![]() ![]() It provides drinking water for more than 27 million Californians and irrigation water for approximately 7 million acres of farmland.īut the large ecosystem is also necessary for several species of fish. The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is an expansive inland estuary that is home to several unique species, several of which have become significantly imperiled in recent years. “That opinion is nothing more than an extinction plan.” “We appreciate that the Newsom administration is going to challenge the Trump administration’s ridiculously dishonest biological opinion,” she said. While Phillips expressed trepidation for the plan’s finer points regarding water management, she praised Newsom for pursuing a lawsuit over the biological opinion released in October. “(The plan) appears to be weaker in its protections for the delta ecosystem – including salmon and smelt – than we had hoped to see and than previous operations have provided in recent years,” said Kathryn Phillips, director of the Sierra Club California. While California is touting its plan as a more environmentally friendly alternative to the federal plan, some environmentalists say the state isn’t going far enough to protect fish. The move represents a departure for the water department, which has historically relied on federal agencies and their biological opinions, and is another illustration of the rupture between the state of California and the federal government under President Donald Trump.Ĭalifornia has sued the federal government more than 60 times since Trump has assumed office, many of which relate to environmental policies. ![]() “This is essential in order to capture water when it’s available and leave more water when and where fish need it.” “This draft points to a more sophisticated and nimble way to manage the State Water Project to improve our ability to protect species and operate more flexibly,” said California water department director Karla Nemeth. ![]() But the administration pulled that document within two days of its publication, saying it needed additional review.Ī new analysis published in mid-October found increased deliveries to farmers would not have a detrimental impact to salmon and other fish.Ĭalifornia water officials pointed to “concern for the scientific rigor” of the federal process and said their plan will reliably provide California farmers with water without sacrificing the health of fish populations. ![]() The feds initially reviewed the impact of their proposed changes to fish species like salmon and smelt in July and concluded excess water deliveries to farmers would harm the populations of imperiled species. The draft environmental impact analysis released under state environmental law will allow state water managers to rely on analysis of fish populations and other species health in the context of California state law instead of the recently released biological opinions crafted by the federal government “At the same time, we also need to take legal action to protect the state’s interest and our environment.” “We value our partnerships with federal agencies on water management, including our work together to achieve the voluntary agreements,” said California Secretary for Environmental Protection Jared Blumenfeld. The Central Valley Project, managed by the federal government, and the State Water Project, administered by California, also furnish water to millions of households and businesses throughout the southern and central part of the state.Ĭalifornia hinted it would pursue legal action in the immediate aftermath of the Trump administration’s bid to bring more water to farmers, which scientists say will imperil several fish species. The California Department of Water Resources released an environmental analysis that calls for State Water Project managers to prioritize the protection of fish species like Chinook salmon, steelhead and the delta smelt while also ensuring parched farms in the Central Valley get the water they need to grow food.Įnvironmental analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act comes about a month after the Trump administration released its own rules that committed to deliver more water to the agricultural communities in the center of the state – a bastion of conservatism in liberal California.Ĭalifornia and the federal government share the management of the large network of dams, canals, pumps and tunnels that siphons water from the rivers and streams flowing westward from the snow-laden Sierra Nevada and delivers it to the Central Valley, where the soil is arable but the climate dry. (CN) – California telegraphed its intention to sue the Trump administration Thursday over water policy in the state, as state regulators say they must take action to protect endangered fish species. ![]()
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