Save The Bay-Delta! Organization Letters Needed In Support Of SB 1155.

Best if by March 10.
From: Steve Evans sevans@friendsoftheriver.org

Note that that the alert below asks for letters from organizations. If letters are received by the March 10 deadline, the organization will be listed in the consultant's report to the committee as a supporter. A long list of supporters is helpful for passage. However, it's generally considered counter-productive to flood legislative committees with a lot of individual letters on bills. Letters from individuals are critical when the bill is considered by the full Senate and Assembly.

Thanks.

- Steve

Save The Bay-Delta!
Organization Letters Needed In Support Of SB 1155

State Senator Michael Machado (D-Linden) has introduced SB 1155, a bill to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and San Francico Bay from the threat of increased water diversions.

A handful of agricultural and urban interests south of the Delta are lobbying state and federal agencies to significantly increase the amount of fresh water pumped out of the Delta. Currently, up to 60% of the all the fresh water that normally flowed through the Delta and into the San Francisco Bay is diverted south. The consequences of these diversions are the near collapse of the Bay-Delta ecosystem, numerous fish and wildlife species plummeting towards extinction, and massive degradation of Delta water quality. Now, south-of-delta water interests want to increase Delta diversions by up to 30% more.

Currently, water from the Trinity and Sacramento Rivers is diverted out of he Delta. In addition, massive upstream diversions dry up the San Joaquin River. Although tributaries contribute some fresh water, much of the flow from the San Joaquin River into the Delta is polluted agricultural drainage. The combined result of these diversions is salt water intrusion into the Delta, as well as the inflow of highly polluted agricultural drainage water from the San Joaquin Valley, creating a toxic brew that adversely affects fish and people alike.

SB 1155 would prohibit any increased diversions of Delta water until state and federal agencies prepare and implement a plan to meet all water quality standards in the Delta. In other words, additional Delta diversions would not be allowed until Delta water meets acceptable standards for drinking, agricultural use, and aquatic life. The bill also establishes other requirements before Delta pumping can be increased, including resolving water quality problems in the lower San Joaquin River, restoring habitat and improving hydraulic conditions in the Delta, and increasing water conservation through urban water management plans and effective water measurement.

Powerful water interests with influence in the California Legislature are lining up against SB 1155. The support of your organization is needed to ensure its improvement and eventual passage.

What You Can Do:

As Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, Senator Machado will conduct a hearing on his bill on March 16, 2004. A letter from your organization to the Committee is needed to both demonstrate public support for Delta protection and recommend additional protective measures.

Write your letter today to:

The Honorable Michael Machado
Chair, Senate Agriculture and Water Resources Committee
State Capitol Room 406
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: (916) 327-8290

Be sure to mention the following points in your letter:

• Thank Senator Machado for introducing SB 1155 and working to protect the Delta.
• Support the requirement that all Delta water quality standards be met before agencies are allowed to increase Delta pumping.
• Urge that additional conditions be established before Delta pumping can be increased, including implementation of the Trinity River Restoration Plan (reducing Trinity River water diversions through the Delta) and restoration of fresh water flows in the San Joaquin River.

In order to be considered by the Committee, your letter should be received no later than Wednesday, March 10.

For more information about SB 1155, visit http://www.leginfo.ca.gov. For more information about this alert, please contact Steve Evans at Friends of the River, phone: (916) 442-3155 x221, email: sevans@friendsoftheriver.org.