<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_1534863841179_80053" dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-zinke-20180820-story.html" class="enhancr2_5d1f1ffb-0137-9c54-910a-f70d354baa43" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80627">Ryan Zinke, Trump's Interior secretary, fires another shot at California water policy</a><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80656"><br></div><div id="enhancr2_5d1f1ffb-0137-9c54-910a-f70d354baa43" 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="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-zinke-20180820-story.html" data-type="yenhancr" data-category="article" data-embed-url="" data-size="medium" dir="ltr"> <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-zinke-20180820-story.html" style="text-decoration:none !important; 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line-height:19px; margin:0 0 4px 0;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;word-break:break-word;">Ryan Zinke, Trump's Interior secretary, fires another shot at Californi...</h2> <div class="card-richinfo-primary" style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;color:#999;">By Michael Hiltzik</div> <div class="card-description" style="font-size:11px;line-height:15px;color:#999;word-break:break-word;">Ryan Zinke blasts California water policy, threatens to stampede the state.</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><header style="box-sizing: border-box; grid-column-start: 1; grid-column-end: span 6; grid-row-start: 1; grid-row-end: span 1; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80383"><div data-pb-name="Article Header" data-pb-curated="curated" style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80384"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80385"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80386"><h1 style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 32px; margin-bottom: 32px; font-family: FBKisDisplay; font-weight: 400; line-height: 48px; font-size: 44px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80387">Ryan Zinke, Trump's Interior secretary, fires another shot at California water policy</h1></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px 0px; border-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); padding: 12px 24px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80388"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; padding-right: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80389"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80390"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 32px; width: 40px; border-right-width: 1px; border-right-style: solid; border-right-color: rgb(204, 204, 204);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80391"><a aria-label="//www.latimes.com/resizer/b5o2WGBmjbSUwYLNRhk36KO_M0I=/32x32/www.trbimg.com/img-53fc0136/turbine/lanews-michael-hiltzik-20130507-thumbnail" href="http://www.latimes.com/lanews-michael-hiltzik-20130507-staff.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; min-height: 32px; width: 32px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80392"><figure style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; min-height: 32px; width: 32px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80393"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; min-height: 32px; width: 32px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80394"><img alt="Michael Hiltzik" src="http://www.latimes.com/resizer/TVlR0sDzWiyLoANXIeod8TdPQ-o=/1400x0/www.latimes.com/resizer/b5o2WGBmjbSUwYLNRhk36KO_M0I=/32x32/www.trbimg.com/img-53fc0136/turbine/lanews-michael-hiltzik-20130507-thumbnail" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 32px; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: cover; min-height: 32px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80395" data-id="265f52c1-7ce3-9944-cf07-014983e157eb"></div></figure></a></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80396"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80397"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 12px; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80398">By <a aria-label="Michael Hiltzik" href="http://www.latimes.com/lanews-michael-hiltzik-20130507-staff.html#nt=byline" rel="author" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80399"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80400">MICHAEL HILTZIK</span></a></span></div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80401"></span><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: normal;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80402"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80403">AUG 20, 2018 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80404">|</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80405">4:15 PM </span></div></div></div><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: right; flex: 1 1 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80406"><button aria-label="share on twitter" name="twitter" role="button" data-arctrack="socialShareTwtr" data-referrer="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; 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text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 40px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 16px; text-transform: uppercase; border: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; min-height: 40px; display: inline-block; text-align: center; width: 40px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80411"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 32px; font-family: FontAwesome; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; width: 32px; border-top-left-radius: unset; border-top-right-radius: unset; border-bottom-right-radius: unset; border-bottom-left-radius: unset; min-height: 32px; color: rgb(255, 104, 89); background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80412"></span></a></span></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-flow: row wrap; margin-right: 0;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80413"></div></header><section style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 586.6666870117188px; padding-right: 12px; grid-row-start: 2; grid-row-end: span 1; grid-column-start: 1; grid-column-end: span 4; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80414"><div data-pb-name="Lead Art" data-pb-curated="curated" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80415"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80416"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80417"><figure style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80418"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 526.6666870117188px; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: cover; min-height: 296.6666564941406px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80419">Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, stepping up the Trump administration’s attack on California water policy, on Friday issued <a href="https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/4777868/Zinke-8-17-18-Memo.pdf" target="_blank" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80434" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">a memo to his staff</a> demanding a “plan of action” to circumvent state officials. He gave the staff 15 days to develop a proposal and present it to his deputy, a former lobbyist for big water users at odds with the state.<br></div></figure></div></div></div><div data-pb-name="Article Body (Elements)" data-pb-curated="curated" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80428"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: none; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80430"><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80435"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80436"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80437">Zinke’s memo represents the latest volley in a developing war between the Trump administration and the state over the distribution of water from state and federal projects. The administration has been pushing for more water deliveries to Central Valley farmers, many of whom are in districts that delivered votes to Trump in the last presidential election — even though the state as a whole voted for his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.</div></div></div><div data-type="quote" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80438"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px; margin-top: 16px; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80439"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: FBKisDisplay; line-height: 36px; font-size: 31px; margin-bottom: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80440">The time for action is now.</div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; text-transform: uppercase; text-align: right; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; margin-bottom: 24px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80441"> INTERIOR SECRETARY RYAN ZINKE </div><hr style="box-sizing: content-box; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(204, 204, 204); min-height: 0px; margin: 12px 0px 3px; width: 494.6666564941406px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80442"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80443"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Benton; line-height: 16px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; flex: 1 1 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80444">Share quote & link </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: right;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80445"><button aria-label="share on twitter" name="twitter" role="button" data-arctrack="socialShareTwtrQuote" data-referrer="" data-quote="The time for action is now." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="margin: 0px; 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color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border: none; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; padding: 0px; min-height: 40px; width: 40px; background-position: 0px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80448"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; line-height: 40px; font-family: FontAwesome; text-rendering: auto; -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: rgb(255, 104, 89); width: 40px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80449"></span></button></span></div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80450"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80451"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80452">Zinke instructed the staff to produce an action plan aimed as “maximizing water supply deliveries,” in part by “streamlining” consultations related to the Endangered Species Act, “better incorporating best science” into Interior decisions, constructing new water storage, and making infrastructure changes to “independently operate” the federally funded Central Valley Project.</div></div></div><div data-type="story" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: calc(50% - 12px); float: left; clear: left; border-width: 24px 0px 0px; margin: 6px 48px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80453"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80454"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: flex-start; display: flex; flex-direction: column;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80455"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 227.3333282470703px; max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80456"><figure style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80457"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 227.3333282470703px; position: relative; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: cover; min-height: 170.5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80458"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-trump-fires-20180806-story.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; top: 0px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; ;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80459"><img alt="" src="http://www.latimes.com/resizer/5djgB0KE5ywG6dF_nWbELMp8qPY=/1200x900/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/YVWNTN23KJEOLFTRNJRWLPTIKA.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 227.3333282470703px; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: cover; min-height: 170.5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80460" data-id="42708a21-2329-a9fb-a33d-577a629ffec4"></a></div></figure></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 227.3333282470703px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; max-width: 100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80461"><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; list-style-type: none; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 0; max-width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80462"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80463"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 11px; color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.498039); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid currentcolor; display: inline-block; padding: 3px 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80464">COLUMN </span></li></ul><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: FBKisDisplay; line-height: 20px; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80465"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-trump-fires-20180806-story.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80466">In a strikingly ignorant tweet, Trump gets almost everything about California wildfires wrong</a></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: center; max-width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-top: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80467"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: flex-start; display: flex; flex-direction: column;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80468"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; margin-right: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80469"></span><div style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; line-height: normal;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80470"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80471">AUG 06, 2018 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80472">|</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80473">10:35 AM </span></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; max-width: 100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80474"></div></div></div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80475"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80476"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80477">Many of those initiatives would run counter to state policy. The state Water Resources Control Board is holding a two-day public hearing starting Tuesday on its own plan to increase water flows to the state’s rivers to protect fish and fisheries. Zinke referred to those plans as proposals for “additional unacceptable restrictions” that would reduce his agency’s ability to deliver water to growers and urban users in Central and Southern California.</div></div></div><div data-inline-ad-count="2" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px 22px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80478"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80479"><div data-pb-name="Nativo Ad" data-pb-curated="curated" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: center; margin-top: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80480"></div></span></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80481"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80482"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80483">“The time for action is now,” he exhorted his staff. He called for both proposals for Congressional legislation and preparation for litigation, presumably against the state.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80484"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80485"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80486">Experts in the environmental laws governing state and federal water policy in California viewed the memo as intensifying the intergovernmental confrontation. “It’s indicative of a more bullying and hysterical tone,” said Doug Obegi, director of the California water program at the Natural Resources Defense Council.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80487"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80488"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80489">Obegi said the memo signaled the government’s intention to “gut environmental protections” in the Sacramento Delta, from which water is pumped to serve Central and Southern California users. But he also took its overheated tone as “a sign that the state has been fairly effective at pushing back.”</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80490"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80491"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80492">Zinke’s reference to “new water storage” is probably a reference to a proposal to raise the height of Shasta Dam to increase the capacity of its reservoir, Lake Shasta, which is opposed by the state.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80493"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80494"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80495">Zinke’s reference to his desire to “independently operate” the Central Valley Project might conflict with federal law, which generally requires the federal government to comply with state policies, even on federally funded water projects.</div></div></div><div data-type="story" style="box-sizing: border-box; width: calc(50% - 12px); float: left; clear: left; border-width: 24px 0px 0px; margin: 6px 48px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80496"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80497"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: flex-start; display: flex; flex-direction: column;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80498"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 227.3333282470703px; max-width: 100%; margin-bottom: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80499"><figure style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80500"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 227.3333282470703px; position: relative; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: cover; min-height: 170.5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80501"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-bernhardt-endangered-20180813-story.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 12px; top: 0px; right: 0px; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; ;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80502"><img alt="" src="http://www.latimes.com/resizer/Po3PiEtnpkHa6Gqbx4BfWrAMo4Q=/1200x900/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tronc.s3.amazonaws.com/public/AYFSD5FX5BCT3MWNWKUA3S7DE4.jpg" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 227.3333282470703px; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: cover; min-height: 170.5px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80503" data-id="a6159737-fdbf-bbd2-1409-6800d1a4385d"></a></div></figure></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; width: 227.3333282470703px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; max-width: 100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80504"><ul style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 8px; list-style-type: none; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 0; max-width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80505"><li style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80506"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Bold'; line-height: 11px; color: rgba(51, 51, 51, 0.498039); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; border: 1px solid currentcolor; display: inline-block; padding: 3px 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80507">COLUMN </span></li></ul><div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; font-family: FBKisDisplay; line-height: 20px; font-size: 16px; max-width: 100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80508"><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-bernhardt-endangered-20180813-story.html" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; line-height: 20px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80509">This Trump official used to be a farm industry lobbyist. Now he's attacking the Endangered Species Act</a></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: center; max-width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-top: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80510"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; align-items: flex-start; display: flex; flex-direction: column;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80511"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; margin-right: 16px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80512"></span><div style="box-sizing: border-box; max-width: 100%; line-height: normal;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80513"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80514">AUG 13, 2018 </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: 8px; margin-right: 8px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80515">|</span> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: 'Benton Medium'; line-height: 12px; color: rgb(153, 153, 153); font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: 1px; text-transform: uppercase;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80516">2:40 PM </span></div></div></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; flex-direction: column; max-width: 100%;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80517"></div></div></div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80518"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80519"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80520">The plan of action is to be submitted to Interior Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt, a former lobbyist and attorney for water users who might benefit from the initiatives Zinke ordered, including the vast Westlands Water District in the Central Valley.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80521"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80522"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80523">By directing staff to report directly to Bernhardt, Zinke placed the former lobbyist at the center of the battle over water rights, despite his potential conflicts of interest.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80524"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80525"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80526">Bernhardt, whose obligation to recuse himself from decisions affecting his former clients has expired, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-bernhardt-endangered-20180813-story.html" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80527">recently published an op-ed in the Washington Post</a> advocating changes in the Endangered Species Act that could steer more water to Central Valley growers at the expense of fish and fisheries.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80528"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80529"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80530">Other Trump administration figures have also taken steps to undermine state policies. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross this month ordered agencies under his jurisdiction, including the National Marine Fisheries Service, to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-wildfires-20180808-story.html" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80531">circumvent the Endangered Species Act</a> on the pretext that water deliveries blocked by ESA rules were needed to fight California wildfires — an assertion contradicted by fire officials. Trump made the same claim in a tweet that was widely <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-trump-fires-20180806-story.html" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80532">derided as nonsensical</a> and uninformed.</div></div></div><div data-type="text" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80533"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px 24px 0px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80534"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80535">Last week, meanwhile, Zinke claimed in an interview with the right-wing Breitbart News radio service that <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-zinke-wildfires-20180816-story.html" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; line-height: 18px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80536">"environmental terrorist groups"</a> are largely responsible for the severity of the fires. Fire scientists and forestry experts say that the main factor in the increasing intensity of wildfires in the West is climate change.</div></div></div><div data-type="raw_html" style="box-sizing: border-box; border-width: 4px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 19px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80537"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: 26px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18px; padding: 24px;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80538"><div style="box-sizing: border-box;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80539"><div style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 26px;" dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80540"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80541">5:52 p.m.:</span> This post has been updated with comments from Doug Obegi of the NRDC.</div></div></div></div></div></div></section><div class="signature" id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80061"><div id="yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1534863841179_80065"><br></div></div></div></body></html>