Will Federal Funds Support Overpumping
that Threatens Salmon Extinction?
Stockton, CA – Restore the Delta (RTD), opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build Twin Tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom salmon and other Pacific fisheries, today responded to U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell’s Friday announcement.
“Secretary Jewell’s announcement mentions that $5.37 million will be available for Delta needs for drought monitoring of endangered species, and to increase flexibility in water operations,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta.
“What we fear is that this spending plan will translate into funding to manage the system so that the greatest amount of water is exported to big agribusiness growers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. We are on the verge of losing Delta smelt; and salmon are at great risk during this drought. Where is the concern about water quality for our fisheries and for the farms and municipalities of the Delta? When is Secretary Jewell going to meet with the protectors of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary?”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Feb. 9, 2015
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft; @MrSandHillCrane; Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org; Twitter: @RestoretheDelta