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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>The news below is of such significance that I am
forwarding all of the news clippings available on this
topic.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Tom Stokely</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
<HR tabIndex=-1 align=center width="100%" SIZE=2>
</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">From:</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Dan
Bacher [mailto:danielbacher@fishsniffer.com] <BR><B><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Sunday, September 02, 2007 6:28
PM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Judge</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Orders</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and Federal Governments to Reduce
Pumping to Protect Delta Smelt </SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111 size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">U.S. District
Court Judge Oliver Wanger on Friday ruled to restrict water deliveries from the
California Deltas massive export pumps to the Bay Area, Central Valley and
<st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> to protect the threatened
delta smelt, an indicator species.<BR></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Verdana
size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 8.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on"><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111 size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Judge</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></st1:PlaceName><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111><SPAN
style="COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Orders</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111><SPAN
style="COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> And Federal Governments to Reduce
Pumping to Protect Delta Smelt</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">By
Dan Bacher</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">(<st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Fresno</st1:place></st1:City>) In a landmark
decision, a federal judge on August 31 ordered state and federal water project
managers to reduce the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin
River Delta to protect the threatened delta smelt from
extinction.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Environmentalists
generally praised the ruling, even though the decision didnt go as far as they
wanted, while Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and water agency representatives
claimed the decision would devastate <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Californias</st1:place></st1:State> water supplies and the
economy.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">U.S.
District Court Judge Oliver Wanger ruled to restrict water deliveries from the
California Deltas massive export pumps to the Bay Area, Central Valley and
<st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> to protect the fish. The
Delta smelt is found only in the Bay-Delta estuary and is considered by
scientists to be an indicator species demonstrating the health of the West
Coasts largest estuary.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Wanger, after
hearing testimony from the defendants that other factors such as invasive
species and toxics resulted in the collapse of the imperiled fish, said the
pumps cause reverse flows in the Delta that kill smelt and damage vital
habitat.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">"The
evidence is uncontradicted that these project operations move the fish. It
happens and the law says something has to be done about it, said
Wanger.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The
ruling will reduce pumping from the end of the December, when the fish are ready
to spawn, until June, when the fish can move out of harms way from the pumps
into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Suisun</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Thousands of smelt
were killed in the state and federal pumps this May and June, in spite of a nine
day reduction in pumping spurred by a court order issued by Alameda Superior
Court Judge Frank Roesch in a separate lawsuit filed by the California
Sportfishing Protection Alliance.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Kate
Poole, Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said
that Wangers ruling appears to improve the smelt's chances of survival. NRDC,
Earthjustice and two other environmental groups launched their lawsuit to
prevent the smelts extinction at time when the fish has declined to record low
levels.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The
question is whether it's enough to save the smelt from extinction, she stated.
That's what's needed to protect the delta and clean drinking water, and it's
what's required under the federal Endangered Species
Act.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">"The
San Francisco Bay Delta can't perform its vital job of supplying clean water for
people, if it's so sick that it can't even support the tiny delta smelt.
Millions of Californians depend on the delta to supply clean drinking water,
irrigate crops and support salmon and other fishing jobs, said <st1:place
w:st="on">Poole</st1:place>.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger described the federal court ruling as devastating blow to our
water supply system and state economy.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Today's federal
court ruling to drastically cut Delta water exports is further proof that our
water system is broken, unreliable and in crisis, Schwarzenegger contended. We
must act now to ensure the safety and reliability of <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>'s water system
while we work to protect the environment. This decision is also going to have a
devastating impact on the state's economy and the 25 million Californians who
depend on Delta water.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Schwarzenegger
used the judges decision as another chance to promote his campaign to build a
peripheral canal code-worded as a better conveyance system and more water
storage behind two proposed reservoirs in the Sacramento and San Joaquin
valleys.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">We
need to invest in a better conveyance system so we have reliable water supplies
and are able to protect the Delta's fragile ecosystem, said Schwarzenegger.
Following today's ruling, there can be no doubt, we need more water storage and
greater conservation efforts to meet the needs of our growing population,
respond to the challenge climate change presents and meet the requirements of
what the court has imposed.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Jeff
Kightlinger, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District (MWD),
criticized the ruling for not addressing other factors in the Delta smelts
decline.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">"Judge Wanger's
decision to cut back water supplies doesn't address various other Delta problems
and issues, Kightlinger said. Invasive species will continue to deplete food
supplies for Delta smelt, pesticide runoff that can harm the estuary will
persist, and the levee system will remain vulnerable to earthquakes and rising
sea levels caused by climate change.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">MWD,
the primary water importer for urban Southern California, claimed it stands to
lose as much as 30 percent of its supplies from <st1:place w:st="on">Northern
California</st1:place> next year and possibly longer, based on initial estimates
supplied by the state.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">"<st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> simply cannot
lose important water supplies without real consequences throughout the state,"
said Kightlinger. This historic court decision affirms what the water community
has realized for some time, but the general public may not fully appreciate--the
Delta, both as a valuable ecosystem and essential water supply, is broken. This
court ruling did not fix it.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">However,
<st1:place w:st="on">Poole</st1:place> noted that it too early to determine
exactly how much water would be taken out of water supplies to protect the smelt
and she emphasized that the Delta can be managed to both protect fish and supply
water to cities and agriculture by increased water
conservation.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">"We
can manage the San Francisco Bay Delta to protect fisheries and supply clean,
reliable water to downstream users, she stated. The key is to use water wisely.
Through conservation, wastewater recycling and better use of groundwater, we can
keep enough fresh water in the delta to ensure clean water and healthy
fisheries. Water managers have been planning for this for
years."</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The
judge gave both parties 50 days to jointly come up with an order after giving an
outline of what he wanted. Wanger earlier this year tossed out a key U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service biological opinion regarding Delta water management and
ordered the agency to rewrite the opinion. The August 31 ruling will be in
effect only until the agency finishes rewriting the
opinion.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Fishing groups
also welcomed the decision, although they werent sure exactly how much the
decision would reduce pumping levels and protect the
smelt.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Nobody really
knows the full ramifications of the decision yet, said Bill Jennings, executive
director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. Im also concerned
that the ruling doesnt protect the delta smelt during the fall. However, the
fact that a conservative federal judge had to compel the reduction of state and
federal pumps to protect the smelt is a searing indictment of the state and
federal governments' failure to protect the
estuary.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">In
response to Schwarzenegger's dire prediction of disaster resulting from the
ruling, <st1:City w:st="on">Jennings</st1:City> replied that the Governor could
protect the water supplies of 99.9 percent of <st1:State
w:st="on">Californias</st1:State> urban and agricultural users if
water-intensive cotton crops in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> were taken out of production.
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>'s
cotton production approximates 1.5 million bales annually from approximately
550,000 acres, representing the 2nd largest planted acreage of any crop in the
state.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111 size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Jennings</SPAN></FONT></SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111><SPAN
style="COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> also said Wangers decision should
help strengthen the alliances current litigation against the Department of Water
Resources and State Water Resources Control
Board.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Its
clear that if the Delta is to be saved, given the political paralysis of the
Schwarzenegger and Bush administrations, it will be saved in court, he said.
Hopefully, the Wanger ruling will make a
difference.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN class=apple-style-span><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111
size=3><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">The
decision occurs in the context of an alarming decline in recent years of four
California Delta pelagic (open water) species, including delta smelt, longfin
smelt, striped bass and threadfin shad, as the state and federal governments
have increased water exports by over 1,000,000 acre feet of water per
year.</SPAN></FONT></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV style="MIN-HEIGHT: 15px">
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana size=1><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 9pt; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Verdana color=#111111 size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #111111; FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">On August 8, the
Bay Institute, Center for Biological Diversity and NRDC simultaneously asked the
federal government to list the Bay-Delta population of longfin smelt under the
federal Endangered Species Act and the California Fish and Game Commission to
list the species statewide under the California Endangered Species
Act.</SPAN></FONT><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=top><B><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Department of Water
Resources</SPAN></FONT></B></A><B><FONT color=blue size=7><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 36pt; COLOR: blue"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Arial
color=blue size=7><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 36pt; COLOR: blue">California</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:State></st1:place><B><FONT
color=blue size=7><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 36pt; COLOR: blue">
Water News</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-STYLE: italic">A daily
compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and
comment</SPAN></FONT></I></B><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=MsoNormal><FONT face=Arial color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Arial size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt">September 4,
2007</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 13.5pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></I></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=5><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 16pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">1. Top
Item - <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"><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 protect delta smelt may force water rationing in Bay Area
-<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">San
Francisco Chronicle<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"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Judge limits Delta
pumps<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Effort to save fish will hurt
farmers and others, the state says. -<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H2>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Sacramento</SPAN></FONT></st1:City></st1:place><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Bee<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><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">Court
ruling on delta alarms water officials -<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">San
Jose</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:City></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma color=black
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Mercury News<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"><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">Ruling to cut
into water flow to region</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><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 order
will protect fish, but cause shortages -<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">San
Diego</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:City></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Union
Tribune<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"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Smelt ruling may cut into water
supply<FONT color=#666666><SPAN
style="COLOR: #666666"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Official says
the decision in an environmental suit could force a one-third reduction in
shipments from the delta to the Southland. -<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Los
Angeles</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:City></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Times<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"><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">++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<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"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Judge imposes water limits to
protect Delta fish -<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Sacramento</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Bee</SPAN></FONT><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; 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"><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">Judge: Cut water
to help endangered fish<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">Delta fish near
extinction -<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">Oakland</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Tribune<FONT
color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></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"><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 protect delta smelt may force water rationing in Bay
Area<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">San
Francisco Chronicle – 9/1/07<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
Peter Fimrite, Staff Writer<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"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Cities
around the Bay Area face the possibility of mandatory water rationing next year
as a result of a federal court decision Friday to protect a rare fish found only
in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, state officials and water experts
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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
decision, which could cut by up to a third the amount of water drawn from the
delta, will definitely force conservation measures and, in the end, could be the
most far-reaching decision ever made under endangered species laws, according to
experts. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
ruling, made Friday evening by U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger, was an attempt
to help the delta smelt, a tiny fish once plentiful but now facing extinction.
Environmentalists insist the huge Tracy-area pumps used by the State Water
Project and federal Central Valley Project suck up smelt, killing huge numbers
of them. Those water systems redistribute delta water to parts of the Bay Area,
the <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType> and <st1:place w:st="on">Southern
California</st1:place>.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"This is
the most drastic cut ever to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> water supplies," said Tim Quinn,
the executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies, a
lobbying group that represents more than 400 agencies that deliver 90 percent of
the state's water. "It is the most significant decision ever made in the
implementation of either the state or federal Endangered Species Act. It's the
biggest impact anywhere, nationwide."<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Water
agency representatives said cropland is likely to go fallow, and cities in the
Tri-Valley, <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Santa Clara</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los
Angeles</st1:place></st1:City> and elsewhere could have to institute mandatory
rationing programs in order to deal with the cuts in water.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Agencies
that rely on delta water - such as the Zone 7 Water Agency that serves <st1:City
w:st="on">Livermore</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on">Pleasanton</st1:City> and
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:City> - also
will have to rely on water reserves, threatening efforts to deal with severe
droughts or disasters like earthquakes.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The court
case, which started Aug. 21 in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Fresno</st1:City></st1:place>, was an attempt to establish temporary
guidelines for the protection of the 2- to 3-inch-long, silver-colored fish,
which is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Once plentiful
in the delta, the fish have been dying in large numbers over the past few years.
The pumps are blamed, as is pollution from farms and cities and other
factors.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
environmentalists, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, were pitted
against state and federal water brokers and their contractors. At stake was not
only a rare species of fish uniquely adapted to the delta's shifting currents
and brackish water but also the drinking water for 25 million Californians and
irrigation for 750,000 acres of cropland. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The ruling
came after more than a week of expert testimony. In his decision issued from the
bench, Wanger did not prohibit pumping. Instead, he required state and federal
water officials to maintain sufficient water flow by reducing pumping or
releasing more water upstream to prevent the smelt from being sucked into the
pumps.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
complicated ruling set water flow targets from late December through June, the
primary spawning season when young smelt are in particular danger of being
sucked into the pumps. It could mean up to 35 percent less water for the state,
according to officials from the state Department of Water
Resources.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
decision is meant to be effective for about a year, after which federal wildlife
officials are expected to issue their own decision on how to protect the smelt.
But experts said there is no reason to expect that decision will free up more
water.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Some
environmentalists said it didn't go quite far
enough.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"It's not
as protective as we would have liked, but we're pleased that the government will
be taking some measures to protect the smelt," said Kate Poole, one of the
lawyers for the National Resources Defense Council. "It's a step in the right
direction to restoring the delta. It's not clear whether this will protect the
smelt and prevent its extinction."<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Jerry
Johns, the deputy director of the Department of Water Resources, said the ruling
might not have been as severe as environmentalists wanted, but it was harsh.
Selling water around the state will be more difficult now that the delta pumps
can't work as hard, 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"The
ability to move water across the market is greatly limited here because the
delta can't perform," 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The water
fight started in 2005 when environmentalists sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service after the agency issued an opinion saying that the federal and state
water projects would not jeopardize the delta smelt.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
plaintiffs said the pumping plants were primarily responsible for a drastic
decline in the number of smelt in the 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">In May,
Wanger ruled against federal authorities, essentially ordering the government to
establish new guidelines to protect the fish. The state Department of Water
Resources and the Fish and Wildlife Service now are attempting to come up with a
new "biological opinion" - a conclusion about the impact the jointly operated
water projects have on the fish species.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Such
biological opinions are required under the Endangered Species Act. The latest
hearing was to determine what measures should be taken to protect the fish until
that opinion is completed in about a year. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The fact
that the delta smelt is unique to the delta's vast network of channels, islands
and marshes makes it a crucial gauge of the ecological health of the region. The
species adapted over the eons to the brackish water, varying currents from
converging rivers and flooding that has historically inundated the valley.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Smelt swim
only in bursts to get to locations where they can drift with the currents and
feed, according to experts. They live for about a year, spawn and their larvae
then drift down to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Suisun</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, where they grow and repeat the cycle.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Over the
past four or five years, experts have noticed a precipitous drop in the number
and range of the smelt, historically the most common fish in the 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Peter
Moyle, a professor of fisheries at UC Davis, and Tina Swanson, the senior
scientist at The Bay Institute, testified during the hearing that the smelt
appear to get confused in the south delta because the pumps actually change the
direction of the current. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Moyle
believes the delta smelt is on the verge of extinction. The fish is particularly
vulnerable now, he said, because it is concentrated mostly in one area where a
toxic spill or disaster of some sort could wipe them all
out.<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Lawyers
for the state and federal governments and water contractors argued that the
pumps are only a minor part of the problem and that other factors - like
nonnative predatory species, toxic runoff, wastewater dumping and unregulated
pumping from farmers - are the major culprits. They wanted the other issues
studied and addressed before limits on pumping were put in place.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Environmentalists
contend a limited water supply might impress upon the farmers the realities of
global warming, thereby forcing them to grow more sustainable crops and install
more efficient irrigation systems.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/01/MNPCRT83Q.DTL"></SPAN>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/01/MNPCRT83Q.DTL</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Judge limits Delta
pumps<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Effort to save fish will hurt
farmers and others, the state says.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H2>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Sacramento</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Bee – 9/1/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></H2>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By John Ellis - <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Fresno</st1:City></st1:place>
Bee<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H3>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A federal judge on Friday ordered less water to be
pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect the threatened Delta
smelt, a decision state water officials said will hurt <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType> farmers and <st1:place w:st="on">Southern
California</st1:place> residents alike.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">State Water Contractors, an organization representing
more than two dozen agencies that buy water from the state, called the decision
by U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger in <st1:City w:st="on">Fresno</st1:City>
the largest court-ordered water supply reduction in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>
history.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"This may be the biggest impact anywhere, <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> or
nationwide," said Terry Erlewine, the organization's general manager.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In an average year -- when close to 6 million acre-feet
of water is sent south from the Delta -- the giant pumps serving both the state
and federal water projects could deliver up to 35 percent less water under the
federal order, said Jerry Johns, deputy director of the state Department of
Water Resources.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">At issue are the giant pumping stations that are key to
the state and federal water systems, devices that environmentalists say have
driven the smelt to the brink of extinction.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"The evidence is uncontradicted that these project
operations move the fish," Wanger said after hearing objections from defendants,
who had argued that other factors led to the fish's
decline.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It happens, and the law says something has to be done
about it."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Under the ruling, limits would be put in place from the
end of December, when the fish are about to spawn, until June, when young fish
can move into better habitat with more food.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Wanger also prescribed other measures, such as increased
monitoring of the fish's presence in its adult and juvenile stages at several
points in the Delta.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a written statement
that the ruling would have "a devastating impact on the state's economy and the
25 million Californians who depend on Delta water."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The full impact of the ruling remained unknown. People
on both sides of the issue are working to grasp the details of Wanger's
decision, which was delivered to a courtroom so packed that spectators were
seated in the courtroom's jury box.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Environmentalists, while pleased with the decision, were
quick to point out that they didn't get everything they
wanted.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It's kind of a mixed bag, but it's better than what we
have now," said Trent Orr, an attorney with Earthjustice who is involved in the
case.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Environmentalists, for instance, had asked Wanger to
require increased river water flows into the Delta starting this fall, which
would push back saltier water that smelt can't tolerate and allow them to reach
critical feeding grounds.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Wanger declined to do that.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">His ruling Friday stems from a 2005 lawsuit filed by the
Natural Resources Defense Council, which sought to help protect the Delta smelt
population, which is listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species
Act.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The 3-inch-long fish, which lives only a year, is
considered an indicator of the Delta's health.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"This species is not only in jeopardy, it is at the
tipping point," Natural Resources Defense Council attorney Michael Wall said in
his closing argument.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">State and federal water officials agree the smelt
population is in decline, but there is broad disagreement with environmentalists
on the reasons. Water officials say pumping is one reason, but other factors,
such as loss of food supplies and the introduction of foreign plant and fish
species, have altered the environment and caused the smelt population to
plummet.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Pumping can cause the river channels to run backward.
Smelt are often tricked by the flow and can move with the current into the
pumps, according to testimony during the hearing.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">State authorities for that reason took the unprecedented
step in May of shutting down huge water pumps for 10 days in the south Delta
after they found that rising numbers of the rare fish had been sucked to their
death.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Orr, of Earthjustice, said Wanger's ruling doesn't
necessarily mean pumping must be reduced. He said increased releases from
<st1:place w:st="on">Northern California</st1:place> reservoirs or a rainy
season could also do the job.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Wanger gave both sides 50 days to take his oral
statement and fashion it into a written order. He urged them to work together,
and warned that if they didn't, he would take written submissions from both
sides and craft the order himself.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Earlier this year, Wanger threw out a key U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service opinion on water management and pumping in the Delta. His
decision required the opinion to be rewritten.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Friday's ruling will be in effect only until that
opinion is rewritten. Dan Nelson, executive director of the San Luis &
Delta-Mendota Water Authority, expects that to be completed around this time
next year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In the meantime, however, he said the lack of rainfall
this past year has put reservoirs at critically low levels. Low water levels
combined with Wanger's decision mean agricultural interests on the San Joaquin
Valley's west side could see water deliveries cut in half -- and that's if
rainfall is normal in the upcoming season, Nelson
said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">If it's a dry year, he said, "we'll be lucky to deliver
any water to farms."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">West side farmer Dan Errotabere, who grows almonds,
pistachios, garlic and other crops on a little more than 5,000 acres, said the
decision adds to uncertainty at a time when he is planning for
2008.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Farmers and growers in the Westlands Water District say
Wanger's decision could force them to pump groundwater, which is of lower
quality.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It could also lead to more land being taken out of
production, an increase in dust emissions from unfarmed land and the risk of
land subsiding when groundwater is pumped out.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It was an uncertain business before," Errotabere said.
"It's certainly more now."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Associated Press contributed to this
report.#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/355526.html">http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/355526.html</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><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">Court
ruling on delta alarms water officials<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">San
Jose</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">
Mercury News – 9/1/07<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
Sean Webby, 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><!--subtitle--><!--byline-->
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Santa Clara County water
officials were envisioning possible water shortages and mandatory conservation
in the wake of a federal judge's ruling Friday expected to dramatically cut the
amount of water flowing to the rest of the state from the San Joaquin-Sacramento
River Delta. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The cuts, ordered by U.S.
District Judge Oliver Wanger, are intended to protect endangered fish. But
restricting the flow from the water pumps to save the fish could cut statewide
water flow from the delta by one-sixth to one-third. About half of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Santa Clara</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>'s water comes from the delta, water
district officials said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The "<st1:place
w:st="on">Silicon Valley</st1:place> water supply could be hit hard by this
latest court ruling," said Susan Siravo, a spokeswoman for the Santa Clara
County Water District. "We really need people now more than ever to conserve."
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Officials were still studying
the ruling Friday and were unsure of exactly what effect the ruling would have,
Siravo said. But if the area suffered more dry bouts or drought conditions, the
cutbacks could mean mandatory conservation. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Officials could be forced to
draw on some of the area's emergency water reserves. The county's 10 reservoirs
were at 57 percent capacity this week. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Residents could also notice
drier streambeds. The district manages about 100 miles of streams. And Siravo
wondered aloud if the ruling, intended to protect smelt, would hurt sensitive
habitats of steelhead trout, red-legged frogs and turtles in the valley.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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 class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"If the
water is coming out of people's taps, they are happy and may not realize what
the challenges are that are facing us," Siravo said, asking for more public
education and awareness. "A lot of people don't know how reliant we are on the
delta." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Wanger's decision sent shock
waves through the state. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The judge ruled that pressure
from the pumps helped reverse the natural direction of water within the estuary,
damaging habitat and killing delta smelt, a fish that experts say might be on
the brink of extinction. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">"The evidence is
uncontradicted that these project operations move the fish," Wanger said after
hearing objections from defendants, who had argued that other factors led to the
fish's decline. "It happens, and the law says something has to be done about
it." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Under the ruling, limits
would be put in place from the end of December, when the fish are about to
spawn, until June, when young fish can move into areas with better habitat and
more food. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Wanger also prescribed other
measures, such as increased monitoring of the fish's presence in its adult and
juvenile stages at several points in the delta. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Pumps operated by the Central
Valley Project - operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - send water to
farmers in the agricultural valley south of the delta. The State Water Project -
operated by the California Department of Water Resources - delivers the water to
urban and rural water users as far south as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:City></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">The water serves more than 25
million Californians and thousands of acres of crops.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">In a year with an average
amount of precipitation, about 6 million acre feet of water is pumped from the
delta, and up to one-third of that could be lost under Wanger's order, said
Jerry Johns, Department of Water Resources deputy director.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">Tim Quinn, who heads the
Association of California Water Agencies, said the ruling would have a serious
impact in a state already coming off a dry winter and spring.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black">"A sober assessment of this
says it's a very large deal," Quinn said.#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=black
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black"><A
href="http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_6778881?nclick_check=1">http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_6778881?nclick_check=1</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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 class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Ruling to cut
into water flow to region</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><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 order
will protect fish, but cause shortages <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
Diego</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Union Tribune –
9/1/07<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 Michael
Gardner</SPAN></FONT></B><B><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><BR></SPAN></FONT></B><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">SACRAMENTO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> – A federal judge
yesterday ordered a dramatic slowdown in pumping water to Southern California –
an unprecedented decision aimed at protecting a tiny fish in the <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:City> delta, but one
that will have widespread economic and political repercussions across the state.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">U.S. District Court
Judge Oliver Wanger's extraordinary ruling to save the endangered delta smelt
could cost <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State> as much as 2 million acre-feet of
water a year – enough for 4 million people – and raises the prospects of
rationing and thousands of acres of idled farmland.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The San Diego County
Water Authority expects to be squeezed. The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:City></st1:place> delta is the source of nearly 40
percent of the region's annual supply, and local officials are studying their
options. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">“Supply shortages and
mandatory water-use restrictions are a very real possibility,” said Fern
Steiner, chairwoman of the water authority board. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Longer term, the loss of
urban and farm deliveries will pile more water woes on an already parched state.
<st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State> is in the throes of a deepening dry
spell, from the <st1:place w:st="on">Colorado River</st1:place> to the Sierra.
Climate change is expected to make Mother Nature more fickle. And booming growth
will only increase demand. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Solutions will be costly
and polarizing, from building reservoirs to resurrecting the once-rejected
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Peripheral</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Canal</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> to move water around
the delta. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Wanger's decision in a
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Fresno</st1:City></st1:place> courtroom
drew a sharp rebuke from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is aggressively
pressing for delta restoration. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">“Today's federal court
ruling to drastically cut delta water exports is further proof that our water
system is broken, unreliable and in crisis,” Schwarzenegger said in a statement.
“This decision is also going to have a devastating impact on the state's economy
and the 25 million Californians who depend on delta water.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">State water suppliers
agreed that the decision is the most far-reaching of its kind in the history of
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>'s
well-documented water wars. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">“It will have a
significant impact on our economy and quality of life,” said Maureen Stapleton,
general manager of the water authority. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The <st1:City
w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:City> delta is the hub of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>'s water
supply. Two-thirds of the state's drinking water and irrigation supplies to more
than 1 million acres of farmland flow through the 1,100-mile maze of waterways.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">In his ruling, Wanger
sided with environmentalists who say the 3-inch smelt are sucked down the delta
and killed by the water pumps. The smelt also is an indicator of the overall
health of the delta's valuable ecosystem, they say.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">“The evidence is
uncontradicted that these project operations move the fish,” Wanger said,
according to The Associated Press. “It happens, and the law says something has
to be done about it.” <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">State and federal
officials, as well as many farmers and businesses that rely on supplies, counter
that other factors such as pollution and predators are also to blame.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Officials were still
sorting out the ruling Wagner made from the bench, but late yesterday they
estimated that the smelt safeguards will prevent state and federal pumps from
delivering 14 percent to 37 percent of normal capacity. That amounts to 800,000
acre-feet to 2 million acre-feet a year. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The judge did not set a
precise figure. The final amount, as interpreted by state water officials,
depends on how close the smelt are to the pumps and at what time of the year.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://oas.signonsandiego.com/RealMedia/ads/click_lx.ads/www.uniontrib.com/uniontrib/news_1n1water.html/796035406/x32/usta_300x250_jun07/usta_300x250_081007tag.html/38386338623435643436383933313430?796035406"
target=_blank><FONT color=#000099><SPAN
style="COLOR: #000099; TEXT-DECORATION: none"><IMG id=_x0000_i1125 height=1
src="cid:002a01c7ef3b$f9afb7a0$0100007f@trinitycounty.org" width=2
border=0></SPAN></FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The order will stay in
effect from December until the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service adopts a new plan
to safeguard the fish, probably in spring. By all accounts, that plan will also
require a large amount of water. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">In effect, water
officials say, the smelt will compound <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>'s water shortages for years to
come. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">At the same time,
agencies will have to scramble to find water from willing sellers, potentially
creating a bidding war. However, it might be difficult for those securing
supplies to find a time when the pumps will be free to ship additional supplies.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">San
Diego</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> might be 450 miles from
the pumps near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Tracy</st1:City></st1:place>, but what happens in the delta will have
a lasting effect on the region's water supply and economy.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The region's 2007
water-supply figures clearly show its precarious position.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The water authority is
counting on the delta for 288,580 acre-feet. That's 39 percent of its total
deliveries of 748,000 acre-feet and enough to serve about 577,000 households for
a year. An acre-foot is enough to meet the annual needs of two households.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Still undetermined is
whether the fallout will mean droughtlike rationing or continuing less-onerous
voluntary conservation. But water managers statewide say rationing is more
likely now. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">San
Diego</SPAN></FONT></st1:City></st1:place><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"> battled
its wholesaler, the giant Metropolitan Water District, over scarce allocations
at the height of the 1987-92 drought. While relations between the two agencies
have improved, Metropolitan still controls deliveries.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The water authority
contracts with Metropolitan for 614,000 acre-feet a year, or 82 percent of its
annual need. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">A decision on how much
and how soon the cuts will carve into the region's supply will be debated in the
Metropolitan board room this fall. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">How much <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Diego</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> residents and business will be
squeezed also “depends on how kind Mother Nature is to us,” Stapleton said.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The longe-range forecast
for drought-busting storms is not promising, said Doug Le Conte, a drought
specialist with the National Weather Service. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">“The news is not good,”
he said. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Le Conte forecasts
below-average snowfall throughout the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Colorado</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River
Basin</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> this winter. This would extend the dry spell
along the river into a ninth year. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Heavy snows in the
Sierra may not materialize, compounding shortages in the Delta. The Sierra
snowpack was about 30 percent of normal last season. Only brimming reservoirs
forestalled immediate and more painful reductions. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Le Conte predicts a
normal weather pattern – at best – for the Sierra. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">In response to the
deepening supply crisis, water districts across <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> have launched a series of voluntary
water conservation programs. The San Diego County Water Authority and
Metropolitan are calling for a 10 percent reduction.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">County water authority
officials are searching to buy up to 50,000 acre-feet water to store in
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Kern</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. They also are
moving forward with plans to enlarge San Vicente Reservoir by 52,000 acre-feet
and may consider adding another 100,000 acre-feet of capacity later.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">In <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:City>, the judge's
decision may increase pressure on lawmakers to act on proposals to approve
reservoirs and build a new fish-friendly plumbing system to deliver water
through the delta. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Schwarzenegger has
endorsed a $5.9 billion bond to pay for two reservoirs, study a water conveyance
system, open more groundwater aquifers and improve the delta.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">But key Democrats were
leaning against the governor's proposal, not convinced of the need to build
reservoirs and wary of a new aqueduct.#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070901/news_1n1water.html">http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20070901/news_1n1water.html</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Smelt ruling may cut into water
supply<FONT color=#666666><SPAN
style="COLOR: #666666"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Official says
the decision in an environmental suit could force a one-third reduction in
shipments from the delta to the Southland.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Los
Angeles</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:City></st1:place><B><FONT face=Tahoma
size=4><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Times – 9/1/07<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">James Ricci and
Eric Bailey, staff writers<FONT color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" color=#666666 size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: #666666; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">A federal judge Friday
ordered protective measures for a tiny endangered fish in the Sacramento-San
Joaquin River Delta, a mandate state water officials warned could cut Northern
California water exports to <st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place>
by a third or more. <BR><BR>Environmental lawyers disputed the officials'
draconian assessment of U.S. District Judge Oliver W. Wanger's decision to
protect the delta smelt, a creature that biologists say is facing extinction in
large part because of increased pumping from the delta. The fish are weak
swimmers and tend to be sucked into the water system's massive pumps and
killed.<FONT color=black><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="TEXT-ALIGN: right" align=right><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Water officials said the
judge's decision could be the most significant ever on the state's ability to
deliver water through the delta, the key crossroads for the movement of water
supplies to <st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place>.<BR><BR>In a
normal water year, they said, deliveries through the delta could be cut by up to
37% -- a loss of enough water to supply upward of 4 million households. Dry
years could see smaller cuts, but there would be less water to begin
with.<BR><BR>"It means there will be less water delivered than we normally do,"
said Jerry Johns, deputy director of the state Department of Water Resources,
which runs the California Aqueduct.<BR><BR>The decision comes in a suit filed by
the Natural Resources Defense Council and Earthjustice against the Department of
Interior and water agencies, among others. <BR><BR>Kate Poole, senior attorney
for the Natural Resources Defense Council, questioned the officials' numbers. "I
don't think they can say that," she said. "I don't think anybody has yet figured
out how much delivery reduction this would cause."<BR><BR><st1:place
w:st="on">Poole</st1:place> said any decrease in water supplies would be "in the
natural range of variability that water users can and do deal with all the
time."<BR><BR>Wanger ordered that water flows be maintained at sufficient levels
to keep the endangered fish away from the pumps from the end of December, when
they're about to spawn, until June, when young fish are moving into areas with
more food. A major way of maintaining the flow levels is reducing the amount of
water being moved out of the delta.<BR><BR>With several water districts already
eyeing the possibility of mandatory water rationing, the results for the
<st1:place w:st="on">Southern California</st1:place> economy could be
significant, said Tim Quinn, executive director of the Assn. of California Water
Agencies.<BR><BR>"A sober assessment says it's a very large deal," Quinn said.
"Water agencies have to prepare for the worst."<BR><BR>The Metropolitan Water
District of Southern California, which provides drinking water to nearly 17
million people, obtains 60% of its water from the delta. The district has
already warned local farmers to expect a 30% cutback Jan. 1.<BR><BR>In
anticipation of a water shortage, the authority in recent years struck a deal
for more <st1:place w:st="on">Colorado River</st1:place> water from the
water-rich Imperial Irrigation District, began planning for a seawater-to-fresh
water project, and designed storage improvements.<BR><BR>Concerns about the
effect of the ruling reverberated in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">San Diego</st1:place></st1:City> too. Fern Steiner, chairwoman of the
San Diego County Water Authority, said the decision could require
rationing.<BR><BR>The authority, which provides water to 24 local agencies,
recently asked residents to reduce daily usage by 20 gallons per person.
Authority General Manager Maureen Stapleton said it is time to begin serious
negotiations about a canal that would loop around the delta.<BR><BR>Though any
restrictions created by the judge's decision eventually would be replaced by a
new biological opinion being fashioned by federal wildlife managers, Quinn said
there is "no reason to believe a biological opinion will be any easier on water
supplies." <BR><BR>Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called the decision "further proof
that our water system is broken, unreliable and in crisis" and "a devastating
blow to our water system and state economy."<BR><BR>Schwarzenegger cited his
proposed $5.9-billion comprehensive water plan, which includes $1 billion for
delta restoration and a new system for diverting water around the delta, as the
sort of investment needed to guarantee supplies to the 25 million Californians
who depend on delta water while also protecting its ecosystem.<BR><BR>Terry
Erlewine, general manager of the State Water Contractors, said farmers in the
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> probably would be
forced to leave fields unplanted and groundwater pumping would be increased to
offset slashed water imports. Even if next winter yields average rainfall and
snowpack, he said, users will have to tap water reserves, making the state even
more vulnerable in a drought.<BR><BR>Michael Boccadoro, spokesman for the
Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, a group of users who depend on delta water,
said the decision means "the delta crisis is now a full-blown catastrophe. We
have effectively relinquished control of our major water supply systems -- the
lifeblood of our economy -- to the federal courts."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Delta
smelt, the subject of the court's decision, grow to about 3 inches long and live
only about a year. A so-called indicator species that is a harbinger of
ecological conditions in the delta, the smelt were declared endangered in 1993.
Since then, federal and state water managers occasionally have had to cut back
on the amount of water released from the delta to protect the fish. <BR><BR>In
June, water diversion was suspended entirely for nine days after unusually large
numbers of smelt died in the pumps. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Biologists
and environmentalists contend that the increasing diversion of delta water is
nudging the fish toward extinction. A recent survey showed the number of
juveniles to be less than one-tenth of normal -- a dire portent for the survival
of the species. <BR><BR>Delta water exports in the last five years have been
among the highest on record, according to state figures. Environmentalists have
contended that the increase has had a direct effect on smelt numbers, which
biologists say are at unprecedented lows. <BR><BR>In 2005, when a large number
of the California Water Project's 40-year contracts with its customers were
coming due, water managers asked the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to determine
what effect their plans would have on the tiny fish. In a biological opinion,
the federal agency concluded that water operations in the delta did not
jeopardize the smelt's survival.<BR><BR>The finding brought howls of protest
from environmentalists, who promptly sued in federal court. They said the
biological opinion was part of a pattern of Bush administration environmental
decisions that ignored sound science.<BR><BR>Wanger invalidated the biological
opinion in May. He called the delta smelt "indisputably in jeopardy as to its
survival and recovery," and castigated the federal report as "arbitrary,
capricious and contrary to law."<BR><BR>When the nine-day shutdown of water
exports in June was over, and the massive pumps were back in full operation,
smelt fatalities rose dramatically. The Natural Resources Defense Council and
the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice asked Wanger to order state
and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> officials to cut back the
pumping immediately.<BR><BR>Wanger refused their request, instead convening the
trial that led to Friday's decision.</SPAN></FONT><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-delta1sep01,1,1803921.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=4&cset=true">http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-delta1sep01,1,1803921.story?coll=la-headlines-california&ctrack=4&cset=true</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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: Cut water
to help endangered fish<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">Delta fish near
extinction<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">Oakland</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><B><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"> Tribune –
9/2/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By Mike Taugher, STAFF
WRITER<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:State 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'">California</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:State><FONT
face="Times New Roman" color=black size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">'s water
supply suffered a historic blow Friday when a federal judge ordered a series of
cutbacks and other measures meant to protect a tiny Delta fish from going
extinct. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The order
is expected to force water agencies up and down the state to consider water
rationing next year and could force <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> farmers to fallow hundreds of
thousands of acres, water officials 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The
momentous decision did not go as far as environmentalists hoped nor as far as
farmers and other water users feared it might. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Still,
officials said the ruling could end up reducing daily water deliveries out of
the Delta by about 1 million acre-feet, or enough for 2 million households.
Under one worst-case scenario, state water officials said Delta water deliveries
could be cut by twice that amount. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">State and
federal water officials recently have been taking about 6 million acre-feet year
from the Delta, a record high amount so the 1 million acre-feet cut could become
even more crippling in a drought year. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"These
reductions represent the single largest court-ordered redirection of water in
state history," said Tim Quinn, executive director of the Association of
California Water Agencies. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Quinn also
called the ruling the most significant endangered species decision in history.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The order
by U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger comes three months after he ruled that a
key permit that allows state and federal water pumps to operate even though they
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">kill the
protected Delta smelt is insufficient and illegal. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The Delta
smelt population, along with several other small fish of the Delta, has suffered
a dizzying decline in recent years. Water deliveries are contributing to the
problem but pollution and invasive species are factors, too.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The judge
said he considered his task nearly impossible but believed the law required him
to step in because federal regulators in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had
failed to prescribe conditions that would protect the fish from going extinct.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"The party
that has responsibility for protecting the species is here, and that's the
federal government," Wanger said. "What the evidence does show is there is more
to be done than is being done. The impacts are extreme and severe. There's no
question about that." <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">His order
will put in place new restrictions on pumping during the first half of the year.
It was not as strict as Fish and Wildlife Service biologists recommended in a
proposal developed for his consideration, but it also was not as relaxed as the
California Department of Water Resources wanted. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">He also
denied a request from environmentalists to require more water released from
reservoirs in the fall in order to improve the Delta habitat with fresher water.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"This is
better than what we had before but we didn't get some things we wanted," said
Trent Orr, attorney for Earthjustice, which brought the case on behalf of
environmentalists. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Urban
water agencies from the Bay Area to <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San
Diego</st1:place></st1:City> will have to tap other water sources, dip into
drought supplies or use less water, all of which could create problems if the
restrictions persist or if next year is dry. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">Farm
districts, which typically have less water in reserve, will be hit more
immediately. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"This is a
fundamental change," said Dan Nelson, executive director of the San Luis and
Delta-Mendota Water Authority. He said <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">San Joaquin</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> farms are likely to get about half
as much water as they get now, and that will lead to fallowing hundreds of
thousands of acres. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">The order
will be in effect until the Fish and Wildlife Service drafts a new permit, which
is expected about a year from now. <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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">But water
agency are very worried that its conditions represent a new status quo because
it is based on conditions recommended from the Fish and Wildlife Service.
<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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'">"We are
looking at an indefinite period that won't end if there's rain," Quinn 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; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><A
href="http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_6786102">http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_6786102</A></SPAN></FONT><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Judge imposes water limits to
protect Delta fish<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Sacramento</SPAN></FONT></B></st1:place></st1:City><FONT
face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">
Bee – 8/31/07<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></H1>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">By JULIANA BARBASSA - Associated
Press Writer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H3>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">FRESNO</SPAN></FONT></st1:City><FONT size=4><SPAN
lang=EN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, <st1:State
w:st="on">Calif.</st1:State></SPAN></FONT></st1:place><FONT size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> -- A federal judge on Friday imposed limits on water
flows caused by massive pumps sending water from the San Joaquin-Sacramento
River delta to users around the state, saying the pumps were drawing in and
destroying a threatened fish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">U.S. District Court Judge Oliver Wanger said pressure
from the pumps helped reverse the natural direction of water within the estuary,
damaging habitat and killing delta smelt, a fish that experts say might be on
the brink of extinction.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"The evidence is uncontradicted that these project
operations move the fish," Wanger said after hearing objections from defendants,
who had argued that other factors led to the fish's decline. "It happens, and
the law says something has to be done about it." <o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Under the ruling, limits would be put in place from the
end of December, when the fish are about to spawn, until June, when young fish
can move into areas with better habitat and more
food.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Wanger also prescribed other measures, such as increased
monitoring of the fish's presence in its adult and juvenile stages at several
points in the delta.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Pumps operated by the Central Valley Project - operated
by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - send water to farmers in the agricultural
valley south of the delta. The State Water Project - operated by the California
Department of Water Resources - delivers the water to urban and rural water
users as far south as <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Los
Angeles</st1:City></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The water serves more than 25 million Californians and
thousands of acres of crops.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In a year with an average amount of precipitation, about
6 million acre feet of water is pumped from the delta, and up to one-third of
that could be lost under Wanger's order, said Jerry Johns, DWR's deputy
director.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Tim Quinn, who heads the Association of California Water
Agencies, said the ruling would have a serious impact in a state already coming
off a dry winter and spring. Some districts have already ordered conservation
measures and tapped into their water reserves, he
said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"A sober assessment of this says it's a very large
deal," Quinn said. "We are not only losing supply here, you are greatly
compromising the tools we have developed to deal with water
shortages."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Natural Resources Defense Council and four other
environmental groups had asked Wanger to demand an immediate change to the
pumping rate to reduce harm to the smelt until a new set of pumping guidelines
is expected next year.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Both sides agree the smelt population has declined
precipitously. The fish are protected under the California Endangered Species
Act, and their well-being is considered a measure of the environmental health of
the fragile delta ecosystem.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In May and June, state and federal agencies stopped or
slowed down their pumps in an effort to protect the smelt, after the population
reached an all-time low. But environmental groups want permanent measures to
improve conditions for the fish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Friday's decision was complex, and both sides said they
needed time to fully understand its impacts. But environmentalists largely
welcomed it as an improvement over current
conditions.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"It's better than what there was before," said Trent
Orr, an attorney with the environmental group Earthjustice, which was party to
the suit.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">But they wanted more, said Orr, including measures that
would have protected habitat from encroaching salt from the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">San Francisco</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Bay</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in the
fall.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Water contractors who get their supplies from the state
and federal projects said the measure would likely curtail their access to water
to the point where it would harm rural economies and hamper urban water
use.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"Rural communities have an economy based entirely on ag.
... This is a huge hit on economies that are already depressed," said Dan
Nelson, executive director of the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority,
which serves about 1 million acres of farmland as well as the urban water
district in <st1:place w:st="on">Silicon
Valley</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Nelson believed the decision would leave farmers with
half the water they were expecting in the coming year and urban users having to
make do with the minimum deliveries guaranteed by
contract.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 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: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The ruling will have "a devastating impact on the
state's economy and the 25 million Californians who depend on Delta water," Gov.
Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "We need to invest in a better
conveyance system so we have reliable water supplies and are able to protect the
Delta's fragile ecosystem."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Schwarzenegger has asked the state Legislature to
approve a $5.9 billion bond to build two new dams and study the possibility of
building a canal to route fresh water from the <st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento
River</st1:place> around the delta, in part, to protect the fish. But there has
been little movement on the issue with lawmakers.#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.sacbee.com/114/story/354671.html">http://www.sacbee.com/114/story/354671.html</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN lang=EN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: black; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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