Water For Fish

Talking Points if you call, and a sample letter if you fax or write

Dear Senator/Congressman/Assemblyman/Director:

I am deeply concerned about the rapid destruction of the fish runs in California. Disasters in the Klamath River and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are of particular concern. I sent you an email through the Water4Fish website and I am writing to ask your help. Laws have been broken, permits ignored and biological opinions have been illegally altered to serve the special interests whose only objective is to obtain more water for private profit. Several non game species in the delta are now on the verge of extinction and the aquatic ecosystem is in crisis.

California is now re-ordering its water policies for the future. The priority needs of fish habitat and their funding requirements are largely being ignored. Please support the recovery and restoration of our fishery resources and ensure they are properly managed and protected.

The four dams on the Klamath River need to be removed if salmon and steelhead are to survive. The state and federal fishery agencies support dam removal as the lowest cost and only viable alternative.

Significant changes are needed in the delta to restore fishery productivity:

  1. The fishery agencies must have the permitting authority to require flows at key times of the year for spawning and rearing.
  2. State of the art fish screens must be funded and installed at all existing and new diversions and especially at the state and federal pumping facilities.
  3. State of the art fish salvage and recovery facilities must be funded at all present and proposed pumping facilities
  4. Governor Schwarznegger’s water plan proposes a fisheries poison pill. He proposes to remove the “Area of Origin protection” for fish and wildlife in the delta. “The area of Origin protection” ensures that fish and wildlife in a given watershed will receive the necessary water to survive.

I would appreciate hearing how you envision taking action to help restore our valuable fishery heritage.

Yours truly,
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