FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, December 5, 2014
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft; @MrSandHillCrane; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta
H.R. 5781 will jeopardize future urban water supplies
Reservoirs could be over pump for present agricultural water needs
Stockton, CA- Restore the Delta (RTD), opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build Peripheral Tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom salmon and other Pacific fisheries, today called on Senator Dianne Feinstein to keep her word regarding drought legislation and to ensure H.R. 5781 is not converted into language that is added on to other pieces of federal legislation. “It is our understanding that if H.R. 5781 passes it could jeopardize future urban water supplies because reservoirs could be over pump in the present for agricultural water needs,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta.
“Furthermore, by bringing this bill to Congress in lame duck session Congressman David Valadao has once again started a secret negotiation process for water management in California that excludes 99% of California’s population,” added Barrigan-Parrilla.
“As Representative Louise Slaughter noted in the rules committee congressional hearing yesterday, California should work out how to manage its own drought,” concluded Barrigan-Parrilla.
Restore the Delta is a member of the Environmental Water Caucus, which sent this letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein, expressing opposition to H.R. 5781.