Delta Flows – Weekly Highlights from Restore the Delta for the Week of October 8, 2007
“Water is excellent.”
-- Pindar
Restore The Delta Supporters Make Their Opposition To New Delta Conveyance Known To State Senators
Yesterday, Restore the Delta board members, supporters, and staff joined together to testify at the Natural Resources & Water Committee Hearing on the proposed water bonds by Senator Perata (SB2x) and Senator Cogdill (SB3x). Delta Flows readers will remember that Restore the Delta opposed Senator Cogdill’s bond proposal as it contained language giving authorization for funding the construction of an alternative conveyance system to divert fresh water away from entering the Delta.
While many parties from throughout the state testified in order to make their water concerns part of the public record, the Restore the Delta coalition clearly represented the broadest possible range of citizens from within a given community. Consequently, we see the Natural Resources & Water Committee’s rejection of SB3x as a victory on two levels. First, the political momentum for building a peripheral canal or pipe to divert fresh water flows from entering the Delta has been slowed down for the time being. Second, our coalition is beginning to mirror the broad range of needs and interests within the Delta community, and the Delta community is growing in its understanding of why we need to take action to protect our region’s ecosystem.
Testifying yesterday in favor of Senator Perata’s bond proposal, and in opposition to the Cogdill-Governor proposal, were the following Restore the Delta board members and supporters representing an array of interests. In alphabetical order:
Gary Adams – Restore the Delta Board, President of California Striped Bass
Shane Hart – Principle, The Grupe Company
Roger Mammon – Restore the Delta Board, President Lower Sherman Island
Duck Hunters Association
Dick Pool – President, Pro-Troll, Water 4 Fish
Mike Robinson – Restore the Delta Board, Delta Farmer
Sophat Sorn – Restore the Delta Board, Pastor, Seventh Day Adventist Church,
Delta Cambodian Community Representative
Bill Wells – Delta Chamber of Commerce
And as always at public political and policy events regarding the Delta, Restore the Delta advisors Tom Zuckerman and John Herrick delivered with eloquence the history and law of Delta water policy.
In addition, our environmental supporters from the Natural Resource Defense Council, The Planning and Conservation League, the Environmental Water Caucus, Friends of the River, Clean Water Action, the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, and Environmental Defense also supported our efforts through testimony and behind-the-scenes efforts. We also appreciate the support of Restore the Delta advisor Dan Bacher, who continues to help us with media placement and support.
With that said, there is more work to be done. Restore the Delta staff will continue monitoring developments, language, and the progress of SB2X – Senator Perata’s bond proposal. And naturally, we will continue to monitor and challenge government led processes such as Delta Vision, and the Bay Delta Conservation Plan in order to ensure the future of the California Delta’s ecosystem.
Again, thank you to our supporters. Like water, the people of the California Delta are excellent!
