Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Westlands Water District Category
Click here to view all posts

Dan Bacher commentary: Westlands sues Feds over salmon biological opinion

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 16, 2009 at 8:15 am

From Dan Bacher, this commentary:

Westlands Water District, the Darth Vader of California water politics, and 29 other water agencies today announced a lawsuit against the federal government’s court-ordered plan to prevent the extinction of Sacramento River spring run and winter run Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, southern green sturgeon and the southern resident population of killer whales (orcas). The whales depend upon Central Valley salmon as a food source.

“It is simply outrageous that federal authorities would seek to force these restrictions on California without conducting a single public hearing, without any public review or comment, and without any consideration of the harm they are doing,” claimed Tom Birmingham, general manager of the Westlands Water District.

Westlands and corporate agribusiness are doing everything they can to prevent the recovery of imperiled Central Valley salmon and steelhead, green sturgeon and orcas, as required under the Endangered Species Act and numerous other federal and state laws. This is in spite of the fact that Westlands expects to use 86% of its average water supply this year, according to Department of Water Resources (DWR) data (http://yubanet.com/california/Op-Ed-Dan-Bacher-The-Big-Lie-Unravels.php).

“Central Valley Project deliveries to Westlands Water District, for example, were forecast to be zero as recently as March,” said Spreck Rosecrans of Environmental Defense. “Westlands now projects they expect to use 86% of average annual supplies this year. Their total supply is a combination of deliveries from the Delta, water banked last year, groundwater pumping and purchases.”

On the same day that Westlands announced its lawsuit, KFSN in Fresno reported “a convoy of protesting farmers on interstate five this morning caused a serious crash.”

“It happened at Interstate 5 and El Dorado near HWY 198 in Fresno County,” reported KFSN. “CHP said the driver slammed into the back of another 18-wheeler which had slowed down for the protest. The driver had to be flown to a Fresno hospital with major injuries. Growers on Fresno County’s West side wanted to call attention to their ongoing lack of water. But officers said their slow pace on a major interstate was a dangerous move.”

Not only is corporate agribusiness responsible for putting thousands of workers in the recreational fishing and commercial fishing industries out of work, due to the collapse of Central Valley salmon and other fish species spurred by massive increases of water exports from the California, but they are now endangering people’s lives on the freeways!

Meawwhile, California Latino Water Coalition, a front for San Joaquin Valley agribusiness interests led by comedian Paul Rodriguez, is planning a July 1 march/rally at Fresno City Hall and the new federal building, which is in the next block, observed Lloyd Carter, longtime environmental justice advocate.

“Callers to KMJ radio’s Ray Appleton (a mini-Rush Limbaugh who is a big supporter of the Westlands) show are threatening to send trucks to Sacramento to block all the major interstates and highways through the city,” said Carter.

June 16, 2009 · Filed Under Westlands Water District

Comments

Leave a Reply