Groups intervene to protect California salmon from agribusiness

August 24, 9:39 PMSacramento Environmental News ExaminerHarry Osibin

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A broad coalition of fishing, environmental groups and native tribes filed papers in federal court Monday defending California's native salmon.  The groups oppose legal efforts by commercial water users and large agricultural interests to overturn federal protections for salmon and other species.

On June 4th the National Marine Fisheries Service released an 800-page plan (biological opinion) to rebuild Sacramento River salmon runs.  This plan replaced one issued in 2004 by the Bush administration over the objections of federal fisheries scientists that sent salmon runs into steep decline.  Salmon declines under the Bush plan forced fishery managers to close North Coast salmon fishing for the first time in the history of the state.

The new salmon restoration plan clearly shows that excessive water diversions by the Central Valley Project and State Water Project operations jeopardize endangered salmon, steelhead, green sturgeon and even southern resident killer whales which feed on salmon at sea.

The 800-page salmon restoration plan set detailed prescriptions for operating the projects for the next 20 years in a manner that will avoid pushing the fish to extinction or further destroying their habitat.  Within days after the BiOp was released, industrial agriculture and commercial water users filed lawsuits to overturn this plan.

Monday's intervention is in a case filed by San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority and the Westlands Water District, but the fishing, conservation and tribal coalition vows to intervene in every challenge to the scientifically sound 2009 salmon restoration plan and to defend the species from all industry-driven legal attacks.  Thanks to Earthjustice for the above content.

In Yuba City on Monday Governor Schwarzenegger participated in a groundbreaking for the Star Bend Setback Levee in Sutter County.  According to the governor's office this is an important project for improving local and regional flood protection that he expedited last year. 

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