The Sacramento Bee reported that state officials cut water pumping from the Delta this week — even with full reservoirs and a solid snowpack.
While state agencies said the move was to protect endangered fish, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, pointed to what’s really going on: the federal government’s aggressive water grabs are throwing the system out of balance.
“If they don’t hold the federal operators accountable,” Barbara told The Bee, “there is going to be an imbalance between meeting the water needs of the Central Valley water systems and the farmers, and we’re never going to get in balance to save the estuary.”
The federal government has been pumping more water out of the Delta under President Trump’s executive order, and that increased pressure is undercutting state conservation efforts.
Barbara is calling on Governor Newsom to step up and push back against these federal actions before it’s too late. It’s not enough to follow the permits—the state needs to lead with a proactive plan to protect the Delta, restore fish populations, and ensure long-term water balance. Read the full story here: Sacramento Bee article
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