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<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:16.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond-Bold","serif";color:#34486D'>Feinstein may drop Valley
water plan<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><i><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Garamond-Italic","serif";color:#666666'>She responds to 11
upset West Coast Dems.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#697A86'>Posted at 10:34 PM on Thursday,
Feb. 18, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond-Bold","serif";color:#697A86'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>WASHINGTON -- Facing objections
from a dozen West Coast lawmakers, Sen. Dianne</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#697A86'> <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond-Bold","serif";color:#697A86'>By Michael Doyle / Bee
Washington Bureau<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Feinstein said Thursday that she
might drop her controversial bid to direct more water to<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>San Joaquin Valley farmers if the
Interior Department takes action on its own.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>"If there can be some
administrative action taken to take advantage of the recent bountiful<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>rain and snow and provide reasonable
water supplies this year, the legislation may not be<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>necessary," she wrote to one
of the lawmakers late Thursday, adding that she will "remain<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>open to ideas" offered by
other Democrats.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Feinstein's suggestion could
disappoint water-starved west-side Valley farmers, who were<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>hoping her proposed legislation
would override federal water delivery decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>But Westlands Water District
spokeswoman Sarah Woolf remained optimistic that Feinstein<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>will keep pressing for more farm
water. "I don't take that to mean her efforts won't<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>continue. I don't think she's
backing away," Woolf said.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Citing potential dangers both to
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and West Coast salmon<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>industry, 11 lawmakers from
California, Oregon and Washington on Thursday wrote<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Feinstein, bluntly urging her to
withdraw her controversial water proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>"I think it's a massive
miscalculation," Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, said in an interview.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>"It's destructive, both
environmentally and politically."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>The objections raised by Miller
and his House of Representatives colleagues mirror warnings<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>by California salmon fishermen
and environmentalists. The congressional objections carry<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>special weight, though, because
they hinder Feinstein's ability to accomplish her goal.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>The escalating fight pits region
against region, and some of California's most influential<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>politicians against one another.
It's already splitting fragile alliances among California water<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>users, who in recent years have
inched toward comity.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>On Thursday, Fresno-area Rep. Jim
Costa -- a supporter of Feinstein's water legislation --<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>retorted that other Democrats are
being "entirely insensitive and crass" in their attitude<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>toward San Joaquin Valley
residents. The Democrats opposed to delivering more irrigation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>water want the Valley to
"dry up and blow away," Costa added.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>With the support of farm
organizations like Westlands, Feinstein wants Congress to partially<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>override two "biological
opinions" that protect endangered species and govern water<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>deliveries.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'>Feinstein's proposal would boost
irrigation deliveries to west-side farms to 40% or so of the<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'>farms' contractual allocation. Last
year, drought and environmental restrictions meant some<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:black'>farmers received only 10% of their
allocations.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Feinstein has cited the San
Joaquin Valley's "unprecedented economic crisis" and her desire<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>to "simply allow San Joaquin
Valley farmers to plant, hire and harvest."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>It's unclear whether Feinstein
fully anticipated the uproar that's resulted.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Feinstein's move "seriously
jeopardizes" existing water coalitions and relations among<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>colleagues, Rep. John Garamendi,
D-Walnut Creek, said Thursday.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Miller said Congress should await
a National Research Council study on the biological<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>opinions, due in March. The
scientific review was originally undertaken at Feinstein's behest.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>The congressional lineup opposing
Feinstein is hefty enough to call into question Feinstein's<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>ability to overcome it.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Miller is one of House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi's key lieutenants, and a former chairman of<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>what's now called the House
Natural Resources Committee. Another lawmaker unhappy<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>with Feinstein, Rep. Norm Dicks
of Washington, chairs the powerful House subcommittee<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>responsible for the Interior
Department's budget.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>The chairwoman of the House water
and power subcommittee, Rep. Grace Napolitano, DSanta<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Fe Springs, has previously
objected to Feinstein's efforts.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>On past water issues, Feinstein
has traditionally combined the role of facilitator and<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>enforcer: getting all parties
into a room and making sure they cut a deal. With the new water<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>amendment, she explicitly allied
herself with farm interests.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>"Your draft amendment is
inconsistent with your record of pursuing compromise solutions<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>to environmental conflicts,"
the new letter to Feinstein states.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>The 11 lawmakers further warn
Feinstein that her plan would "drive California's and much<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>of Oregon's salmon to
extinction" and threaten "thousands of jobs."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>Feinstein's draft water amendment
includes an unspecified amount of funding to assist<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>salmon fishermen. She has
suggested adding the water the water delivery amendment to a Senate jobs<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#272627'>bill, which could be considered
as early as next week.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond-Bold","serif";color:#6086AD'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:"Garamond-Bold","serif";color:#6086AD'>BEE STAFF WRITER PAULA LLOYD
CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT. THE REPORTER<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Garamond-Bold","serif";
color:#6086AD'>CAN BE REACHED ATMDOYLE@MCCLATCHYDC.COM OR (202) 383-0006.</span></b><b><span
style='font-size:14.0pt;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/fax (call first to fax)</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
mobile</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
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