Department of Interior blasts state water plan
The Department of the Interior issued a blistering attack against the state’s proposed water grab, saying it would “cripple the Central Valley’s economy, farms and community.”
The comments late Friday afternoon came a week after Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke visited Don Pedro and New Melones reservoirs at the request of Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock.
Earlier this month, the California State Water Resources Control Board issued a final proposal that would require 40 percent of unimpeded flows from February to June on the Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers, which are tributaries into the San Joaquin River that feeds the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The move, in what it says is an effort to save the Delta’s failing ecosystem, angered farmers, politicians and many others throughout the Valley.
On the day of Zinke’s visit to Don Pedro and New Melones, Dennis Mills, a member of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, sent a letter to President Trump imploring his administration to step in. He, too, pointed to the impacts the plan would have on New Melones.
“Simply put,” he wrote, “this proposal places a higher value on fish than people!”
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County Calaveras Supervisor sends letter to President Trump
Dennis Mills, Supervisor 4th District
Dear Mr. President:
I am writing to you on behalf of thousands of California citizens, farmers, business leaders, and even conservationists who are strongly opposed to a plan by the California State Water Resources Board to drain our reservoirs in a vain attempt to save a few fish. Simply put this proposal places a higher value a fish than people! After extensive opposition presented in numerous hearings in the Central Valley of California, the State Water Board remains committed to their plan which would remove as much as 50% of water flowing out of our Sierra rivers and sending it out the Golden Gate in order to improve habitat for a small number of salmon.
We believe that your administration should take steps to stop this policy since a large amount of water is the property of the United States Government. For example, about 85% of the water in the New Melones Reservoir, operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, is the controlled of the United States. The remainder of the water is the property of the Tri-Dam Joint Powers Authority. I understand 100% of the water in Lake Shasta is the property of the United States Government.
I am writing to ask you to take executive action through the Department of Interior and other agencies to refuse to release any federal water for these ridiculous environmental purposes which put citizens and local economies at risk.
Click link for complete letter: Supervisor Mills letter to President Trump
