<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><head><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><o:OfficeDocumentSettings><o:AllowPNG/><o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch></o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></head><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:garamond, new york, times, serif;font-size:16px"><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55010"><span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'McClatchy Sans', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55253" dir="ltr"><h3 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'McClatchy Serif', Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; color: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 15px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55254"><a href="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html" class="enhancr2_c701acb9-61d6-659b-5b1c-970c10e50508" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55717"><font size="3" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55990">https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html</font></a><br></h3><h3 style="font-size: 45px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'McClatchy Serif', Georgia, Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: 400; line-height: 1.3; color: inherit; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 15px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55254">A week after visit to New Melones, Department of Interior blasts state water plan</h3></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55828"><br></div><div id="enhancr2_c701acb9-61d6-659b-5b1c-970c10e50508" class="yahoo-link-enhancr-card ymail-preserve-class ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" contenteditable="false" data-url="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html" data-type="yenhancr" data-category="article" data-embed-url="" data-size="medium" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html" style="text-decoration:none !important; color: #000 !important;" class="yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55845"> <table class="card-wrapper yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="max-width:400px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55844"> <tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55843"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55842"> <td width="400" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55841"> <table class="card yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55840"> <tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55839"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55838"> <td class="card-primary-image-cell" style="background:#000 url('https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/xTo7HjVrFrX_I1lA21.J6A--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg.cf.jpg') no-repeat center center;background-size:cover;height:200px;position:relative;" background="https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/xTo7HjVrFrX_I1lA21.J6A--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55837"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:400px;height:218px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/xTo7HjVrFrX_I1lA21.J6A--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--> <table class="yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" valign="top" style="width:100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55836"> <tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55835"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55834"> <td style="background:transparent url('https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png') repeat left top;height:200px;" background="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55833"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:400px;height:218px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--> <table class="yahoo-ignore-table" height="185" style="width:100%;height:185px;min-height:185px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55832"> <tbody id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55831"><tr id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55830"> <td class="card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55829"> </td> <td class="card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top;"> <div class="card-share-container"></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table class="card-info yahoo-ignore-table" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:95%;max-width:380px;border:1px solid #e0e4e9;border-bottom:3px solid #000000;margin-top:-40px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;"> </td> <td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:16px 12px;width:99%;"> <h2 class="card-title" style="font-size: 16px; line-height:19px; margin:0 0 4px 0;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;word-break:break-word;">A week after visit to New Melones, Department of Interior blasts state wate...</h2> <div class="card-description" style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;color:#999;word-break:break-word;">The Department of the Interior late Friday afternoon issued a blistering attack against the state’s proposed wat...</div> </td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:16px 12px 16px 0;"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </a></div><div><br></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; margin-left: 80px; font-family: 'McClatchy Sans', Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55255"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 10px; border: none; font-family: 'McClatchy Sans Cond', 'Roboto Condensed Medium', HelveticaNeue-CondensedBold, sans-serif; padding: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55256"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55257"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55258">BY BRIAN CLARK</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.3; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(158, 156, 161);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55259"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; text-transform: none; font-style: italic;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55260"><a href="mailto:bclark@modbee.com" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55261">bclark@modbee.com</a></span></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px; width: 33px; float: left; top: 0px; ; z-index: 1; margin-left: 0;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55262"><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: none; padding-left: 0px; font-family: 'McClatchy Sans Cond', 'Roboto Condensed Medium', HelveticaNeue-CondensedBold, sans-serif;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55263"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; display: inline-block; margin-right: 22px; position: relative; margin-bottom: 5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55264"><a title="Share on Facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55265"></a><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; background-color: rgb(59, 89, 152); border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; ; top: 0px; left: 0px; z-index: 0;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55266"></div></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; display: inline-block; margin-right: 22px; position: relative; margin-bottom: 5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55267"><a title="Share on Twitter" href="https://twitter.com/share?text=A+week+after+visit+to+New+Melones,+Department+of+Interior+blasts+state+water+plan&url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55268"></a><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; background-color: rgb(85, 172, 238); border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; ; top: 0px; left: 0px; z-index: 0;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55269"></div></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; display: inline-block; margin-right: 22px; position: relative; margin-bottom: 5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55270"><a title="Share by Email" href="mailto:?subject=A%20week%20after%20visit%20to%20New%20Melones,%20Department%20of%20Interior%20blasts%20state%20water%20plan&body=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55271"></a><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; background-color: rgb(192, 189, 189); border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; ; top: 0px; left: 0px; z-index: 0;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55272"></div></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 33px; min-height: 33px; display: inline-block; margin-right: 0px; position: relative; margin-bottom: 5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55273"><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; list-style-type: none; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 10px; left: -9999px; ; top: 33px; width: 125px; min-height: 215px; z-index: 10; box-shadow: rgb(221, 221, 221) 3px 5px 7px 0px; text-align: center;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55274"><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55275"><a title="Share on LinkedIn" href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html&title=A%20week%20after%20visit%20to%20New%20Melones,%20Department%20of%20Interior%20blasts%20state%20water%20plan" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(117, 117, 117); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: auto; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; line-height: 33px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55276"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55277"></span>LINKEDIN</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55278"><a title="Share on Google Plus" href="https://plus.google.com/share?url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(117, 117, 117); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: auto; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; line-height: 33px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55279"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55280"></span>GOOGLE+</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55281"><a title="Share on Pinterest" href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html&description=A%20week%20after%20visit%20to%20New%20Melones,%20Department%20of%20Interior%20blasts%20state%20water%20plan&media=https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(117, 117, 117); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: auto; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; line-height: 33px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55282"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55283"></span>PINTEREST</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55284"><a title="Share on Reddit" href="https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.modbee.com/news/article215698545.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(117, 117, 117); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: auto; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; line-height: 33px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55285"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; float: left; margin-right: 10px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55286"></span>REDDIT</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55287"><a title="Print" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(117, 117, 117); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: auto; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; line-height: 33px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55288" href=""><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 18px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; float: left; margin-right: 10px; top: 0px; left: 6px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55289"></span>PRINT</a></li><li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55290"><a title="Reprints" href="https://www.mcclatchyreprints.com/" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(117, 117, 117); text-decoration: none; display: block; width: auto; min-height: 33px; position: relative; z-index: 1; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; padding-top: 5px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55291">ORDER REPRINT OF THIS STORY</a></li></ul><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 33px; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: 20px; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); min-height: 33px; text-align: center; width: 33px; background-color: rgb(192, 189, 189); border-top-left-radius: 50%; border-top-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-right-radius: 50%; border-bottom-left-radius: 50%; ; top: 0px; left: 0px; z-index: 0;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55292"></div></li></ul></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55293"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(117, 117, 117);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55294"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55295">July 28, 2018 10:26 AM</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.4; color: rgb(117, 117, 117);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55296"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55297">Updated July 29, 2018 04:15 PM</span></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55298"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55299"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55300"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55301">The Department of the Interior <a href="https://denham.house.gov/uploadedfiles/doi_water_grab_comment.pdf" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55302">issued a blistering attack</a> against the state’s proposed water grab, saying it would “cripple the Central Valley’s economy, farms and community.”</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55303">The comments late Friday afternoon came a week after Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke <a href="https://www.modbee.com/news/article215233030.html" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55304">visited Don Pedro</a> and New Melones reservoirs at the request of Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55305">Earlier this month, the California State Water Resources Control Board issued a final proposal that would require 40 percent of unimpeded flows from February to June on the Tuolumne, Stanislaus and Merced rivers, which are tributaries into the San Joaquin River that feeds the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The move, in what it says is an effort to save the Delta’s failing ecosystem, angered farmers, politicians and many others throughout the Valley.<br><br></div><div style="box-sizing: content-box; overflow: hidden; min-height: 357px; transition: height 0s; margin: 0px auto 25px; max-width: 550px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55307"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px !important; position: relative; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55308"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(170, 170, 170); margin-bottom: 0px !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 10px !important; text-align: center !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; min-height: 21px !important; line-height: 21px !important; letter-spacing: 0.3px !important;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55310"><br></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 0px !important; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: 9px !important; color: rgb(170, 170, 170) !important; text-align: right !important; padding: 1px 4px 1px 0px !important; min-height: 26px !important; line-height: 26px !important; letter-spacing: 0.3px !important;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55313"><br></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55316">Opponents of the state’s plan pointed to what they say will be massive negative impacts on the Valley’s economy, agriculture and land values, among other things.</div><form method="POST" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); margin: 5px 0px 20px; padding: 20px 0px 15px; text-align: center; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55317"><span style="font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;">The Interior’s comments Friday were part of an </span><a href="http://media.modbee.com/static/blc2000/interiorletter.pdf" target="_self" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55328" style="font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px;">eight-page letter to board chairwoman Felicia Marcus</a><span style="font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;">, and stated the proposal appears “to directly interfere with the New Melones Project’s ability to store water. The Board amendments essentially elevate the Project’s fish and wildlife purposes over the Project’s irrigation and domestic purposes contrary to the prioritization scheme carefully established by Congress.”</span></form><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55329">It also pointed to the effects on New Melones’ water storage and the potential to diminish power generation, as well as issues surrounding the area’s recreational opportunities. Water from New Melones, which also provides water for the Central Valley Project, flows into the <a href="http://www.savethestan.org/" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55330">Stanislaus River</a>.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55331">Marcus, <a href="https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article214458919.html" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55332">in an article</a> she wrote for The Sacramento Bee defending the plan, said “Yes, leaving more water to flow into the Delta from both the San Joaquin and Sacramento watersheds will be challenging for water users, which is why the proposal sends more water but still less than what is optimal for fish and wildlife. Water users can adapt – by switching crops, becoming more efficient and storing more water in wet times. In contrast, species pushed to the brink of extinction have few options.”</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55333">Meanwhile, Denham recently added an amendment to keep federal agencies from depleting New Melones as part of the Interior’s appropriations bill. His amendment passed through Congress. <br style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55334"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55335"></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55336">“Under Sacramento’s plan, the Valley will suffer skyrocketing water and electricity rates,” Denham said in a statement released Saturday. “After a decade and millions of our money spent on a study that they required, the board ignored the science based proposal that would save our fish while preserving our water rights. We will not allow them to take our water and destroy our way of life.”</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55337">On the day of Zinke’s visit to Don Pedro and New Melones, Dennis Mills, a member of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors, <a href="http://media.modbee.com/static/blc2000/millsletter.pdf" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55338">sent a letter</a> to President Trump imploring his administration to step in. He, too, pointed to the impacts the plan would have on New Melones.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55339">“Simply put,” he wrote, “this proposal places a higher value on fish than people!”</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55340">Friday’s letter to Marcus from the Interior Department came on the same day public comment on the issue closed. The department also asked that the water board postpone its scheduled <a href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/bay_delta/bay_delta_plan/water_quality_control_planning/2018_sed/docs/notice_baydelta_plan.pdf" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55341">Aug. 21-22 meetings</a> in Sacramento, where it will consider adopting <a href="https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/programs/bay_delta/bay_delta_plan/water_quality_control_planning/2018_sed/" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55342">the plan</a>.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55343"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55344"></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55345">On Aug. 20, a rally to “<a href="http://media.modbee.com/static/blc2000/waterrally.pdf" target="_self" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55346">Stop The State Water Grab</a>” will be held at noon on the north steps of the Capitol building in Sacramento. For more information or to RSVP, contact Assemblyman Adam Gray’s office at 209-726-5465.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 1em; line-height: 1.5; font-family: Lyon, Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55347"><em style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55348">Thanks for your strong interest in local journalism. We rely on readers like you more than ever before, and we currently offer free access to five stories a month. We hope you see value in supporting us further with <a href="https://account.modbee.com/static/subscribe" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(66, 139, 202); text-decoration: none; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial initial;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55349">a digital subscription</a> to help ensure we can provide strong local journalism for many years to come.</em></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55350"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; clear: both;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55351"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 28px; visibility: visible;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55352"><div data-uniqueid="215271150" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55353"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; -webkit-user-select: none; overflow: hidden;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55354"><div aria-live="polite" tabindex="0" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55355"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); left: 0px; position: relative; top: 0px; zoom: 1; opacity: 1; width: 700px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55356"><div data-slick-index="0" aria-hidden="false" style="box-sizing: border-box; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); float: left; min-height: 481px; min-height: 1px; position: relative; overflow: hidden; width: 700px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55357"><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_160/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-160="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55358"></span><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_320/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-320="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55359"></span><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_480/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-480="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55360"></span><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_640/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-640="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55361"></span><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_768/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-768="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55362"></span><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_960/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-960="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55363"></span><span data-src="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_1140/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" data-width-1140="" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55364"></span><img alt="Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, left, and Rep. Jeff Denham, speak with the press at Don Pedro Reservoir, Calif., Friday, July 20, 2018." title="Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, left, and Rep. Jeff Denham, speak with the press at Don Pedro Reservoir, Calif., Friday, July 20, 2018." data-preload="//www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_768/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" src="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/toi976/picture215271150/alternates/FREE_768/AA%20Zinke%2004.JPG" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px); display: block; ; top: 0px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; margin: auto; max-height: 481px; max-width: 700px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55365" class="" data-id="1749340d-fc69-22fc-c7de-50bd23facaf8"></div></div></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55366"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; padding: 9px 0px 12px; min-height: 40px; transform: scale3d(1, 1, 1); clear: both; margin-bottom: -20px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55367"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55368">Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, left, and Rep. Jeff Denham, speak with the press at Don Pedro Reservoir, Calif., Friday, July 20, 2018.<div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 1px; min-height: 1px; font-size: 10pt; line-height: normal; font-family: sans-serif; overflow: hidden;" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55369"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55370">Read more here: <a href="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html#storylink=cpy" class="enhancr2_e963c70f-cf70-67aa-1cea-f54b37725447" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1533051570427_55373">A week after visit to New Melones, Department of Interior blasts state water plan</a></div><div><br></div><div id="enhancr2_e963c70f-cf70-67aa-1cea-f54b37725447" class="yahoo-link-enhancr-card ymail-preserve-class ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;" contenteditable="false" data-url="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html#storylink=cpy" data-type="yenhancr" data-category="article" data-embed-url="" data-size="medium" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.modbee.com/latest-news/article215698545.html#storylink=cpy" style="text-decoration:none !important; color: #000 !important;" class="yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"> <table class="card-wrapper yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="max-width:400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td width="400"> <table class="card yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="card-primary-image-cell" style="background:#000 url('https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/xTo7HjVrFrX_I1lA21.J6A--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg.cf.jpg') no-repeat center center;background-size:cover;height:200px;position:relative;" background="https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/xTo7HjVrFrX_I1lA21.J6A--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg.cf.jpg" bgcolor="#000000" valign="top"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:400px;height:218px;position:absolute;top:0;left:0;"><v:fill type="frame" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/vv//api/res/1.2/xTo7HjVrFrX_I1lA21.J6A--~A/YXBwaWQ9bWFpbDtmaT1maWxsO2g9MjAwO3c9NDAw/https://cf-images.us-east-1.prod.boltdns.net/v1/jit/5502557044001/d58b42bf-be54-41a3-8e1e-4e2ffb211013/main/1280x720/1m37s408ms/match/image.jpg.cf.jpg"/></v:rect><![endif]--> <table class="yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" valign="top" style="width:100%;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background:transparent url('https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png') repeat left top;height:200px;" background="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png" bgcolor="transparent" valign="top"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><v:rect fill="true" stroke="false" style="width:400px;height:218px;position:absolute;top:-18px;left:0;"><v:fill type="pattern" color="#000000" src="https://s.yimg.com/nq/storm/assets/enhancrV2/12/overlay-tile.png"/><v:textbox inset="0,0,20px,0"><![endif]--> <table class="yahoo-ignore-table" height="185" style="width:100%;height:185px;min-height:185px;"> <tbody><tr> <td class="card-richInfo2" style="text-align:left;text-align:left;padding:15px 0 0 15px;vertical-align:top;"> </td> <td class="card-actions" style="text-align:right;padding:15px 15px 0 0;vertical-align:top;"> <div class="card-share-container"></div> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!--[if gte mso 9]></v:textbox></v:rect><![endif]--> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <table class="card-info yahoo-ignore-table" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:95%;max-width:380px;border:1px solid #e0e4e9;border-bottom:3px solid #000000;margin-top:-40px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"> <tbody><tr> <td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;"> </td> <td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:16px 12px;width:99%;"> <h2 class="card-title" style="font-size: 16px; line-height:19px; margin:0 0 4px 0;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;word-break:break-word;">A week after visit to New Melones, Department of Interior blasts state wate...</h2> <div class="card-description" style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;color:#999;word-break:break-word;">The Department of the Interior late Friday afternoon issued a blistering attack against the state’s proposed wat...</div> </td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:16px 12px 16px 0;"> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </a></div><div><br></div></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>