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<p style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:10.5pt;
margin-left:0in'><b><span style='font-size:16.5pt;font-family:"Georgia","serif";
color:#0A3A5E'>Editorial: Water reform legislation leaves doubts about Delta
protection</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#555555'>MediaNews editorial</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";
color:#848080'>Posted: 09/06/2009 12:01:00 AM PDT </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>AFTER
FAILING to pass a balanced budget and failing to reach a workable state
prisoner-reduction plan, legislative leaders and the governor are now rushing
to pass a water reform package that also is flirting with failure.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>It
appears that the underlying purpose of the legislation is to build an updated
version of the Peripheral Canal around the Delta to divert water to the Central
Valley and Southern California.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We
understand that some new form of conveyance is needed to assure reliable
deliveries of fresh water to the 25 million Californians who rely on
trans-Delta water, whether it be a canal or underground aqueduct.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>However,
we have grave concerns about whether the Delta's delicate ecosystem will be
adequately protected or if water quality in the Delta will be safeguarded.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>There
also is a question about who will pay for a conveyance and two modest
reservoirs. Will water users, particularly agricultural interests, pay their
fair share? Or will too much of the cost be borne by taxpayers through another
mammoth water bond measure?</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
reason we have such doubts about the water legislation is that Assembly Speaker
Karen Bass and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg have created a
14-member conference committee that lacks a single legislator from the Delta.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>It
is also disturbing that one of the Legislature's strongest voices on Delta
protection, Sen. Lois Wolk, D-Davis, was omitted from the committee.
Steinberg arrogantly stated that she was left off because he could not be
assured she would vote for the final legislative package. Does that mean the 14
members on the conference committee are all sure votes?</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Steinberg
said that as a Sacramento lawmaker, he would represent Delta interests. Really?
He already has shown his hand with a stacked conference committee.</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'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Another
reason to worry about protecting the Delta's interest is the provision setting
up a Delta Stewardship Council that would be in charge of planning, financing,
building and operating new water facilities.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The
council would consist of seven members, four appointed by the governor, one by
the Senate Committee on Rules and one by the Assembly speaker. The seventh
member would be the chairperson of the Delta Protection Commission.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In
other words, there would be scant Delta representation on the governing council
and no representation on the key legislative conference committee, which has
been carefully assembled even before any legislation has passed.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>This
newspaper has long held that the state's water policy must protect the Delta
environment with guaranteed continuous flows of fresh water, regardless of
whether a peripheral aqueduct or canal is built.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>We
also believe significant increases in aboveground storage are needed to assure
enough year-round water for the Delta environment as well as agricultural,
commercial and residential users.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>While
some modest increase in storage is included in the legislative water package,
it is not enough to fully meet the demands of both users and the Delta ecology.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Steinberg
may well be correct in calling the water legislation "historic." But
that does not bode well for success. Historically, California's water policies
have favored large agricultural and development interests at the expense of the
environment. Without solid guarantees of adequate water for the Delta, it
appears history will be repeated.</span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></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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