ConnectingCalifornia.org

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Delta "Peripheral Pipeline" Gets Nature Conservancy Support

Governor’s Delta Plan Gains Support from Nature Conservancy

excerpted from:
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2009/01/governors_delta.html

1/9/2009--The Nature Conservancy, a group infamous in conservation circles for trading environmental principles for the acquisition of land throughout the world, on Wednesday joined Governor Arnold Schwarzeneger's campaign to build a peripheral canal to divert water from the Sacramento River around the California Delta to subsidized corporate agribusiness in the San Joaquin Valley. The organization's announcement came five days after the Governor's hand picked Delta Vision Committee released its plan to break ground on a peripheral canal by 2011 - without the approval of the Legislature or voters. In spite of the fact that the state of California is facing a huge deficit and the Legislature and Governor have failed to reach an accord on the state budget, Schwarzenegger continues to push for the canal and two new reservoirs as part of a water bond that would cost an estimated $12 billion to $24 billion. The Conservancy is supporting the Governor's ecologically devastating plan, with a few conditions included.

The Nature Conservancy's backing for the canal is featured in its "Sacramento San Joaquin Delta Conservation Strategy," a report that supposedly "provides recommendations for restoring key habitats and species in the Delta." The organization, in the atrocious eco-babble that normally accompanies its green- washing schemes, touted the canal as part of "strategy" to "restore" the Delta when in fact it would do the opposite, diverting water badly needed for imperiled populations of Chinook salmon, steelhead, delta smelt, longfin smelt, threadfin shad and juvenile striped bass, away from the estuary.

"The Delta, the largest estuary on the West Coast, is widely acknowledged to be on the verge of collapse, with through-Delta conveyance being a key contributor to the systems decline," according to the Conservancy. "The Conservancy’s plan calls for restoration of more natural water flows in the Delta. It recognizes that a peripheral canal, designed and operated to promote a healthy Delta ecosystem, must be part of a comprehensive Delta solution. The plan also recommends improving governance to manage the Deltas resources in an ecologically sustainable manner."…

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/california/press/delta010709.html

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Calif. facing worst drought in modern history - 1/30/2009-USA-TODAY.com California officials reported a smaller Sierra Nevada snowpack than normal on Thursday and said the state may be at the beginning of its worst drought in modern history. Residents were immediately urged to conserve water.
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/drought/2009-01-30-california-drought_N.htm

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