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<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>'Million
boat' protest planned over Delta canal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>Sacramento
Bee – 7/27/09<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>By
Matt Weiser<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Drilling soil samples in <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>river bottoms is expected in September
as California begins planning a controversial water diversion canal – a
canal that also has a fleet of <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>boaters planning
to weigh anchor in protest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Oakley+City+Councilman+Bruce+Connelley/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Oakley City Councilman Bruce
Connelley</span></a> launched the "Million Boat Float" idea, to
protest drilling and what he calls a consistent exclusion of local residents
from the canal planning process.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>"The state government involved in
this <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>plan has not listened to the
people," he said. "There is no choice other than a public
display." <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The proposed canal has been endorsed by
Gov. <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Arnold+Schwarzenegger/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Arnold Schwarzenegger</span></a>
and a task force he assembled to study the issue. The task force said a canal
could help restore the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Delta'</span></a>s strained
environment.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The canal is a centerpiece of the Bay <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>Conservation Plan – the BDCP
– which includes state and federal agencies, water users and
environmental groups. Its goal is to obtain approval for the canal, and habitat
protection projects, under the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Endangered+Species+Act/"><span style='color:
windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Endangered Species Act.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The group's steering committee, however,
has no local government representatives. Its meetings are public, but its
outreach has been limited.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Karla Nemeth, state liaison to the BDCP,
said a number of community workshops are planned in the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>this fall.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>"The loud and clear message we heard
was that folks needed more detail," she said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Nonetheless, Connelley's protest is set to
begin Sunday, Aug. 16. He expects to see thousands of boaters cruising upriver
to <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Sacramento</span></a> for an overnight stay. On Monday,
Aug. 17, the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Legislature/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Legislature</span></a> will
reconvene after a recess, and the boaters will take their protest to the
Capitol steps.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Connelley's goal is a million boats, but
he acknowledged he probably won't get there.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>"You ever seen a million boats on the
<a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento+River/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Sacramento River</span></a> before? I don't think we ever
will, but it ought to be pretty impressive."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The protest is not likely to stall state <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Department+of+Water+Resources/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Department of Water Resources</span></a>
plans to drill in the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>in September.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>That work involves taking soil samples as deep
as 200 feet in the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/river+bottom/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>river bottom</span></a> at 16
locations, from <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Sacramento</span></a>'s Pocket
neighborhood and the town of <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Walnut+Grove/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Walnut Grove</span></a> on the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Sacramento</span></a> River, to remote sloughs near <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Bethel+Island/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Bethel Island</span></a> and <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Stockton/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Stockton.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>With land-based sampling already under
way, testing is estimated to cost $4.5 million, paid for by water contractors
that depend on the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Delta.</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>A yet-to-be-hired contractor will work
from either a barge or a ship. In addition to drilling, the crew will test soil
density by using a hammer-like device to pound into the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/river+bottom/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>river bottom,</span></a> said <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Mark+Pagenkopp/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Mark Pagenkopp,</span></a> a DWR senior engineering
geologist overseeing the project.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The goal is to test suitability of soils
for construction of a canal and its intakes, tunnels and siphons.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>"This data will help in determining
which alignment would be the best alignment to do," Pagenkopp said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>He said work is likely to start near <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Sacramento</span></a>'s Pocket neighborhood, and then
move south. The aim is to finish by the end of September, but it could stretch
into 2010.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The canal would divert a portion of the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Sacramento/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Sacramento</span></a> River's flow directly to the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta'</span></a>s state and federal water export pumps
near Tracy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Isolating freshwater in a canal would
prevent the pumps from killing fish, and would protect the water from floods
and earthquakes.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>A canal would also end the need to
maintain the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:
windowtext;text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>as a freshwater environment
to serve water diverters. Biologists say the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>should have more frequent pulses of <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/salt+water/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>salt water,</span></a> an idea that worries <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta./"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta </span></a>residents.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>What's envisioned are actually two canals:
a completely contained canal skirting one edge of the <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta,</span></a> and a "through-<a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/Delta/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>Delta</span></a>" canal assembled from existing
levees running down the estuary.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Each canal would be enormous – at
least 1,000 feet wide and 40 miles long – with potential environmental
effects that remain unknown.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The project is similar to the ill-fated Peripheral
Canal rejected by <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/California+voters/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>California voters</span></a> in
1982. This time, the Schwarzenegger administration claims it doesn't need voter
approval to build the canal, which is likely to cost $10 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Many <a
href="http://topics.sacbee.com/property+owners/"><span style='color:windowtext;
text-decoration:none'>property owners</span></a> are protesting DWR's demand
for access to conduct land-based soil sampling. About 35 lawsuits are pending
as a result.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Dante Nomellini Sr., a lawyer representing
some <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/property+owners/"><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>property owners,</span></a> said
the drilling is likely to draw more lawsuits.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Connelley said his "Million Boat
Float" will be civil. Participating boats will fly unique flags to
identify them as part of the flotilla.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>"There's
no intent to do anything radical that would hurt, harm or demean anybody,"
he said. "Our focus is to bring this to national attention."</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Byron
Leydecker, JcT</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Chair, Friends
of Trinity River</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>PO Box 2327</span></i><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>Mill Valley, CA
94942-2327</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 383 4810
land</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>415 519 4810
cell</span></i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net"><span style='color:blue'>bwl3@comcast.net</span></a></span></i></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="mailto:bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org"><span style='color:blue'>bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'>(secondary)</span></i><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:gray'><a
href="http://fotr.org/"><span style='color:blue'>http://www.fotr.org</span></a>
</span></i></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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