ConnectingCalifornia.org

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Groups Sue To Protect North Coast Rivers and Fisheries

State and regional water boards failing to comply with clean water laws

2/4/2009:--SAN FRANCISCO – A coalition of conservation and fishermen’s groups have filed a lawsuit today in state Superior Court challenging the failure by the state and regional water boards toimplement clean water laws that protect wild rivers and streams in California’s North Coast region.

The coalition -- which includes the Redwood Chapter of Sierra Club, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, Institute for Fisheries Resources, Friends of the Eel River, Friends of the Navarro Watershed, Environmental Protection Information Center, Northcoast Environmental Center, and Klamath Riverkeeper -- is urging the agencies to adopt clean-up plans required by state law that will meet pollution limits set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“Regional and state officials have failed to develop realistic, workable action plans that protect water quality and provide habitat for endangered salmon that need cool, clean water to survive,” said George Torgun of Earthjustice, who is representing the coalition in court. “Without such plans, water quality in North Coast rivers and streams will not meet the standards that the state is obligated to achieve.”

Full press release is here:

http://redwood.sierraclub.org/Committees/Water/NorthCoast%20TMDL%20PR%20FINAL.pdf