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<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">DELTA
ISSUES:<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">Fish data
ignored, groups contend; Environmentalists' lawyers say <?xml:namespace prefix =
st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> Fish and
Wildlife approved pumping of Delta water despite dwindling
smelt<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">Contra Costa
Times – 4/27/07<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,
staff writer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></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: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">FRESNO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City></st1:place><FONT
color=black size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"> -- The federal
agency responsible for protecting endangered species ignored information that
showed the Delta smelt population crashed to its lowest level before approving a
plan to increase water pumping out of the Delta, lawyers for environmental
groups charged Thursday. <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 style="MARGIN: 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">By disregarding that information, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service allowed farms and cities across the state to take
water that was needed to help prevent the fish from going extinct,
environmentalists contend. <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 charge came during a court hearing in
which environmentalists appeared to gain ground in their attempt to overturn a
critically important permit that allows massive water-delivery projects near
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Tracy</st1:City></st1:place> to
operate, even though the pumps kill endangered smelt. In a separate lawsuit,
they also are challenging a permit to kill 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">Lawyers for state and federal water
agencies contend the permit is valid and should be upheld.
<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 hearing Thursday was the latest in a
series of fast-moving court actions that are eroding the legal foundation upon
which California's major water-delivery systems are allowed to operate.
<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">Earlier this month, a judge in Alameda
County Superior Court ruled that the larger of the two water projects, the State
Water Project, is operating illegally because it lacks smelt and salmon permits
required under the state's endangered species law. <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">Sensing that they are likely to lose another lawsuit,
lawyers for water agencies urged U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger not to
immediately revoke the permit for the operations of the state pumps and the
federal Central Valley Project. <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">"We would not like to see these two
projects turned into a criminal enterprise because of the lack of an endangered
species permit," said Gregory Wilkinson, a lawyer for the State Water
Contractors, an association of water agencies that deliver water from the
state-owned pumps to 25 million people from the <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">East</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType> to
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">San Diego</st1:City></st1:place>.
<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">Wanger hinted strongly that he would rule
in favor of the environmental groups, but he added that he did not intend to do
anything "draconian," perhaps signaling he would not immediately revoke the
permit or order pumps to be shut down. <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">Nevertheless, a finding that the federal
permit is inadequate would deal a major blow to state water officials who are
trying to stave off a looming court order in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Alameda</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> case that threatens to force them
to cut off water deliveries around June 9. <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">"If he says this thing is invalid, it will
be very embarrassing" to state water officials, said Trent Orr, a lawyer
representing the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmentalists
in the lawsuit. <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's plan to avert the shutdown is
to get a determination from the state Department of Fish and Game that federal
endangered species permits are sufficient. <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 Fish and Game officials, who have said
it will be difficult to endorse the federal permits because of widely
acknowledged flaws, will have an even harder time if the federal permit is
struck down. <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">"What does it mean to say this thing is
consistent with something a federal judge has said is invalid?" Orr 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">Because of the phenomenal economic damage
that would ensue, few believe the court actions will result in an extended
cutoff of water deliveries. However, Thursday's hearing did appear to strengthen
the hand of regulators if they want to obtain water for the Delta ecosystem that
now goes to farms and cities. <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">Outside court, Wilkinson said state
regulators could still endorse the federal permits. In part, he said, they
appear to be working better this year because of adjustments in water
operations. That could justify such a move on the part of state regulators, he
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">At the time the federal permit was issued
in February 2005, biologists were circulating among themselves and to water
managers information showing that Delta smelt and other fish in the Delta's open
waters were in a worrying free fall. <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">And, they were reporting, the pumps were
believed to be at least part of the cause of the emerging ecological crisis,
along with invasive species and pollution. <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">Environmentalists also charged in the
lawsuit that the permit did not take into account the future impact of climate
change. And the permit relies too much on the discretion of agencies instead of
imposing strict requirements to protect the fish, Orr argued.
<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">Water agencies argued Thursday that the
flexibility allows agencies to conserve fish while balancing competing demands
for water. <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 Wanger appeared skeptical.
<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 appears that what has been done hasn't
been effective, and therefore the answer is trust us?" he asked. "Is that what
the law calls for?" #<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://origin1.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_5764443">http://origin1.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_5764443</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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