<html><head></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">PLEASE CIRCULATE<br>
<div><br><div><br></div><blockquote type="cite"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PostalCode"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="Street"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="address"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div class="Section1"><div>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><img width="708" height="205" id="Picture_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x005f_x0020_3" alt="Delta Coalition Ltr RE SB 457 Support" apple-width="yes" apple-height="yes" src="cid:image002.jpg@01CB6156.87F4CC00"><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold">October 1, 2010<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font class="Apple-style-span" face="Arial" size="4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;text-align:center;
text-autospace:none"><b><font size="4" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold">Delta Counties Condemn Closed-Door Talks on
the Future of the Delta <o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="margin-bottom:16.0pt;text-align:center;
text-autospace:none"><b><i><font size="3" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">Demand greater
transparency and a seat at the table</span></font></i></b><b><font size="4" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold"><o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;font-weight:bold">Sacramento, Calif.</span></font></b><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">– The
five Delta Counties yesterday condemned state and federal agency officials for
holding private meetings with a select group of stakeholders in an attempt to
reach agreement on a plan to address water supply problems south of the Delta.
These meetings have excluded the Delta Counties, which means that major water
policy that will significantly affect the Delta as it exists today is being developed
without taking into consideration the very jurisdictions at the heart of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>’s water
supply hub. At issue is the development the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP),
which was incorporated by lawmakers in 2009 into far-reaching new legislation
to address the reliability of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>’s
long-term water supply, while restoring the Delta’s fragile
eco-system. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">In a letter addressed to the secretaries of the California
Natural Resources Agency and the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Delta Counties
Coalition, which is comprised of Contra Costa, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano
and Yolo counties, raises serious concerns about the current closed-door
process and its failure to include Delta communities that stand to be
significantly impacted by the plan’s recommendations. The lack of
transparency in these negotiations unfortunately reflects the typical way that
water policy has historically been negotiated. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">“We are profoundly disappointed with the current
process of private discussions which have excluded the very communities with a
great deal at stake in the future of the Delta. These talks are nothing more
than business as usual and a clear violation of the spirit of the water
package, which was crafted to guarantee significant public involvement,”
said Contra Costa Supervisor Mary Piepho.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">The Delta Counties have repeatedly raised concerns regarding
the BDCP process and its failure to incorporate the Delta itself into the
planning efforts. These five counties are home to more than four million residents
and serve a $36 billion agricultural industry. Water from the Delta
provides a portion of the drinking water for 25 million Californians.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">The letter also openly criticizes State Resources Secretary
Lester Snow, who is co-leading the private talks, for recent statements he made
in defense of the meetings, in which he suggested that “everyone is in
the room.” <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">In yet another example of bureaucratic overreach, Delta
Counties have consistently been denied access to these meetings because these
counties have failed to agree to a set of required preconditions that include
upfront support for an alternative water conveyance system around the Delta,
such as a canal or tunnel. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">Delta Counties argue that these preconditions are
“inappropriate” and inconsistent with the goals of ensuring public
participation and transparency, as required in the 2009 legislation. Delta
Counties are also barred from accepting such preconditions given their legal
and ethical responsibilities as elected leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Compounding the Delta Counties
frustration is the recent release of a draft BDCP document, dated September
9. Absent any public input, this document will be the basis for the BDCP
Steering Committee to put the final touches on the environmental review portion
of the BDCP plan, which is anticipated to be completed in the near future.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">The Delta Counties state in their letter that this gets to
“…the root of deep seated concerns that the Principals, convening
in private meetings, are using the template of this discussion draft to engage
in a process to draft the BDCP behind closed doors and then direct the Steering
Committee to hold window dressing public meetings to proceed.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align:justify"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align:justify"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">Members of the Delta Counties
Coalition reiterate the importance of trust, communication, transparency and
fair representation in all discussions with state and federal agencies
regarding the BDCP and its potential impacts to Delta communities.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">“On behalf of the residents we represent, whose well
being is directly tied to the Delta economy, we take offense to this
process,” said Solano County Supervisor Mike Reagan. Elected members of
the Delta Counties Coalition cannot protect the interests of community members
if they are not kept informed of activities and proposals that directly impact
their constituencies,” he added.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial">The Delta Counties Coalition, a consortium of five counties,
Contra Costa, <st1:city w:st="on">Sacramento</st1:city>, <st1:place w:st="on">San
Joaquin</st1:place>, Solano and Yolo, which is dedicated to giving one voice
to the Delta, advocating on behalf of local government and the four million
people living in the Delta Counties.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial">###<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><b><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic">Amy O’Gorman
Jenkins<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic">Legislative, Intergovernmental and
Public Affairs Officer<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic">Solano County Administrator’s
Office<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;
font-style:italic">675 Texas Street, Suite 6500</span></font></i></st1:address></st1:street><i><font size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic"><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;
font-style:italic">Fairfield</span></font></i></st1:city><i><font size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic">, <st1:state w:st="on">CA</st1:state>
<st1:postalcode w:st="on">94533-6342</st1:postalcode></span></font></i></st1:place><i><font size="1"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic"><o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic">(707) 784-3002 - direct<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic">(707) 291-3270 - cell<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><i><font size="1" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-style:italic">(707) 784-7975 - fax<o:p></o:p></span></font></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size:11.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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