Bill Jennings, legendary California fishery and water quality advocate, dies at age 79

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Wednesday December 28, 2022 · 2:02 PM PST

2022/12/28 · 14:02

Bill Jennings, the former DeltaKeeper and Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance and a relentless advocate for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and California's fish populations, passed away on Tuesday, December 27.

I worked closely with Bill over the past three decades and quoted him in numerous articles. We helped to expose the massive killing of fish in the Delta pumps and would collaborate every year on exposing the state and federal government's complete failure to restore Delta smelt, longfin smelt and other fish populations, as revealed in the dismal results of the CDFW's Fall Midwater Trawl Survey.

The most important lesson I learned from Bill was his analysis of WHY Delta and Central Valley fish populations have moved closer and closer to extinction, despite decades-long efforts by fishing groups, Tribe sand conservationists to restore these populations.

"The real issue here is the capture of the regulators by the regulated," Jennings told me.

Jennings was inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame this year. Those who worked closely with him over the years commented on his enormous legacy.

"He's left a legacy that everybody needs to keep alive. He was a great conservationist," said Roger Mammon, Secretary of the Board of Restore the Delta and President West Chapter of the California Striped Bass Association. "He dedicated his life to making sure that our waterways and fisheries are healthy."

In response to the passing of California Sportfishing Protection Alliance Executive Director Bill Jennings, San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Winn released the following statement:

“On behalf of San Joaquin County and my fellow supervisors, we are deeply saddened to learn that Bill Jennings passed away on Tuesday. For over three decades Bill has been a tireless water advocate in protecting fisheries, improving water quality and defeating multiple iterations of the Delta Tunnel Project. His activism and legacy will leave a lasting impact on water policy and projects in our region for many years to come. He will truly be missed.

We will keep Bill’s family and colleagues in our thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time.”

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, staled, “We are deeply saddened to share that California Sportfishing Protection Alliance has released a statement that activist and legendary water leader Bill Jennings, died on December 27, 2022. Bill was a co-founder of Restore the Delta, Board Member Emeritus of our organization, mentor and friend. Bill will be deeply missed.”

Jennings was also a longtime board member of the California Water Impact Network (C-WIN), a non-profit, tax exempt California corporation that advocates for the equitable and sustainable use of California’s fresh water resources for all Californians.

In addition, Jennings was a strong advocate of environmental justice, leading him to ally with Central Valley farmworker advocates, including the Community Water Center and Lideres Campesinos, in their battle to pressure the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Board and the State Water Board to clean up polluted agricultural drainage water and domestic drinking water supplies.

Chris Shutes, now the Acting Executive Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, summed up Jennings’ legacy in a statement.

“Above all, Bill was a relentless activist. For over 40 years, he used the law, meticulously documented data, an irascible wit, and a stinging pen to defend and protect his beloved Bay-Delta Estuary and all the rivers that feed it,” wrote Shutes.

Born in Kentucky in 1943, Bill grew up in northern Kentucky and southern Ohio. He attended the University of Tennessee, where he became active in the Civil Rights Movement. For several years during the Vietnam War, Bill was also a leading figure in draft resistance in Tennessee, according to Shutes.

Arriving in California in the early 1980s, Jennings fought in the fishery permitting processes for nearly four decades. He founded the Delta Angler, a fly fishing store and smoke shop, and quickly became involved in protecting fisheries.

Jennings wrote numerous comment letters, protests and petitions and frequently testifies in evidentiary proceedings. He managed an aggressive enforcement campaign that has generated millions of dollars for restoration projects.

Following a massive fish kill on the Mokelumne River, Jennings co-founded the Committee to Save the Mokelumne and served as its chairman. He chaired the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance since 1988 and was its executive director from 2005 until just recently, when Chris Schutes became Executive Director as Jennings health deteriorated after a terrible car accident.

Between 1995 and 2005 he served as the Deltakeeper. He was a Board Member of the California Water Impact Network and was one of the original founders and board member emeritus of Restore the Delta.

Jennings received numerous acknowledgments including the International Conservation Award from the Federation of Fly Fishers, the Director's Achievement Award from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Conservation Achievement Award from the California-Nevada Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, the Quality of Life Award from the Land Utilization Alliance, and the Delta Advocate Award from Restore the Delta.

The Outdoor Writers Association of California recognized him as Outdoor Californian of the Year and the Delta Fly Fishers selected him as Fly Fisherman of the Year. His efforts in obtaining an historic cleanup of Penn Mine on the Banks of the Mokelumne River led to awards by California Water Policy IX Conference.

“It’s a great honor to receive this recognition, considering those who have been inducted before me, including Pete Otteson, Jay Sorenson and Dave Hurley. Those are big tracks to follow,” Jennings told me after being inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame in January 2022.

Read the announcement and story of this amazing life from The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.

Here is my article in the Stockton Record about Jennings being inducted in the California Outdoors Hall of Fame this year: https://www.recordnet.com/story/sports/outdoors/fishing/2022/01/25/bill-jennings-dave-hurley-california-outdoors-hall-fame-stockton/9213546002/

Contributions in Bill’s memory can be made to the Stockton-based organization he directed, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, whose mailing address is P.O. Box 1061, Groveland, CA 95321. Donations can also be made on the CSPA website (https://calsport.org/news/).

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Bill Jennings, legendary California fishery and water quality advocate, dies at age 79

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