Editorial: Biden election offers hope for preserving the Delta 12/12/20
…The first step for the Biden administration should be a thorough house-cleaning of Trump administration officials who put politics before science. It surprised no one that Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, David Bernhardt, fought to roll back Endangered Species Act protections that would enable additional Delta pumping. Bernhardt served from 2011-2016 as a lobbyist for Westlands Water District, taking in $1 million in fees while developing lawsuits specifically designed to do away with California’s environmental water protections.
The Biden administration should instead follow Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ lead on California water issues. As a senator, Harris took the position that any funding for water projects should also provide environmental benefits.
Biden has indicated that he would like to make infrastructure a priority. His administration could start by backing legislation introduced in the Senate by Harris and in the House by Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael. Harris called for a $3 billion investment in water infrastructure and sustainability, including storage, transport, desalination and stormwater capture projects. That innovative approach offers a better solution than environmentally questionable dam projects or the Delta tunnel…