Water userʼs contention hatchery fish are adequate substitute rejected
October 27, 2008
Fresno, CA -- A U.S. District Court judge has rejected an attempt by California irrigators and logging industry groups to strip protected status from five populations of wild steelhead trout. Today's ruling rejects two separate challenges to steelhead protection in California . In the first case, anti-environment group Pacific Legal Foundation, which represents loggers and water users, argued that the National Marine Fisheries Service must make Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing decisions based simply on the numbers of hatchery steelhead produced each year. PLF asked the court to remove five separate populations of steelhead from the list of endangered species based on the presence of hatchery fish. In the second case, a group of Central Valley irrigators argued that ocean-going Central Valley steelhead population should be removed from the endangered species list based on their opinion that freshwater resident rainbow trout might someday replace extinct steelhead populations.
Read more: Federal Court Upholds Protection For California's Steelhead
The California Legislature voted to pull the $11 billion water bond from November's ballot and delay it for two years, a move that came as backers of the proposal became increasingly concerned about its prospects at the polls.
The full Senate approved the delay of Prop. 18 by a 27-7 vote, barely reaching the necessary two-thirds majority of the 40-member Senate. The Assembly also passed it by the slimmest of margins in that 80-person house, with a 54-22 vote. Some lawmakers from both parties have called for the bond to be scrapped and rewritten.
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Thousands of acres of farmland in the San Joaquin Valley have been removed from agricultural production, largely because the once fertile land is contaminated by salt buildup from years of irrigation. But large swaths of those dry fields could have a valuable new use in their future, making electricity.
Farmers and officials at Westlands Water District, a public agency that supplies water to farms in the valley, have agreed to provide land for what would be one of the world's largest solar energy complexes, to be built on 30,000 acres. At peak output, the proposed Westlands Solar Park would generate as much electricity as several BIG nuclear power plants.
As I prepare to hand over the reins of the presidency to someone else, I wish to say "Thank You" to everyone who has been so supportive of the Chapter and its programs since our first meeting 2 years ago. Many of us joined TU to work in the sun (and rain if necessary) to protect and restore habitat for fish, but building an organization from the ground up requires a lot of time be devoted to administrative duties. Based on how much we've accomplished, the Board members either worked when they should have been sleeping, or they worked on administrative stuff when they would have rather been outdoors. Whichever, they deserve a zillion "thank you's".
However, the Board members are not the only ones who deserve credit for our progress -- we need to acknowledge the speakers who have donated their time while we get on our feet financially, and the individuals and organizations which have donated in some way to help cover costs for projects and our newsletter.
Yes, as past president I will still be helping with administrative functions but I am looking forward to more time in the sun (and rain if necessary!) protecting the fisheries in this area of California – they are among the best in the nation and with your help we can keep them that way. s/Barbara Bania