[env-trinity] Rep. Thompson Praises the 9th Circuit Decision

[tstokely at trinityalps.net]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Matt Gerien 
July 13, 2004 
(202) 225-3311 

Appeals Court Rules to Restore the Trinity River 
Rep. Thompson Praises the Decision 

WASHINGTON-Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Napa Valley) hailed today's ruling by the 
9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The court repealed a lower court's decision 
regarding the Trinity River Record of Decision (ROD) and ruled that the ROD 
should be fully implemented. 

"This is a great victory for the Hoopa Tribe and Northern California's 
coastal communities, whose economy and jobs have been decimated by
declining 
fisheries," Thompson said. "More water in the Trinity River will help 
restore the Klamath Basin Fisheries." 

Since the completion of the Lewiston and Trinity Dams on the Trinity River 
in 1963, up to 90% of the Trinity River water has been diverted to the 
central coast. The result has been the near destruction of the river's 
fishery. Salmon and steelhead populations are found in less than 10% of 
their historical range and most are either listed, proposed for listing or 
under status review for listing under the Endangered Species Act. 

Through four administrations, the Department of Interior has worked to 
restore and maintain the Trinity River fishery. In 2000, the Trinity River 
ROD was issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide 47% of the 
original flows back to the River. The ROD was based on an exhaustive, 
peer-reviewed study of the Trinity River basin conducted over the past 
twenty-two years. In 2003 Judge Oliver W. Wanger ruled that the Trinity 
River ROD needed to be revaluated. 

Today's court decision reaffirms the science and methods of the Trinity 
River ROD. The Court states, "The number and length of the studies on the 
Trinity River...are staggering, and bear evidence of the years of thorough 
scrutiny given by the federal agencies to the question of how best to 
rehabilitate the Trinity River fishery without unduly compromising the 
interest of others who have claim on Trinity River water." 

"Today's ruling sustains over 20 years of scientific evidence that more 
water is needed for the fish on the Trinity River," Thompson said. 

# # # 


Elizabeth Murguia, District Representative 
Congressman Mike Thompson 
317 3rd St., Suite 1 
Eureka, CA 95501 
(707) 269-9595 
(707) 269-9598 FAX 

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