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<DIV><FONT face=Arial>Ara,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3>I
disagree with you on the issue of Westlands discharging to the San Joaquin
River. During the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
Board’s May 27, 2010 hearing on the selenium Basin Plan Amendment, the need for
an investigation of other sources of selenium pollution to the Grasslands
Drainage Area, specifically from Westlands Water District (WWD), was
discussed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rudy Schnagl, Senior
Scientist for the Central Valley Regional Board explained that surface and
subsurface drainage discharges from WWD flow northeast toward Mud Slough, to
other tributaries and to the San Joaquin River. Because of this flow pattern,
some of the water that Grassland Area Farmers manage actually originates in
WWD.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> See the </SPAN>Partial Transcript of
Proceeding, Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, Agenda Item No.
10, (May 27th, 2010) pp. 89, excerpted below.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Tom
Stokely<BR>Water Policy Analyst/Media Contact<BR>California Water Impact
Network<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></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT
size=3><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></FONT></SPAN> </P><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><FONT size=3><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>89<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>1<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>MS. CREEDON:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ms. Hart, if I
could ask Rudy<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>2<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to address a couple
of issues?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>3<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>MS. HART:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Rudy?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>4<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>MS. CREEDON:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was a lot
of discussion<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>5<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>about upslope and
offsite discharges onto the grasslands<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>6<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>project or
contributing -- can you elaborate for the<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>7<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>board so that they
understand what other programs may be<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>8<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>in place or will be
in place to take care of those<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>9<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>issues that are not
related to this project, so they<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>10<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>know we're just not
ignoring it?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>11<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>MR. SCHNAGL:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Of course.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>12<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>mentions of two
types of inflows to the grasslands area<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>13<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that are related to
this project.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>First,
the<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>14<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>groundwater from
the Westlands Water District is moving<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>15<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>from that area to
the northeast, as I mentioned earlier,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>16<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and that would flow
under the project area.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And so
that<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>17<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>is of concern and
-- to the commenters and from our<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>18<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>standpoint, any of that water
that's captured by the<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>19<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Grassland Bypass
Project farmers has to be managed by<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>20<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>them and be
discharged within their load limits.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>21<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>So they're responsible if they collect it in<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>22<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>their subsurface
drainage systems and discharge it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>So<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>23<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>that puts the
responsibility on this project for any<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>24<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>groundwater that
enters their area.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Courier New'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></SPAN></FONT></SPAN></FONT>-----
Original Message ----- </P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=ara.azhderian@sldmwa.org href="mailto:ara.azhderian@sldmwa.org">Ara
Azhderian</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=bwl3@comcast.net
href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net">Byron Leydecker</A> ; <A
title=fotr@mailman.dcn.org href="mailto:fotr@mailman.dcn.org">FOTR List</A> ;
<A title=env-trinity@mailman.dcn.org
href="mailto:env-trinity@mailman.dcn.org">Trinity List</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 04, 2010 10:02
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [env-trinity] Sac Bee 10 03
10</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">WOW… you would think that
someone with such a position would be at least partially aware of the
facts. For example, Westlands doesn’t discharge any
drainage.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Obfuscating the facts doesn’t
benefit anyone. Sad.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Ara
Azhderian<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">Water Policy
Adminstrator<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d">San Luis & Delta-Mendota
Water Authority<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
href="mailto:env-trinity-bounces@velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us">env-trinity-bounces@velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us</A>
[mailto:env-trinity-bounces@velocipede.dcn.davis.ca.us] <B>On Behalf Of
</B>Byron Leydecker<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October 04, 2010 9:24
AM<BR><B>To:</B> FOTR List; Trinity List<BR><B>Subject:</B> [env-trinity] Sac
Bee 10 03 10<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Irrigators may get new free pass to
pollute</SPAN></B><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Sacramento
Bee-10/3/10<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">By Jim
Metropulos<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'">Opinion<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Longtime
residents of California may recall those 1984 pictures of birds with twisted
beaks, deformed heads and the limp, dead chicks. These birds died by the
hundreds in Kesterson Wildlife Refuge near Los Banos – one of the state's
worst wildlife disasters. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">In the decades
that followed, state water officials have looked the other way and refused to
enforce the state's tough discharge selenium standards. Kesterson Reservoir
became a wake-up call. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But no one at
the State Water Resources Control Board woke up. Toxic, selenium-contaminated
agricultural drainage water still flows through the west side of the San
Joaquin Valley and into the San Joaquin River. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">And the State
Water Resources Control Board is about to approve another 10-year waiver for
its selenium discharge standards. That means another 10 years of toxic water
headed toward the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta – and our drinking water.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For west-side
irrigators, this is business as usual. And the state water board plans to keep
it that way. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Some may view
this as a blast from the past. In Kesterson, follow-up studies documented that
selenium-laced runoff from Westlands Water District lands and other west-side
irrigators produced the selenium wastewater that caused the Kesterson
disaster. Now, the state water board is about to allow one of the state's
biggest drainage polluters to keep loading selenium into our waterways.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Of course, the
west-side irrigators will tell you things have changed. They may quote their
new slogan: "Dilution is Grasslands' and Westlands Water District's solution."
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">But these
giant west-side agricultural powerhouses' "solution" falls far short of fixing
the problem. Selenium builds up in the bodies of plants and animals. So while
the levels of selenium vary with dilution, this toxin builds up in the food
chain and has caused bird deformities, reproduction problems and death in
wildlife. It can even threaten human health and is known to cause symptoms as
varied as hair loss, nervous-system effects, and digestive harm.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Let's follow
the water. Bearing levels of selenium high enough to deform wildlife and
threaten drinking water, the drainage swirls past signs posted along Mud
Slough and parts of the San Joaquin River. The signs warn would-be anglers not
to eat fish caught in the toxic brew, to prevent potential birth defects.
Seeping its toxic cargo into groundwater all the way, the water finally flows
to the Merced River and empties into the Delta. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Westlands and
the other west-side irrigators are simply too politically powerful. Westlands
and these other irrigators are some of the state's foremost proponents of a
proposed peripheral canal. The federal government has documented that the
continued use of federally subsidized irrigation for about 400,000 acres of
selenium-rich soils along the west side of the valley are causing the selenium
contamination of groundwater and surface waters spreading out from Westlands
Water District and the other west-side irrigators.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">For years,
these polluters have received a free pass as they dumped toxic selenium into
our drinking water, and harmed our fisheries and the Pacific Flyway. The State
Water Resources Control Board should deny approval of the proposed amendment
to the San Joaquin Basin Plan that would give Westlands and these water users
another decade to avoid enforcement of selenium water-quality standards and
aquatic life protections. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">These
west-side irrigators need to wake up and follow the rules.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P><I><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jim Metropulos represents
the Sierra Club on statewide water and energy
issues.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></I></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Byron
Leydecker, JcT</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Chair,
Friends of Trinity River</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">PO Box
2327</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Mill Valley,
CA 94942-2327</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">415 383 4810
land/fax</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">415 519 4810
mobile</SPAN></I><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="mailto:bwl3@comcast.net">bwl3@comcast.net</A></SPAN></I></B><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="mailto:bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org">bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org</A>
</SPAN></I></B><I><SPAN
style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">(secondary)</SPAN></I><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><I><SPAN style="COLOR: gray; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A
href="http://fotr.org/">http://www.fotr.org</A> </SPAN></I></B><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<P>
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