Flow Policy for coastal rivers flawed: Why you should act!
Abstract: Proposed Flow Policy -- Why you should act!
By Bob Baiocchi, California Fisheries and Water Unlimited The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) will be adopting a Flow Policy for some Northern California coastal streams from the Mattole River south to San Francisco Bay. This policy is a result of actions by Trout Unlimited and the California Legislature.
The proposed Flow Policy will hopefully and finally provide daily releases of flows from some coastal dams and diversions to prevent the extinction of coastal endangered Coho salmon and threatened steelhead trout, including endangered Tidewater Goby species in coastal lagoons These species are protected by the federal and state Endangered Species Acts. Unfortunately the California Department of Fish and Game, US NOAA Fisheries, US Fish and Wildlife Service, State Water Board, and the California Resources Agency have ignored enforcing the federal and state ESA because of water politics in California. The Flow Study falls short of providing a statewide policy that sustains Coho salmon and threatened steelhead, and endangered Tidewater Goby throughout California coastal rivers and streams. Please write the State Water Board and demand that all coastal rivers and streams have adequate flow requirements below all dams and diversions that sustain Coho salmon and their habitat and threatened steelhead and their habitat, and also endangered Tidewater Goby species and their habitat because these fisheries belong to the people of California. Write: commentletters@waterboards.ca.gov . California coastal anadromous fisheries have been abused by the SWRCB and water politics especially the Carmel River, Eel River, Russian River, Bay Delta Estuary and numerous other coastal rivers and streams where endangered coastal Coho salmon are near extinction.
Coastal threatened steelhead will be next, along with aquatic resources including food producing species. Speak up for the fish because the fish cannot not vote or write letters, and ask your fellow anglers to do the same. Thank you!”
On Tuesday, April 27, 2010, the SWRCB will hold a public hearing to receive comments and to consider adopting a proposed policy for maintaining in-stream flows in northern California coastal streams (North Coast Instream Flow Policy). The public hearing will commence at 10:00 am in the Coastal Hearing Room at the Joe Serna, Jr./ Cal-EPA Building, 10001 I Street, Second Floor, Sacramento, CA.
Earlier versions of the proposed policy were released for public review and comment in December 2007 and in March 2008. The proposed policy has since been revised based on evaluation of the public and peer review comments received, and is ready for State Water Board consideration. The attached Notice of Adoption Hearing and Information Sheet provide additional information.
The proposed policy and supporting documents are available on the State Water Board's website at:
(paste this link into your browser):
http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights/water_issues/
programs/instream_flows/index.shtml
|