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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Arial size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"></SPAN></FONT> </H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><FONT face=Arial>If there isn't
enough cold water for fish in the Sacramento River and the Trinity is plumbed to
the Sacramento River, doesn't this mean that there isn't enough cold water for
Trinity salmon either?</FONT></SPAN></FONT></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><FONT
face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><FONT face=Arial>Tom
Stokely<BR>Water Policy Coordinator<BR>California Water Impact Network<BR>504A
Lennon St. (USPS and UPS)<BR>Mt Shasta, CA 96067<BR>V/FAX 530-926-9727<BR>Cell
530-524-0315<BR><A href="mailto:tstokely@att.net">tstokely@att.net</A><BR><A
href="http://www.c-win.org/">http://www.c-win.org/</A></FONT></SPAN></FONT></H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma"><FONT
face=Arial></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </H1>
<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">Federal draft report: Delta system
imperils fish<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></B></H1>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><FONT face=Tahoma size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: Tahoma">The
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:City> Bee
– 1/09/09<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 Matt Weiser
</SPAN></FONT></B><FONT size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><BR><BR><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P><!-- CLOSE: #story_header -->
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Salmon, steelhead and sturgeon in the <st1:place
w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place> are being driven to extinction by Delta
pumping systems and upstream reservoir operations, according to a draft federal
report.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The National Marine Fisheries Service has not yet
released the report, but it was discussed at a meeting of scientists in
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:place></st1:City> on
Thursday.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The impacts are so significant that the agency is also
studying whether killer whales in the ocean could be imperiled by declining
<st1:place w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place> salmon, their primary prey.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The grave findings suggest that <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>'s efforts to
serve thirsty farms and cities while sustaining healthy fisheries will only get
more difficult.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A final version of the report, called a biological
opinion, is expected by March 2. The Endangered Species Act empowers the
fisheries service to impose new rules on state and federal water systems to
protect the fish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The state and federal governments operate separate
reservoir and canal systems that collect <st1:place w:st="on">Northern
California</st1:place>'s snowmelt and distribute it to cities, suburbs and farms
statewide. These systems have dammed off hundreds of miles of fish habitat and
altered the timing and temperature of river flows.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Given the findings, the fisheries service could require
the California Department of Water Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to
change reservoir operations, improve river habitat and divert less water from
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to <st1:place w:st="on">Southern
California</st1:place>. Hatchery practices might have to be changed to protect
wild fish.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The details of these forthcoming rules were not revealed
Thursday. Officials at both water agencies have seen the full draft but declined
to comment on the specifics.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"To take additional hits (in water supply) will be very
problematic for us," said Jerry Johns, deputy director of the state Department
of Water Resources. "Our goal is to protect these fish species, and we've got to
make sure we do that effectively. But we've got to do it in a reasonable
way."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The biological opinion has a long and troubled
history.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A version completed in 2004 reached similar findings.
But a regional director at the National Marine Fisheries Service, a political
appointee, altered the final report to show, instead, that the species would not
be imperiled by water operations.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Conservation groups sued, and last year federal district
Judge Oliver Wanger ruled the agency's actions were "arbitrary and capricious"
and violated the Endangered Species Act. He ordered a new report prepared by
March of this year, but allowed water operations to continue unaltered until
then.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Under current rules, the state Department of Water
Resources and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation coordinate their operations to boost
water pumped through the Delta to farms and cities south. One of their tools is
to manipulate the timing of water releases from reservoirs, including Shasta,
Oroville and Folsom.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Fisheries Service biologists said Thursday that the
current system, with its emphasis on water for people, does not provide adequate
cold water for spawning habitat in the Sacramento River. This will worsen as
climate change and population growth take hold, the scientists
said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"There's not much chance here for spring-run (salmon) in
the mainstream <st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento River</st1:place>," said
biologist Bruce Oppenheim. "We just don't have as much water available in Shasta
in the future."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The discussion took place before an independent panel of
scientists conducting a peer review of the findings for the CalFed Bay-Delta
Authority, a joint state-federal agency charged with improving the
Delta.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The meeting was highly technical but offered warnings
about four protected species: winter- and spring-run salmon, <st1:place
w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place> steelhead and green
sturgeon.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Similar conditions exist in the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">American</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>: not enough cold water or habitat
for steelhead spawning.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"By the time May comes around, it's really not a
suitable place for egg incubation," said biologist Brian
Ellrott.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Providing more cold water for fish would mean saving
water behind dams for spawning season. This could mean less water for farms and
cities in summer and fall.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Under the current system, risks to the fish are
numerous. The Bureau of Reclamation, for instance, operates giant gates on the
<st1:place w:st="on">Sacramento River</st1:place> near Walnut Grove to divert
freshwater into the interior Delta to freshen supplies available to diversion
pumps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When these gates are open, young salmon migrating to sea
stray into waters teeming with predators, including foreign species such as
striped bass.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Federal biologist Jeff Stuart said closing the gates
almost doubles salmon survival rates.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Other threats include herbicides to control aquatic
weeds, entrapment in the suction effect of the water diversion pumps, and rough
handling at fish screens near the pumps.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">"Basically, if you enter the interior Delta, you're not
going to survive," Stuart said.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The biological opinion does not directly consider
effects on fall-run chinook salmon, because this species is not yet protected by
the Endangered Species Act. But it is declining steeply and affected by the same
threats.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The fall-run remains the largest salmon population on
the West Coast, vital as ocean-going adults to the commercial fishing industry.
It's also a primary food for the southern resident population of killer whale,
or orca, an endangered species that ranges from Puget Sound to <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Monterey</st1:place></st1:City>. Fewer salmon
spawning in <st1:place w:st="on">Central Valley</st1:place> rivers, then growing
into adults in the ocean, could mean hard times for the
orca.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Maria Rea, <st1:City w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:City>
supervisor for the Fisheries Service, said her team has not finished evaluating
whether <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place> water operations threaten the orca.
#<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
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
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><A
href="http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1528201.html"><FONT
color=#0000ff>http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/1528201.html</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><SPAN
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. DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and
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management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water
needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any
programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=4><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
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