PROBLEM:
Thanks to the government’s misuse of the Federal Endangered Species Act and two subsequent biological opinions, the vast majority of water that normally flows to California’s West-Side Central Valley farmers has been shut off DURING THE GROWING SEASON in order to protect a 2” baitfish called the Delta Smelt*, and a handful of other marine species**. In 2010, through enactment of the San Joaquin River Settlement, water for struggling farms on the East-Side of the Valley will be diverted to restore a long lost salmon run (one that experts say will not reestablish). THE RESULT is a growing Government created Dust Bowl, 40+% unemployment for surrounding communities, bankruptcy for countless farmers and their families, higher food prices nationally, a greater dependence on foreign produce, and a dangerous precedent for land owners NATIONWIDE.
SOLUTION:
CONTACT YOUR FEDERAL LAWMAKERS and demand a “Temporary Waiver” of the Endangered Species Act for the two biological opinions affecting the farmers on the West-Side of the Central Valley, as well as an abolishment of the “San Joaquin River Settlement” affecting the farmers on the East-Side. Tell them you support Farmers Over Fish.
HISTORIC PRECEDENT:
In 2003, California lawmakers Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Diane Feinstein, and Sen. Barbara Boxer all voted to a support a temporarily waiver of the Endangered Species Act in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the 3" Silvery Minnow...a baitfish not unlike the Delta Smelt. High time they help their own state!
CONTACT:
2) Your two Senators - www.senate.gov
3) Congressman Costa and Cardoza...Central Valley representatives that continually vote AGAINST measures that would solve this water crisis. And Congressman Radanovich who supports and cosponsored the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act with Costa:
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA 20th)
202-225-3341 - f.202-225-9308
661-869-1620 - f.661-869-1027
559-495-1620 - f.559-495-1027
Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA 18th)
202-225-6131 - f.202-225-0819
209-946-0361 - f.209-946-0347
209-527-1914 - f.209-527-5748
Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA 19th)
202.225.4540 - f.202.225.3402
209.579.5458 - f.209.579.5028
559.449.2490 - f.559.449.2499
DOWNLOAD FLIER: Please help spread the word by downloading the PDF file of our flier, share it with everyone you know across the US...this a fight for property rights everywhere! DOWNLOAD HERE
ACT NOW! WE ONLY HAVE A MATTER OF WEEKS
TO RESTORE THE WATER SUPPLY FOR 2010
* Dec. 15, 2008: http://www.fws.gov/sacramento/delta_update.htm **June 4, 2009: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20090604_biological.html
For more information on this water and property rights crisis, visit:
http://nunes.house.gov/ • http://www.familiesprotectingthevalley.com • http://www.waterforall.com/
For pictures and video: http://ecosense9.wordpress.com/
Flier prepared by a coalition of California Tea Parties www.teaparty-california.org