Trump Plan Delivers More Water for Valley Farmers
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 4 years ago on
October 22, 2019

Share

An analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service says the plan “will not jeopardize threatened or endangered species.”
An analysis by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, however, says the plan “will not jeopardize threatened or endangered species.”
The plan includes spending $1.5 billion to support endangered fish such as the delta smelt. The government would also monitor rivers for endangered fish, with commitments to reduce pumping when they are present.
Basically, the plan would give water agencies more flexibility on how much water they can pump out of the state’s rivers. When it’s raining a lot, agencies can pump more. When it’s dry, they would pump less.

Environmental Groups Say Plan Won’t Work

Doug Obegi at the Natural Resources Defense Council says the monitoring programs won’t work because endangered fish species populations are too small. He predicted that environmentalists will challenge the Trump administration plan in court.
“I think this biological opinion is the end result of the Trump administration’s junk science and political interference,” said Obegi, senior attorney for the NRDC.
John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association, told The Sacramento Bee: “It looks like this administration is trying to shut us down again — permanently.”

Where Does Newsom Stand?

It’s unclear how Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration will respond to the new rules. His office didn’t provide comment on Tuesday.
The Democratic-controlled Legislature passed a law earlier this year seeking to block a lot of these changes. But Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 1 last month after intense lobbying from water agencies.

What Feinstein, Valley Dems Say

Five California lawmakers — all Democrats — released a joint statement Tuesday saying that the previous monitoring programs, or biological opinions, relied on old science. However, they stopped short of backing the Trump proposal, saying it needed to be scientifically vetted by the state.

“It looks like this administration is trying to shut us down again — permanently.” — John McManus, president of the Golden State Salmon Association
Said Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Reps. John Garamendi, Josh Harder, Jim Costa, and TJ Cox:
“The Endangered Species Act requires periodic reviews to determine the best available science. The federal government’s science for Chinook salmon and Delta smelt was more than a decade old and needed to be updated, especially given climate change.
“We are examining the new biological opinions to ensure they incorporate the adaptive management and real-time monitoring needed to properly manage the Central Valley Project for the benefit of all Californians. The new biological opinions must also provide the scientific basis needed to finalize the voluntary settlement agreements between the State Water Resources Control Board and water users.
“We look forward to the state of California’s thoughtful analysis of the biological opinions. In Congress, we continue working to secure federal investment in the Central Valley Project to meet California’s future water needs and support habitat restoration efforts called for in the updated biological opinions.”
Picture of a delta smelt placed above a ruler
The endangered delta smelt (watereducationfoundation.org)

Water Users Praise the Plan

“Today’s action builds on President Trump’s campaign commitment to help solve the state’s water supply shortages,” said Dan Keppen, executive director of the Family Farm Alliance, a group that has advocated for greater irrigation supplies for agriculture.
The fish protections are among the regulations governing the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project, which utilize pumping plants in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Water flowing through the delta supplies more than half of California’s residents with drinking water while also delivering water to farmers.

Federal Officials: Concerns Are Addressed

Paul Souza, the regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service official who is coordinating the salmon and delta smelt reviews, told The Los Angeles Times that concerns about the proposal raised by critics have been addressed.
Souza said delta pumping restrictions now will rely on real-time monitoring of where smelt and migrating salmon are swimming in the delta, rather than the seasonal prescriptions now utilized.
In addition, Souza said, the Bureau of Reclamation will invest in a conservation hatchery for delta smelt, better monitor delta conditions, and will increase the water levels at Lake Shasta in the spring to maintain salmon-friendly temperatures for releases into the Sacramento River.
Said Ernest Conant, regional director of the Bureau: “We have a plan that is much better for fish, farms, and communities. … Coldwater storage is increased as a result of this new strategy,”
(Associated Press contributed to this report.)

DON'T MISS

FresYes Fest Is Saturday: This Immigrant Is Living the American Dream With Xtreme Shawarma

DON'T MISS

Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?

DON'T MISS

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

DON'T MISS

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

DON'T MISS

Bredefeld, Chavez Win Attorneys Fees from Fresno County. Court Gives Chavez Blvd. a Green Light.

DON'T MISS

Special Congressional Election Tuesday. How Many Have Voted Already?

DON'T MISS

Brothers Say They Found Amelia Earhart’s Plane, Will Donate It to Smithsonian

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Eclipse Chasers Are Hoping For 4 Minutes of Darkened Bliss in Texas

DON'T MISS

Hutson Is Done as Fresno State Basketball Coach After Tournament Loss

DON'T MISS

New Challenge to SW Fresno Industrial Project: SoCal Enviro Group Sues City, Developer

No data was found

The 49ers Have Been Docked a 2025 Fifth-Round Draft Pick for an Accounting Error

4 hours ago

Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.

bitwise /

4 hours ago

How California’s Prized Solution for Methane Gas Is Backfiring on Farmers

environment /

7 hours ago

Supreme Court Seems Favorable to Biden Administration Over Efforts to Combat Social Media Posts

8 hours ago

Putin Extends Rule in Preordained Russian Election After Harshest Crackdown Since Soviet Era

8 hours ago

Ohtani to Begin Throwing Program Soon. Roberts Hints Dodgers Star Might Play in the Field

8 hours ago

Trump: Some Migrants Are ‘Not People’, There’ll Be a ‘Bloodbath’ if I Lose

8 hours ago

Tech Lawyer and Philanthropist Nicole Shanahan Rumored as RFK Jr.’s VP Pick

news /

8 hours ago

March Madness is Here. UConn, Purdue, Houston and North Carolina Get Top Seeding in NCAA Tournament

9 hours ago

Crafts Retailer Joann Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy as Consumers Cut Back on Pandemic-Era Hobbies

9 hours ago

Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million

■Valley Children’s paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. ■The Va...
Healthcare /

3 hours ago

3 days ago

Realtor Association Settles Lawsuit on Commission Rules. Fresno Broker Fears the End of Market Transparency

3 days ago

Prosecutor Leaves Georgia Election Case Against Trump After Relationship With District Attorney

3 days ago

Rory McIlroy’s 65: 10 Birdies, 2 Tee Shots in the Water, 1 Testy Dispute

3 days ago

Aaron Donald Announces His Retirement After a Standout 10-Year Career With the Rams

3 days ago

New Book Explores the Myths, Truths and Legacy of the Macho Man

3 days ago

Baseball Superstar Ohtani and His Wife Arrive in South Korea for Dodgers-Padres MLB Opener

3 days ago

India’s New Citizenship Law Excludes Muslims. Here’s What to Know

3 days ago

US, G-7 Allies Warn Iran to Back Off Deal to Provide Russia Ballistic Missiles or Face New Sanctions

Photo of San Francisco 49ers' Arik Armstead

3 days ago

Former 49ers DT Arik Armstead Agrees to a 3-Year, $51 Million Deal with the Jaguars, AP Source Says

3 days ago

Supreme Court Rules Public Officials Can Sometimes Be Sued for Blocking Critics on Social Media

Search