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Sierra Club California Urges Legislators to Vote No on the Water Package

 

by Dan Bacher

November 2, 2009 -- Sierra Club California is strongly urging everybody to take action NOW to stop legislation the could authorize the construction of two dams and a peripheral canal approximately the size and length of the Panama Canal around the Delta.
 
"We need your help today in order to stop Californians from being sunk with billions of dollars of more debt," said Jim Metropulos of Sierra Club California. "Today, the Governor and legislative leaders are siding with special interests and forcing through a Delta package that would lead to the construction of a peripheral canal that could cost Californians as much as $50 billion."
 
As of Friday, October 30, there were no less than 20 water bills introduced, including many over 100 pages long. Environmental groups from around California weighed in Friday with their opposition to the dangerous proposed water legislation
 
The Sierra Club California, Planning and Conservation League, Friends of the River and the Butte Environmental Council have joined Restore the Delta, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, the California Water Impact Network (C-WIN), California Striped Bass Association, Clean Water Action, the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Northern California River Watch, the Public Trust Alliance and the Environmental Protection Information Center in opposing the legislative water package, including the estimated $9 billion general obligation bond.
 
Metropulos noted that the Delta policy package creates the Delta Stewardship Council to manage the Delta, the majority of whom will be appointed by the Governor. The Council will decide on the whether to build a Peripheral Canal and how big the canal should be.
 
"Since the Governor already supports the largest canal possible, its likely that the Council will approve a canal as long and as wide as the Panama Canal, capable of sucking the Delta dry," he said. "In addition, the Council fails to include adequate representation of Delta interests."
 
The Department of Water Resources has begin drilling for engineering studies for a Peripheral Canal, bigger than the Panama Canal, that would run 48 miles through the center of the Sacramento Delta. The canal would have a capacity greater than the entire flow of the Sacramento River during drought years, according to Metropulos.
 
The Department of Water Resources also wants to build two new large dams to create Sites and Temperance Flat reservoirs. Sites, proposed for Sacramento Valley's west side, would divert water from the Sacramento River, while Temperance Flat would be built on the San Joaquin River east of Friant Dam.
 
"For decades, Friant Dam has diverted so much water that sections of the San Joaquin River have been completely dry," noted Metropulos. "After years of lawsuits, a small part of the original flow was restored this year."
 
Metropulos emphasized, "These projects will not save the Delta, or the Sacramento or San Joaquin Rivers. They will destroy them. Nor will these projects solve our current water crisis, since they will take years to build."
 
Metropulos noted that the state needs a comprehensive water package to address California's water needs and to protect the Delta ecosystem, but it "has to be done the right way - in a way that benefits all Californians and the environment."
 
"We cannot go back to the 1950s. Instead of wasting billions on dams and a canal, we should prioritize aggressive conservation programs, replace leaking pipes, increase water recycling, clean polluted groundwater, encourage graywater use, and promote greater water efficiency in agriculture.This package does not go far enough in these areas," Metropulos added.
 
Please email your legislators TODAY and ask them to vote NO on the water bills. Go to: http://action.sierraclub.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=141441.0&dlv_id=122801.