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<div class=Section1>

<h1><u><span style='font-size:18.0pt;color:black'>Chronicle Editorial<o:p></o:p></span></u></h1>

<h1><span style='color:black'>The science of water limits<o:p></o:p></span></h1>

<p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>Saturday, March 20, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>Score one for science. A national panel waded
into California's water wars and sided with salmon and smelt in a politically
loaded showdown with Central Valley farmers. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>The report sprinkled "scientifically
justified" throughout its 64 pages, which backed up water curbs denounced
by valley water agencies and farmers. The findings came with important caveats
and a call for more research on the state's sickly water system. But the
message is clear: It's time to negotiate water use and not look for a political
knockout punch.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>After three years of drought, the federal and
state water pumps in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta were dialed down to
nearly zero, turning fertile Central Valley acreage into dust bowls in the
nation's biggest farming state. Adding to the restrictions were decisions by
two federal agencies to withhold water for declining stocks of salmon, sturgeon
and smelt. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>Under heavy pressure to aid farms, the Obama
administration this past week ordered the faucets opened, an action eased by an
especially wet winter. But before that announcement, farm leaders had begged
for a fresh look at the restrictions and found an ally in Sen. Dianne
Feinstein, D-Calif., who ordered up the $750,000 study, even though previous
scientific studies by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had clearly
established the need to preserve water for the fish.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>The findings reiterated the need for curbs on
water deliveries. Laws protecting jeopardized species were properly used in
safeguarding plummeting fish stocks, the study by a 15-member panel said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>But there were concessions to the ag side. The
giant pumps that kill fish and ship water south aren't the only villains.
Pollution, dams, damaged watersheds, and the timing and amount of water
withdrawals all play a role. Even other fish such as catfish and non-native
striped bass can be harmful, the scientists said. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>Agriculture doesn't deserve the exclusive
blame, the report said, in a finding that should soften the sting of its
overall support for limits on water deliveries. Finding a flexible answer that
siphons off water with minimal environmental damage is the best answer, though
striking the right balance will take "careful monitoring, adaptive
management and additional analyses."<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>Whether this happens is one of California's
biggest challenges. A polarized debate exists between environmentalists and
farmers, North versus South, and coast against valley. <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>

<p><b><span style='color:black'>This year's wet weather brought a reprieve, but
it won't last forever in a growing state facing climate change. The report
should remind the state that simple answers and political pressure won't solve
a water crisis. It will take consensus and balance. That's good science too. <br>
<br>
Read more: <a
href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/20/ED741CIFK6.DTL#ixzz0ikTDaMWK">http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/20/ED741CIFK6.DTL#ixzz0ikTDaMWK</a><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
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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