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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'>From Planning and Conservation League:<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><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>NORTHERN CALIFORNIA REJECTS LONG-TERM WATER TRANSFER AGREEMENT</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Just days away from a program scoping process comment deadline, northern California water irrigation districts stand firm behind their February 2nd letter, which states they will not agree to sell their water to Central Valley water contractors. </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The proposed U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s 10-year “Long-Term North to South Water Transfers” program, would ship up to thousands of acre-feet of water from northern California to the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority; which represents agricultural water districts in the San Joaquin Valley and Southern California. The realization of this program is contingent on the willingness of northern California sellers and that willingness has yet to be seen. </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>A week few weeks ago, Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Maxwell Irrigation District, Natomas Central Mutual Water Company, Pelger Mutual Water Company, Princeton-Codora-Glenn Irrigation District, Provident Irrigation District, Reclamation District No. 108 and River Garden Farms, all rallied to formally submit a letter withdrawing their participation in the long-term water transfer program. In the letter, the districts voiced concern for the long term protection of the right to their water supplies. The letter further explain, “[the Bureau of Reclamation’s] position threatens landowners within our service areas of not having enough water to irrigate crops, puts at risk endangered species and water fowl that rely upon the continued irrigation of their lands, and could ruin the regional economy.” </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>With this in mind, it begs the question: In these cash strapped times, is it necessary to spend state, federal and local money on pursuing the development of the water transfer program when a vital component is not willing to participate? </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> </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:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The deadline to submit comments regarding the “Long-Term North to South Water Transfers” program is February 28th. You can submit comments to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation by clicking <a href="mailto:bhubbard@usbr.gov?subject=Long-Term%20North%20to%20South%20Water%20Transfers">here</a>. </span></b><b><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'> </span><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;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#948A54'>Byron Leydecker, JcT<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#948A54'>Chair, Friends of Trinity River<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#948A54'>PO Box 2327<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#948A54'>Mill Valley, CA 94942-2327<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#948A54'>415 383 4810 land<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#948A54'>415 519 4810 mobile<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#4F81BD'>bwl3@comcast.net <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#4F81BD'>bleydecker@stanfordalumni.org <o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><u><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";color:#4F81BD'>http://www.fotr.org<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>