with devastating impacts for the Central Valley economy:“Under Sacramento’s new plan, residents and farmers alike will suffer skyrocketing rates that will cripple our local economy, farms, and communities,” said Rep. Denham. “The board has ignored scientific evidence and the input of Valley residents and we must fight back to protect our Valley water rights and save our economy, farms, and communities.”
The State Resources Control Board’s Bay-Delta plan would mandate 40 percent of unimpaired flows along the Stanislaus, Tuolumne and Merced Rivers from February 1 to June 30 annually under the guise of improving river conditions for salmon. However, it blindly follows the more flow equals more fish mantra while failing to recognize the true threats to endangered fish in our rivers –predation and inadequate habitat restoration. These are two issues our local community and Irrigation Districts are working to actually address.
Congressman Denham strongly supports the Tuolumne River Management Plan developed by Turlock and Modesto Irrigation Districts as a science-based plan that will meet the state’s ecological development goals without sacrificing our Central Valley water. The plan was constructed using the latest science conducted on the Toulumne as part of the federal relicensing of the Don Pedro Hydropower Project and maintains water supply reliability for agriculture and urban users, identifies measures to protect fish populations and supports new recreational opportunities. Rep. Denham will continue to advocate for this practical and effective plan to restore our rivers and reject agenda-driven policies pushed by Sacramento bureaucrats.
For more information about what Rep. Denham is doing to fight for water in the Valley, visit www.Denham.house.gov/water, where you can also sign up to receive periodic updates on his work in Washington to improve local water infrastructure, storage and delivery.
Source: Congressman Jeff Denham