Politicians Positions on Water Issues for CA

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Flutterby

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I'm making this a priority for this year's primary and general elections. I will be sharing info as I learn it and would encourage others to do the same!

If you know a politician's position on our water issues, please post it here so everyone who loves the Delta and loves fishing can vote with this knowledge.

McClintock and Pombo are both in favor of shipping more water to the "drought stricken Central Valley". That be our water, of course!
 
George Miller is the only politico that I know of that backs sport fishing positions and conservation for our Delta. Most of the others will change their position as it suits them.
 
Lois Volk is a strong supporter of the Delta. But she got elected, so we can't vote for her again this year.

Garamendi seems to favor the Delta now that he has moved in to represent the 10th District, but I'm not sure he can be trusted when push comes to shove. We need to watch his votes carefully.
 
Well, it looks like Carly won't be getting my vote either.

http://carlyforca.com/2010/03/fresno-county-supervisor-debbie-poochigian-endorses-carly-fiorina/

Here is the email I just fired off to her:
"Based on your the endorsement by Fresno County Supervisor Debbie Poochigian, I can no longer support your candidacy. I am opposed to any candidate for any office which thinks that shipping more water to Westlands to be sold at high markups is a good thing for California.

Reference: http://aguanomics.com/2010/03/water-is-money-is-politics.html

I will support only candidates who in favor of Protecting and Restoring the Delta.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth J Reuter
M/V Flutterby
Bethel Island, CA 94511"
 
Is there anyone that is running for governor or any other office that doesn't want to suck the delta dry? It seems to me that everyone, both Republicans and Democrats, are determined to turn it into a salt water cesspool. How will we be able to avert the inevitable?
 
I'll let everyone know if I ever find one! I fear that anyone who is serious about running gets "bought" by Westlands' cartel.......

Does anyone know Jerry Brown's and/or Steve Poizner's position OR receiving support [aka funds] from Westlands? Follow the money folks!!!
 
The following Congressmen (Democrats) sent a letter of opposition to Feinstein's water plan.

--Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
--Rep. Pete DeFazio of Oregon
--Rep. Norm Dicks of Washington
--Rep. John Garamendi of California
--Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California
--Rep. Doris Matsui of California
--Rep. George Miller of California
--Rep. Kurt Schrader of Oregon
--Rep. Mike Thompson of California
--Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California
--Rep. David Wu of Oregon

Mike Thompson (1st district-Napa) is a strong supporter of the environment especially regarding valley water issues, Delta restoration and salmon.

Meg Wilson and Poizner are shills for the valley and southern California water investors.

Jerry Brown is an unknown on the current Delta issues, which is completely consistent with his position on the 1982 Proposition 9. That was the hotly contested peripheral canal ballot initiative that went down to defeat. As Governor, Brown pushed the peripheral canal during the late 1970's and signed the bill for the canal in 1980. Brown voiced some support for environmental criticism of the canal after Prop. 9 was put on the ballot but as the poll date (and his unsuccessful plan for a Senate run) drew closer he clammed up on the issue and never took another stand one way or the other. Voter response to Browns wishy-washiness on the canal issue probably contributed to Brown's failure in the senate bid.
 
yzer, thanks so much for your contribution. I will keep this info in mind as elections come closer.

BTW, being against Feinstein's water plan does NOT necessarily mean being against ways to ship water by bypassing the Delta. We all need to keep that in mind....
 
I am striking Tom Campbell from my list based on this from his website:

"Currently, the Central Valley is suffering a tremendous drought, whose consequences are made worse by diversions of water to benefit the delta smelt, a fish protected under the Endangered Species Act. But the Endangered Species Act has a special provision, when the harm to human use is great, and when reasonable alternatives are available to protect, or mitigate the harm to, the habitat of the species in question. This part of the federal law is called the “God Squad,” and it can be invoked by the Governor of any affected state. The Administrator of EPA, the Secretary of the Interior, the Governor of the affected state, and any other relevant federal officials, form a special committee to work out arrangements for situations exactly like what California is currently experiencing in the Central Valley. I have asked Governor Schwarzenegger to invoke this provision of law. If he does, either President Obama will have to grant our state relief, or the people of California will know, unequivocally, that President Obama chose not to do so. "

http://www.campbell.org/ideas/water
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

I am striking Tom Campbell from my list based on this from his website:

"Currently, the Central Valley is suffering a tremendous drought, whose consequences are made worse by diversions of water to benefit the delta smelt, a fish protected under the Endangered Species Act. But the Endangered Species Act has a special provision, when the harm to human use is great, and when reasonable alternatives are available to protect, or mitigate the harm to, the habitat of the species in question. This part of the federal law is called the “God Squad,” and it can be invoked by the Governor of any affected state. The Administrator of EPA, the Secretary of the Interior, the Governor of the affected state, and any other relevant federal officials, form a special committee to work out arrangements for situations exactly like what California is currently experiencing in the Central Valley. I have asked Governor Schwarzenegger to invoke this provision of law. If he does, either President Obama will have to grant our state relief, or the people of California will know, unequivocally, that President Obama chose not to do so. "

http://www.campbell.org/ideas/water

Click to expand...
You may want to look into what Campbell means when he claims "reasonable alternatives are available to protect, or mitigate the harm to, the habitat of the species in question."

The Delta Smelt numbers are in the death spiral. It is a goner until habitat restoration allows for successful Delta Smelt life cycles. If all we do to save the DS is to release more water, it will go extinct in the wild as surely as it will if all we do is divert more water.

Delta Smelt numbers were in serious and steady decline during the 80's and 90's: before the increases in water exports during the 2000's. It was only after 20 years of steady decline that the Delta Smelt reached what are perhaps fatally low numbers around 2004.

Basically, to restore DS to healthy numbers in the wild you need correct water flows for the species during the time of year it needs it and you need a lot of habitat restoration. In addition to both of these conditions we will probably need a hatchery and aquaculture facility to store a viable reserve of Delta Smelt until they can be re-introduced to the wild.
 
I did:

"the Endangered Species Act has a special provision, when the harm to human use is great, and when reasonable alternatives are available to protect, or mitigate the harm to, the habitat of the species in question. "

Read the entire paragraph I quoted previously.
 
The Tom Campbell excerpt seems a bit out of date. CA is still low on water reserve after this drought, but the drought ended this winter.

The article does not describe the "provision" referred to in the Endangered Species Act with any detail.

The article does not explain the claim "reasonable alternatives are available," either.

I agree, Campbell's solution to the Delta Smelt problem is to export more water and nothing else.
 
Unless he clearly modifies his water policy in a way which favors the Delta environment, I will not support him. If his water policy has changed, he needs to get his website updated asap. It is his responsibility as a candidate to clearly communicate his positions. Outdated info is another strick against him IMHO.
 
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