Media Advisory for Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.comTwitter: @shopcraft;
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta
Farmers, Fishermen, Environmentalists & Consumer Advocates to Launch Campaign Against Peripheral Tunnels:
$50 billion scheme lets West Side San Joaquin Valley Growers control more water;
Unfair, wasteful, would devastate Bay/Delta environment and economy
Restore the Delta, elected leaders, the Sierra Club, Food & Water Watch, the Planning and Conservation League, the Environmental Water Caucus, Delta Counties Farm Bureau Caucus and a dozen other groups announced today they will launch their campaign against the “Peripheral Tunnels” with a rally at the State Capitol on Wednesday, July 25. As the governor and federal officials prepare to unveil their proposal, opponents will point out expected damage to water, the environment, fish, farming and water ratepayers.
“The governor and federal officials are poised to pursue one of the largest public works projects in our history,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta. “We oppose the rush to build Peripheral Tunnels that would exterminate salmon runs, destroy sustainable family farms and saddle taxpayers with tens of billions in debt, mainly to benefit a small number of huge growers on the west side of the Central Valley.”
What: Campaign Kickoff News Conference & RallyAgainst the Peripheral Tunnels
Where: State Capitol, West Side, Sacramento, CA
When: Wednesday, July 25, 2012 – 12:30 pm
Who: Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Restore the Delta; U.S. Rep. John Garamendi; Sen. Lois Wolk; Assem. Bill Berryhill; Mayor Ann Johnston; Jim Metropulos, Sierra Club; Jonas Minton, Planning and Conservation League; Zeke Grader, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations; Russell van Löben Sels, Chairman, Five Delta Counties Farm Bureau Caucus; Bill Jennings, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance; Kristin Lynch, Food & Water Watch;Nick di Croce, Environmental Water Caucus; Conner Everts, Southern California Watershed Alliance; John Herrick, South Delta Water Agency
Visuals: Farmers with farm equipment; fishermen with boats; Delta residents with signs