For Immediate Release: 2/19/2020
Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, 209-479-2053, barbara@restorethedelta.org
The Sacramento Bee is reporting this afternoon:
Gov. Gavin Newsom, in a pre-emptive strike against President Donald Trump, said Wednesday he plans to sue Trump’s administration to block a controversial plan to increase water deliveries to the San Joaquin Valley.
Newsom’s office said he “will file legal action in the coming days … to protect highly imperiled fish species close to extinction.”
The announcement came just minutes before Trump appeared in Bakersfield to announce he’s finalized an order removing regulatory roadblocks and enabling the giant Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta pumps to deliver additional water to the southern half of the state.
Statement from Governor Newsom:
“We will file legal action in the coming days to challenge the federal biological opinions to protect highly imperiled fish species close to extinction. Our goal continues to be to realize enforceable voluntary agreements that provide the best immediate protection for Delta species, reliable and safe drinking water, and dependable water sources for our farmers for economic prosperity. This is the best path forward to sustain our communities, our environment and our economy.”
Barbara Barrigan-Parilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta said:
“Thank you, Governor Newsom, for keeping your word to sue the Trump Administration to protect the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. We know we have pushed you hard, but we love the estuary, and its people, and will fight hard because it is worth saving.”