[env-trinity] SF Chronicle Editorial- California Republicans'brazen water grab

[Emelia Berol]

Excellent comment, thank you. I agree. The state can permit away some of its rights, which it essentially has done each time it permits the Bureau to take over management of some state waters, but it has the right NOT to, and this really takes the cake ... 


________________________________
 From: Deirdre Des Jardins <campaign at mbaysav.org>
To: env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us 
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 12:13 PM
Subject: Re: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle Editorial- California Republicans'brazen water grab
 

The bill raises an interesting legal question in that it is fundamentally at odds with California's constitution, which mandates that all uses of water be "reasonable and beneficial."

This is the basis of the permits for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
    to operate facilities in the state.   It is not at all clear that
    the federal government can take away this fundamental oversight by
    the state over waters within its boundaries.

Since the bill also takes away the ability of the State Water
    Resources Control board to mandate balancing flows, it is likely
    that it would just result in a suspension of the permits for the
    Delta-Mendota and Friant water users, which would then wend its way
    through the courts.

On 2/16/2012 11:37 AM, sandydenn at pulsarco.com wrote: 
 
>Not ALL northern California water interests are "on board" with this legislation.  I really resent when writers will lump folks together just to make their own point.  There are those in Northern California who might lump all environmental or fishing groups into one mind set, but then there are those who approach things from what I consider a more "mature" position and realize that individual groups should be assesed individually, some are realistic and open to conversation, some are not. Issues should be addressed the same manner.  It would be great if some of these editorial writers would afford the same courtesy.   But thanks for sharing, it just convinces me that there needs to be a lot more real world education done, and less academic idealism promoted! 
>----- Original Message ----- 
>>From: Tom Stokely 
>>To: env-trinity at velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us 
>>Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 11:11 AM
>>Subject: [env-trinity] SF Chronicle Editorial- California Republicans'brazen water grab
>>
>>California Republicans' brazen water grab
>>
>>
>>Thursday, February 16, 2012House Republicans are poised to pass legislation that would usurp California's ability to manage its own water supply, harm the San Francisco Bay Estuary ecosystem and drive California's salmon to extinction.
>>Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Alpaugh (Tulare County), wrote the bill to reverse the way water is allocated in California. It essentially ensures water supplies for farmers by taking it from the state's native salmon, trout and other fisheries.
>>Beyond that, it:
>>-- Undermines water conservation efforts.
>>-- Dries up a 40-mile stretch of the San Joaquin River - the state's second largest - by ending the restoration project that saw salmon returning two years ago for the first time in more than 60 years.
>>-- Ends the Bay Delta Conservation Plan process but does nothing to address the problems of water supply and quality the plan seeks to address.
>>In short, it promotes the agribusiness interests of Nunes' district over other interests and upends the collaborative efforts to distribute California's limited water supply fairly.
>>Northern California water interests had objected to an earlier version because it required them to make up the water for the fish that Nunes' would deliver to San Joaquin Valley farms. The new version exempts them from providing water for fish, so they are on board.
>>Democrat Rep. Jerry McNerney, who represents both San Joaquin Valley farmers and the delta, says this: "To steal water from one community to benefit another is unconscionable."
>>We agree. The House should reject this brazen water grab. 
>>http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/16/EDTP1N811L.DTL 
>>This article appeared on page A - 13 of the San Francisco Chronicle 
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