Restore The Delta calls on local, state and federal political leaders to make flood protection a priority for restoration of the Delta

April 7, 2009 -- Stockton, California -- Restore the Delta, a Delta- based coalition including Delta farmers, environmentalists, everyday citizens, fishermen, business leaders, the faith community, and recreation enthusiasts, is calling on local, state, and federal political leaders to take broad actions to protect and restore the Sacrament-San Joaquin Delta in accordance with American Rivers findings that the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is the nation's most endangered river system.

Restore the Delta Campaign Director Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla explains, "The American Rivers report released today notes that outdated flood management practices, the 1600 miles of levees that boarder the San Joaquin and Sacramento River, prevent rivers from spilling over into flood plains. Restore the Delta maintains that restoration of flood plains could become the most environmentally sound way to store water for agricultural uses throughout the state, thereby reducing the demand for water exports from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A permanent and significant reduction in Delta water exports could help to improve Delta water quality and improve fisheries. We are calling on involved political leaders to advocate for flood management programs that will simultaneously protect people and grow our state water supply."

As noted in the American Rivers report, enhanced levees, while necessary to protect existing urban populations, could inadvertently increase development in floodplains. Barrigan-Parrila adds, "We need a flood management plan, for the protection of people, that ensures that continued urban development does not take place in floodplains. We need a water plan that finds ways to augment the water supply in each region, rather than our current practice of shipping water from one part of the state to the other. These are two sides of the same coin."

While Restore the Delta agrees with American Rivers findings that excessive water exports of over 6 million acre feet of water per year have lead to the decline and destruction of Delta species, Restore the Delta questions the role of new conveyance in solving the problem. Barrigan-Parrilla explains, "American Rivers maintains that new conveyance will only work with water conservation and efficiency measures on a scale that has not yet been set in place in California. We fear that the planning process that has been set in place (the Bay Delta Conservation Plan) has skipped over putting such conservation programs into place as well as addressing governance for the Delta. They have left out protection for Delta communities from the plan's desired outcomes."

Barrigan-Parrilla adds, "The question at this point in time should not be from where water should be taken from the Delta. What needs to be answered now is how much fresh water should flow through the Delta for restoration of our fisheries and for improved water quality for Delta communities."

Restore the Delta
PO Box 691088
Stockton, CA 95269
Restore the De lta.org

Contact: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Phone: 209-479-2053
Email: Barbara@restorethede lta.org