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 species are now on the verge of extinction including some runs of salmon.

California is now re-ordering its water policies for the future. The priority needs of fish habitat and their funding requirements have largely being ignored. The courts have ruled that the fishery and water agencies have violated the Endangered Species Act. Unless the fisheries are restored, further court actions threaten additional water supplies. We urge your support of the actions that will restore the fisheries.

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 and its upstream watersheds to restore the fisheries.

1. Overall water exports from the delta must be reduced and upstream conditions must be regulated so that flows and temperatures allow successful spawning and migration.
2. The severe pollution levels in the delta must be cleaned up.
3. Barriers that restrict upstream and downstream fish migration must be removed.
4. Hundreds of projects that will improve spawning and migrating conditions must be funded and implemented.

I would appreciate your leadership in helping restore our valuable fishery heritage.

Yours truly,
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