For immediate release: July 18, 2018
Contact:
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta, 209-479-2053, Barbara@restorethedelta.org
Nora Kovaleski, 408-806-6470, nora@kovaleskipr.com
Restore the Delta Responds to Secretary Laird’s Letter of Opposition Against Calvert and Valadao Riders
Yesterday, the California Secretary for Natural Resources, John Laird sent a letter to Congress expressing the Brown Administration’s opposition to federal legislative provisions that would undo judicial review of the Delta tunnels project in addition to other California water infrastructure such as the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project.
In his letter, Laird explains that, “Particularly concerning are efforts to preclude judicial review for the California WaterFix and other water operations, and to prohibit the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from fulfilling its obligations to comply with the Bay-Delta Plan.”
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta commented,
“We thank Secretary Laird and Governor Brown for stepping up to support judicial review of CA WaterFix. We can disagree about the tunnels, but during these difficult days in our political history, it is paramount that we all support and uphold the Rule of Law.”
Joining the Calvert and Valadao riders, new legislation introduced by Congressman Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) seeks to undermine the State Water Board’s recent proposal to update flow criteria for the Bay Delta Plan and aims to reduce flows through the Delta.
Barrigan-Parrilla said,
“Restore the Delta maintains that the State Water Board’s update to the Bay Delta Plan is not without its flaws, as outlined in our recent policy statement. However, Denham’s proposed legislation will not solve the Central Valley’s water supply challenges. Achieving real, positive changes in our state’s water distribution system requires a holistic approach. Sustainable and equitable water distribution is a statewide issue—not a fish versus farmers issue, not a North versus South issue, but a complex, interconnected puzzle that affects all of California’s residents and ecosystems.”
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