For the link to the Restore the Delta action alert, go to: restorethedelta.org/…
An editorial in the San Jose Mercury News on December 2, "Drought relief held hostage to trashing the Delta," slammed HR 2898. The San Jose Mercury News wrote, "Central Valley Republicans want to strip out essential environmental protections for the Delta to quench Big Ag's thirst for more water for questionable orchard crops such as almonds and pistachios." (http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_29192771/mercury-news-editorial-drought-relief-held-hostage-trashing)
While Governor Jerry Brown has mandated that California urban users, but bac their water use by 25 percent, agribusiness has actually planted 150,000 neew acres of almond trees during the drought: www.eastbayexpress.com/...
In July of this year, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, pointed out the threat posed by H.R. 2898 (Valadao), an odious bill “would maximize water exports from the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary and further weaken regulations for endangered fish species.”
"Today, Delta communities face invasive plant species and toxic algal blooms as a result of inadequate flow," said Barrigan-Parrilla. "HR 2898 does nothing to help with drought relief for 55 of California’s 58 counties. It does nothing but shift public health and wealth to private hands through water transfers. HR 2898 is not in the interest of taxpayers and the general public, it is the same old water grab for industrial mega-growers.”
Section 202 of SB 1894 will mandate killing of fish!
While Boxer and Feinstein's opposition to HR 2898 is appreciated, there is also an alarming provision in Feinstein's SB 1894, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2015, that fishing groups are strongly opposing.
"Included in the bill is an alarming mandate that requires the eradication of the so-called 'invasive'striped bass, largemouth, smallmouth, crappie and catfish from the Sacramento Delta," said Mike Everts, recreational angler. "This provision, if enacted, would also drastically affect the already dramatically declining numbers of striped bass in the San Francisco Bay."
"This requirement to eradicate striped bass, largemouth, smallmouth, crappie from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in SB 1894, section 202, MUST be removed," he stated.
These species are being made the scapegoats for the demise of Central Valley salmon and Delta smelt when in fact the state and federal export pumping facilities in the South Delta pumps are the largest non-discriminate predator in the estuary, according to Everts.
Everts is urging everybody concerned about the fisheries of the S.F.Bay-Delta Estuary to sign the petition posted on www.change.org by Bobby Barrack, fishing guide, and join the fight HERE: www.change.org/...
"Purposely hidden in section 202 of the 147 page bill is the mandate for the eradication of 'non native species' in the delta and its tributaries to include largemouth, smallmouth, striped bass, crappie and catfish," said Barrack. "The inclusion of these species in this bill MUST be removed. They are being made the scapegoats for the demise of the salmon and Delta Smelt when in fact the pumps are the largest non discriminate predator in the Delta."
"This eradication mandate will decimate the natural balance that has existed for 140 years, while doing NOTHING for the drought which is what the bill is supposed to address. It will sterilize sport fishing on the California Delta, as well as adversely affect many businesses that rely on income directly generated from Delta fishing, i.e., bait and tackle stores, hotels, restaurants, tackle manufacturers etc."