[env-trinity] Fwd: NEWS: CA DWR Rescinds California Water Fix Bond Resolutions

[Tom Stokely]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla <barbara at restorethedelta.org>
Date: Thu, May 9, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Subject: NEWS: CA DWR Rescinds California Water Fix Bond Resolutions

For Immediate Release: 5/9/19

Contact:
Bob Wright, Friends of the River, (916) 442-3155 x207, (916) 873-5258 mobile
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta, (209) 479-2053


*CA DWR Rescinds California Water Fix Bond Resolutions*

Sacramento – The California Department of Water Resources has formally
rescinded the Bond Resolutions authorizing issuance of almost $9 billion of
bonds to pay for the start of construction of the Delta Twin Tunnels. The
resolution
<https://restorethedelta.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=06887fa70084fef8e939fef63&id=a07a128296&e=2ca461c02c>
was adopted on May 7, 2019. DWR’s funding for any new one-tunnel proposal
must start from scratch.

Attorneys representing conservation, agriculture, and fishing groups today
praised this action by DWR.

*Statement by Bob Wright, Senior Counsel, Friends of the River*

There is great news now reflecting a complete restart of Department of
Water Resources (DWR) planning for Delta water export issues including
conveyance. On May 7, 2019, DWR rescinded the Bond Resolutions authorizing
issuance of almost $9 billion of bonds to pay for the start of construction
of the WaterFix Delta Tunnels Project. The bond resolutions had been
adopted by DWR on July 21, 2017. DWR then filed a state court action in
Sacramento to validate the issuance of the bonds, which if successful,
would have prevented any later challenges to the financing for the project.
Friends of the River, Restore the Delta, Sierra Club California, and the
Planning and Conservation League were among the public interest
organizations who appeared in the action to challenge the legality of DWR’s
adoption of the bond resolutions.

Now, the rescinding of the bond resolutions reflects a complete start over
of DWR's Delta water export planning process. Our public interest
organizations now have the opportunity to seek sensible water resource
planning focused on protection and restoration of the San Francisco
Bay-Delta Estuary by increasing instead of reducing freshwater flows
through the Delta. DWR can be urged to adopt modern, 21st century water
measures such as water efficiency and demand reduction programs including
urban and agricultural water conservation, recycling, and storm water
recapture and reuse.

Governor Gavin Newsom took a giant step to require effective and sensible
water resources planning in California by issuance of his Executive Order
<https://restorethedelta.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=06887fa70084fef8e939fef63&id=f37ebca1fd&e=2ca461c02c>
on April 29, 2019. His Order requires California agencies to inventory and
assess water demand and availability, “embrace innovation and new
technologies,”, and “incorporate successful approaches from other parts of
the world." Our public interest organizations have been advocating such
planning for years and now the Governor has turned ideas into action. The
rescinding of the bond resolutions is a key step in starting down this
sensible path now required by the Governor.







Restore the Delta · 42 N. Sutter Street, Suite 506 · Stockton, CA 95202 ·
USA
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