[env-trinity] The Big Dig: International Tunneling Conference in LA Promotes Destructive Delta Tunnels

[Dan Bacher]

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/6/1578678/-The-Big-Dig-International-Tunneling-Conference-In-LA-Promotes-Destructive-Delta-Tunnels


Niria Garcia and Hawane Rios, who participated in the entire length of  
the Winnemem Wintu Run4Salmon from September 17 to October 1, appear  
at a press conference against the Shasta Dam raise, the Delta Tunnels  
and new dams at the State Capitol in Sacramento on September 19. Photo  
by Dan Bacher.


The Big Dig: International Tunneling Conference in LA Promotes  
Destructive Delta Tunnels

by Dan Bacher

Only in the so-called “environmentally enlightened” state of  
California would the mainstream media, state officials and some NGO  
representatives praise Jerry Brown as a “climate leader” and “green  
governor” while he is promoting the Delta Tunnels, the most  
environmentally devastating public works project in the state’s history.


But it gets worse — a lot worse. State agencies under the helm of  
Jerry Brown, who claimed the Delta Tunnels (CA WaterFix) will create  
jobs for Californians, are participating in an International Tunneling  
conference in Los Angeles called “Cutting Edge” from November 6-9.

The conference announcement declares:

“...California’s tunneling industry is booming. In 2016, the fifth  
annual Cutting Edge Conference will convene in Los Angeles to look at  
the latest advances in tunneling technology and methodology and how  
they can be harnessed to assist the region’s major upcoming  
underground projects.”

The invitation email states: “Among the many organisations [British  
spelling] in attendance will be: …California Water Fix.”

Why should anybody attend the conference? “This conference is highly  
focused on urban tunneling and will provide technical sessions to help  
you grow professionally and personally by learning from the problems  
others have faced,” the announcement explains.

“Cutting Edge is the must-attend urban tunneling conference of the  
year. Featuring a wide variety of technical sessions and speakers  
focusing on key industry events and issues, Cutting Edge will be a  
professional event you will truly enjoy and remember,” the  
announcement proclaims.

Why is the conference being sponsored in Los Angeles at this time?  
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta,  
believes it’s because of the opportunities for international  
corporations to secure a lucrative contract for the multi-billion  
dollar California WaterFix.

“A chance to get a contract for a $17 billion project has attracted  
many international firms to sponsor this conference,” said Barrigan- 
Parrilla. “State and Metropolitan Water District officials will surely  
get wined-and-dined, but we think their international suitors should  
know the Delta Tunnels are as real as a day at Disneyland.”

“The Delta Tunnels have received none of the required state or federal  
permits, and the project has no finance plan. Water ratepayers and  
California taxpayers don’t want the tunnels, and agricultural  
districts cannot afford the tunnels. The project lacks a completed  
biological opinion and has been rejected twice by the EPA,” she said.

“Why are state agencies seeking international contractors for a  
project that was supposed to create jobs for Californians? Are  
agencies also seeking international funding for a project that was to  
be paid for by California water districts? Are our water resources for  
sale on the international market? Californians would like to know,”  
she concluded.

These are very good questions.

The tunneling conference — and Governor Brown's frantic rush to build  
the Delta Tunnels as his “legacy” project — take place at a time when  
the WaterFix is becoming increasingly unpopular with Californians.

In fact, Brown admitted for the first time that his tunnels project is  
“unpopular” when he lauded former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for  
focusing on environmental issues at the tenth anniversary celebration  
of the passage of  Assembly Bill 32, the legislation that established  
the state’s greenhouse emissions reductions, in the California Museum  
in Sacramento on Wednesday, October 5.

“Arnold, thanks for being for climate change, cap and trade, the  
tunnels project, high speed rail and all the other unpopular policies  
that I’m saddled with,” quipped Brown.

You can listen to Brown’s comments here 1:01:24: bit.ly/…

The Delta Tunnels project is based on the absurd premise that  
diverting more water out of the Sacramento River before it flows into  
the Delta would somehow “restore" its fish populations and ecosystems.

In fact, the construction of the two 35-mile long tunnels under the  
Delta would hasten the extinction of Central Valley steelhead,  
Sacramento River winter-run Chinook salmon, Delta and longfin smelt,  
green sturgeon and other fish species. The project would also imperil  
the salmon and steelhead populations on the Trinity and Klamath  
rivers, a fishery that for thousands of years has played an integral  
part in the culture, religion and food supply of the Yurok, Karuk and  
Hoopa Valley Tribes.

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