The upcoming November election will include a bond measure aimed to increase the reliability of water deliveries and to restore the delta ecosystem for plants, animals and fish. Governer Schwarzenegger believes the movement to repair California’s Delta is the largest environmental restoration project since the federal effort to save the Florida Everglades.
Journalist Samantha Young of the Associated Press noted, “Critcs say the bills fall short in several key areas:
1) The Delta Stewardship Council, to be formed this year, lacks the clout it needs to implement change. For example, major decisions about wildlife habitat and water pumping still need to be approved by state and federal agencies that often have competing priorities.
2) The state Water Resources Control Board will determine how much freshwater ought to flow into the delta, but it will not be required to follow its own guidelines when reviewing permits to divert water.
3) The legislation fails to identify ongoing funding for the delta council, restoration efforts, a new science panel and enforcement of the state’s water laws. The $11.1 billion bond before voters would provide only a portion of the money needed.”
Scientists, fishermen, environmentalists and some lawmakers long involved in California’s water disputes question whether the environmental problems can be solved under those circumstances.
In Samantha Young’s piece Rivers of a Lost Coast star and UC Davis Fish biologist Peter Moyle was quoted saying, “There are a lot of grand ideas and a lot of things that don’t seem to have a lot of authority behind them.”
Many critics believe until strict guidelines are implemented to ensure high volumes of high quality water are pass through the delta, the ecosystem and fish will be unable to make much of a recovery.
