MWD Emails Show Water-Takers’ Secret Influence; Move to Gut Endangered Species Act Protections

Tunnel Critics:
MWD Emails Show Water-Takers’ Secret Influence;
Move to Gut Endangered Species Act Protections

Stockton, CA – Restore the Delta (RTD), opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build water export Tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom sustainable farms, salmon and other Pacific fisheries, today responded to a report in Energy & Environment Daily that shows water-takers are exerting undue influence over legislation, and directing a move to gut Endangers Species Act (ESA) protections.

“S. Calif. water district exerts heavy influence on legislative negotiations
Debra Kahn, Energy & Environment reporter
E&E Daily: Friday, March 27, 2015

“As congressional talks continue over California’s historic drought, one participant in the negotiations has been more influential than it has claimed.

“Metropolitan Water District, a consortium of 26 public agencies that supplies water to 19 million people in Southern California, sent Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-Calif.) proposals for managing the state’s water that made it into bills that passed both houses last year, according to documents obtained through a California Public Records Act request….”

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, responded to the report, “Metropolitan Water District, Paramount Farms and Westlands are pushing Sen. Feinstein and Congress to gut ESA protections. The ESA not only protects fish, but also water quality for four million Delta residents. How could anyone who loves California believe the Delta tunnels would be operated in a way to restore the estuary? Is Governor Brown going to sacrifice the San Francisco Bay-Delta, the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast, the jewel of Northern California, for almonds, fracking, and new luxury condos in the desert? What a worthless trade off!”

The full article is available here: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060015884

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 30, 2015
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta

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