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<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Judge affirms
ruling to shut delta pumps, protect fish<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Associated Press
– 4/18/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Samantha
Young, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">SACRAMENTO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT size=4><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> -- Brushing aside state objections, a judge
Wednesday reaffirmed his March decision that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> must stop pumping water out of the
delta within 60 days unless it complies with environmental laws protecting
fish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch filed
an order reiterating his position that the Department of Water Resources lacks
the proper permits or authority to run a key station that pumps water from the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into the California
Aqueduct.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"They submitted volumes of documents and declarations.
The judge took one look at it, read it and said nothing has changed," said Bill
Jennings, executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Department of Water Resources will appeal the
decision, spokesman Ted Thomas said after the ruling became
public.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In court filings, the department said it had the
authority to run the Harvey O. Banks pumping plant, a station west of <st1:City
w:st="on">Stockton</st1:City> that sends water to Southern California, the
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType> area and the <st1:place w:st="on">Central
Valley</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Environmentalists and fishing groups have complained for
years that the pumps suck in and kill threatened or endangered fish, including
the chinook salmon and delta smelt, which are protected under the California
Endangered Species Act.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The smelt, which average 3 inches long, are considered a
key indicator of the health of the delta. Their numbers have been dwindling over
the past few years as pumping has increased.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">State officials have argued that the smelt are falling
prey to other habitat changes and maintain that the department operates its
pumps in a manner that does not lead to excessive fish
kills.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The water department also has applied for authorization
from state wildlife officials to run the pumps. A decision is expected within
the next month, which could satisfy the judge.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">If the pumps are shut down, state water deliveries
couldn't continue without the Banks pumping station, according to the court
order. It is the heart of the state water project and funnels 10,688 cubic feet
per second of delta water through 11 pumps into the 444-mile long
aqueduct.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">More than 23 million Californians and 750,000 acres of
farmland get water that passes through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. State
officials have warned any interruption of its water deliveries would cause
severe economic harm. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><A id=more_images
href="">http://www.sacbee.com/114/story/157225.html</A></SPAN></FONT><FONT
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Ruling
to shut down delta pumps affirmed<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">San Francisco
Chronicle – 4/19/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Glen Martin,
staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">An <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Alameda</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> judge has affirmed his earlier
decision that orders the state Department of Water Resources to comply with the
California Endangered Species Act or shut down the huge water pumps that send
water to 24 million Californians. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch ordered
the agency to shut the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant near <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Tracy</st1:City></st1:place> within 60 days unless
it obtains authorization from the state Department of Fish and Game to kill
winter-run Chinook salmon, spring-run Chinook salmon and delta smelt. The
species are protected under state law. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The pumps, which shunt Sacramento-San
Joaquin River Delta water south, have been blamed for destroying the beleaguered
fish. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">On March 23, Roesch issued a draft ruling
demanding the pump shut down in lieu of permits required by state law. The
60-day countdown will begin when the order is signed, which is expected no later
than today. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Water Resources Department spokesman Ted
Thomas said agency officials could not comment on the ruling because they had
not reviewed it. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Fish and Game Department spokesman
<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Steve Martarano</st1:PersonName> said department
officials were also reviewing the order. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The court decision resulted from a lawsuit
filed last year by the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, which wants
more fresh water for the delta and its fisheries. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Bill Jennings, the executive director of
the sportfishing alliance, said the ruling "takes the albatross from (Water
Resources) and puts it on Fish and Game." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Jennings</SPAN></FONT></st1:City></st1:place><FONT
color=black size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"> said the Fish
and Game Department could declare the state rules comply with federal law or
issue a permit to kill the fish. Either or both strategies could keep the pumps
running. But such rulings would have to be based on firm scientific data showing
no significant harm would be done to the fish, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Jennings</st1:City></st1:place> said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">"We'll be sitting on their shoulder
watching everything they do," he said. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><A
href="">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/04/19/BAG52PB52J1.DTL</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Threat
to key water supply reaffirmed; </SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face=Tahoma
color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">A
judge's order over fish killed during pumping could halt the flow from the Bay
Area delta to the Southland. A state official vows an
appeal<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Los
Angeles</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Times – 4/19/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By
Bettina Boxall, staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A Superior Court judge has refused to back down from a
ruling that in two months could virtually shut down the State Water Project,
stopping the flow of Northern California water to Central Valley farms and 17
million <st1:place w:st="on">Southern Californians</st1:place>.<BR><BR>Over the
objections of water officials, Alameda County Judge Frank Roesch this week
reasserted a preliminary March ruling in which he found that the California
Department of Water Resources had not obtained the proper state environmental
permits to operate the huge pumps that siphon water from the Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta, in the process killing threatened and endangered fish.<BR><BR>The
judge has given the department 60 days from the issuance of his final order to
comply with the California Endangered Species Act, or he will turn off the
pumps. <BR><BR>Water officials have warned that a prolonged pumping shutdown
would wreak havoc on the <st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State> economy and
slash water deliveries to urban <st1:place w:st="on">Southern
California</st1:place> at a time when the region is experiencing what is on
track to be the driest year on record.<BR><BR>Water department Director Lester
Snow said his agency would appeal the decision.<BR><BR>"The 60-day clock starts
ticking on what would be a devastating blow to the state's water system," he
said. <BR><BR>In the meantime, his agency is asking the state Department of Fish
and Game to allow fish to be killed at the Harvey O. Banks Delta Pumping Plant,
based on existing federal environmental permits. The pumps have long been a
focal point of concern over the effect of huge water diversions from the delta,
which is part of the largest estuary on the West Coast and has been severely
degraded by farming, contaminants and water deliveries that have altered its
natural tidal rhythms.<BR><BR>The tiny native delta smelt, salmon and introduced
sport fish have all been in steep decline. Recent years have brought an
especially sharp drop in the population of smelt, which some scientists believe
is headed for extinction.<BR><BR>The escalating conflict between delta water
deliveries and environmental protection is spurring a reexamination of whether
the state should continue to use the sprawling delta northeast of <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:place></st1:City> as the hub
of its giant plumbing system or find some other ways of ferrying water between
north and south.<BR><BR>In the past the pumping has been briefly stopped, and
water deliveries have also been reduced, to protect fish. But the possibility of
a longer shutdown is sending ripples of anxiety throughout the State Water
Project, which supplies about two out of three Californians, as well as
irrigation water for 750,000 acres of farm land.<BR><BR><st1:place
w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> water officials have said they have
enough water in storage to avoid immediate rationing.<BR><BR>But in court
declarations, managers for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California warned that a shutdown of more than a year would empty their
reservoirs, halt groundwater recharge programs and ultimately force mandatory
rationing in the region.<BR><BR>Bill Jennings, executive director of the
California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, which filed the suit in which
Roesch ruled, said it was unlikely the pumps would be turned off for long.
"There's not a scare scenario here," he insisted.<BR><BR>He argued that the
water department could pursue a different tack to obtain a permit under the
state Endangered Species Act to kill fish at the pumps. But, he said, that would
probably involve reducing pumping levels to offset environmental harm caused by
the water operation. <BR><BR>However, state officials have said that permit
process could take as long as 18 months. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="">http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-pumps19apr19,1,769555.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Judge's
ultimatum on delta pumps; ENDANGERED SPECIES AT HEART OF
DISPUTE<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">San
Jose</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Mercury News –
4/19/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Mike Taugher,
MediaNews </SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">An Alameda County judge rejected
last-minute pleas from state water officials and instead completed his order
that they shut off massive Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta pumps in 60 days
unless they can comply with the state law that protects endangered species such
as delta smelt and salmon. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The California Department of Water
Resources said it would appeal Wednesday's ruling and warned of dire economic
repercussions should the pumps be shut off. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The State Water Project delivers water to
25 million people from the Bay Area to <st1:City w:st="on">San Diego</st1:City>,
but a shutdown would probably most severely affect <st1:City
w:st="on">Dublin</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on">Pleasanton</st1:City> and
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Livermore</st1:place></st1:City>.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The Zone 7 Water Agency, which serves
200,000 people in those areas, gets 80 percent of its water from the state
project and would have to impose a mandatory 20 percent reduction in the first
year of a shutdown, said General Manager Jill Duerig. That would probably
prohibit watering of lawns, carwashing and other activities, she said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">"It would be water available for health
and safety only," Duerig said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Some <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Livermore</st1:City></st1:place> vineyards could be cut off entirely,
she added. In the unlikely event that a shutdown extended into a second year,
water use would have to be cut in half as water stored underground and in Lake
Del Valle is used up. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch
finalized his March 22 order and ruled the project lacks permits required under
the California Endangered Species Act to kill delta smelt and protected salmon
runs. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Few expect the pumps to be turned off for
any length of time, in part because it could cost the state economy hundreds of
billions of dollars, state water officials say. Still, it has brought new
urgency to the ongoing water crisis. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The Department of Water Resources finds
itself without a clear way to resolve the thorny legal predicament.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Last week, the agency for the first time
asked the Department of Fish and Game to formally review its operation by asking
it to endorse federal endangered-species permits. If the Fish and Game
Department agrees the federal permits are consistent with state law, the project
would be in compliance and the shutdown threat would be averted.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">But the federal permits are widely
perceived as flawed, and they are already being rewritten to address several
shortcomings. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="">http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_5701604</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">State loses
pumps ruling; It has 60 days before Delta water
affected<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Stockton</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Record –
4/19/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Hank Shaw,
staff writer</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT color=#053c63 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #053c63"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">SACRAMENTO</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> - Tick,
tick, tick. The 60-day clock has begun on a court case that could result in the
shutdown of the giant water pumps near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Tracy</st1:City></st1:place> that supply water to 25 million
Californians.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Alameda
Superior Count Judge Frank Roesch ruled against the state Wednesday in a case
brought against the departments of Water Resources and Fish and Game that argues
the state has failed to follow its own laws - bringing a key species of fish to
the brink of extinction as a result.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Few expect the pumps to
shut down, but the legal action, coupled with parallel litigation over the
federal water pumps next to the state facility, could significantly curtail
water pumping from the Delta.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Water
agencies from the Bay Area to the Central Valley and on into <st1:place
w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> are beginning to develop emergency
plans as a result.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Department
of Water Resources Director Lester Snow said stopping the pumps would be a
"devastating blow to the state's water system."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">State Sen.
Michael Machado, D-Linden, said the state should have been following the law,
even if it does mean less water for farms and communities
elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"Everybody
may have to step back and reassess what their expectations are," Machado
said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">At issue
are the Delta smelt and the California Endangered Species
Act.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Smelt are
viewed by biologists as a bellwether of the Delta's health, and they are dying.
Scientists estimate only 35,000 smelt exist, down from 800,000 a few years
ago.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
die-off coincides with dramatically increased pumping at both the state and
federal pumps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Killing
threatened fish - or any other creature - requires a "take permit" issued by the
Department of Fish and Game. The permit is designed to allow an entity to kill a
few of the threatened creatures, so long as it does not harm the species as a
whole.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
Department of Water Resources has never requested such a permit, although Snow
told a Senate hearing in 2005 he'd ask for one. Snow says a "patchwork" of
internal rules effectively brings the department into compliance with the
law.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Roesch
thought otherwise. He's given the state 60 days to follow the state Endangered
Species Act or show it is acting consistently with the federal Endangered
Species Act; if the state fails, he'll order the pumps shut
down.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">A
complicating factor is that the rules governing the federal pumps are likely to
change as a result of another lawsuit; a hearing in that case is slated for next
Thursday.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Snow said
the state will appeal Roesch's decision.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=articlegraf style="MARGIN: 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Machado
said he wants to hear from the department what it plans to do should it lose
that appeal. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Tuesday.
#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="">http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070419/A_NEWS/704190325</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Ruling Could
Jeopardize State Water Supplies<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">KCBS 740 AM –
4/18/07</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">SACRAMENTO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT
color=black size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">, <st1:State
w:st="on">Calif.</st1:State> (AP) - A judge today reaffirmed a decision that
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>
must stop pumping water out of the delta within 60 days unless it complies with
environmental laws protecting fish. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank
Roesch filed an order reiterating his position that the Department of Water
Resources lacks the proper permits or authority to pump water from the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The Department of Water Resources had
asked him to reconsider his March 22 ruling.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">A department spokesman said the state will
now appeal the decision.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The state pumps water from its Harvey O.
Banks facility to more than 23 million people in Southern California, the Bay
Area and the <st1:place w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place>. If the pumps were
shut down it would cripple state water supplies.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The water department has applied for
authorization from state wildlife officials to run the pumps. A decision is
expected within the next month, which could satisfy the judge.
#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><A
href="">http://kcbs.com/pages/366919.php?contentType=4&contentId=422691</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; LETTER-SPACING: -0.65pt">Water
decision bad news for Kern<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; LETTER-SPACING: -0.65pt">Bakersfield</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma; LETTER-SPACING: -0.65pt">
Californian – 4/18/07</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; LETTER-SPACING: -0.65pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=firstparagraph1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">SACRAMENTO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> -- It was more bad news for <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Kern</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> farmers and water officials when
Alameda County Judge Frank Roesch finalized his order giving state water project
managers 60 days to get a major environmental permit or shut down their
pumps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=firstparagraph1 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jim Beck, general manager of the Kern County Water
Agency, said the agency and the state Department of Water Resources and other
water users are "analyzing all our legal and political
options."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"From what I understand," Beck said, "we have 60 days to
file our appeal." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">If the pumps are shut down in 60 days, it would halt
flows in the California Aqueduct, which supplies more than 20 percent of the
water used in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Kern</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, at the height of
the summer irrigation season.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">That would be a severe blow to the county's biggest
industry, costing farmers "millions and millions of dollars" and throwing many
workers off their jobs, Beck has said. #<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="">http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/122806.html</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">####<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>