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| In November of 2007, thousands and thousands of fish died at Prospect Island on the California Delta when the Bureau of Reclamation repaired a levee on the flooded island. Lois Wolk's AB 1806 is designed to stop future fish kills like this from taking place - and to mitigate for the hundreds of thousands of salmon, striped bass, threadfin shad, delta smelt and other fish species that are killed by the state and federal water projects every year. Photo by Dan Bacher. |
The legislation arose out of the hearing held by Wolk on the Prospect Island Fish Kill in Rio Vista in December 2007. Anglers there testified for the need for the state and federal governments to provide for fish rescue plans in the event of fishery disasters, as well as mitigation for the incredible damage to salmon, striped bass, delta smelt, sturgeon and other fish populations caused by the operation of the state and federal water projects.
The bill requires something that is long overdue - for the water districts that benefit from the massive export of water from the California Delta to finally pay the costs of mitigation.
Passage of this bill is particularly urgent in light of the closure of commercial and recreational salmon fishing in ocean waters off California and Oregon and the closure of recreational salmon fishing in Central Valley rivers this year, spurred by the collapse of Sacramento River fall chinook salmon populations. Although the Bush and Schwarzenegger administrations blame "ocean conditions" for the collapse, a coalition of fishing groups, Indian Tribes and conservationists points to huge increases in water exports and a decline in water quality in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta as the major causes of the dramatic fishery decline.
While Central Valley salmon populations are in a state of collapse, four Delta pelagic (open water) fish species - delta smelt, longfin smelt, juvenile striped bass and threadfin shad - have declined to their lowest recorded population levels. A team of state and federal scientists have pinpointed three major factors behind the decline: (1) increases in Delta water exports in recent years, (2) toxics and (3) invasive species. More recently, two scientific reports concluded that released of high concentrations of ammonia in treated sewage water by the city of Sacramento may also be contributing to the decline.
The legislation is supported by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, Allied Fishing Groups, Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers, California Striped Bass Association, Recreational Fishing Alliance, Water for Fish and other state and regional fishing organizations and clubs. However, these groups don't have the money or the personnel to match the efforts of the corporate water contractors, made rich through the use of subsidized water at the expense of our fisheries, who are campaigning against the bill's passage.
"The only lobbyists the fish have are you - the fish NEED your help," emphasized Jerry Neuburger of CSPA. "Don't let apathy KILL this bill!"?
We a have unique opportunity to restore California Delta fisheries through the passage of this bill. I urge everyone concerned about the future of Delta and Central Valley fisheries to write three letters - one to their district senator, one to the Senate Majority Leader, Gloria Romero, and one to the Senate Minority Leader, Dave Cogdill. Don't delay - the bill could be voted on as early as this coming Tuesday!
For the addresses of key legislators and more information, you can go to: http://www.calsport.org/cspa8-8-08.htm