Peripheral Canal: Panama Canal North?

The Governor's Delta Vision Task Force and Bay Delta Conservation Plan both recommend the construction of a "peripheral canal" and more reservoirs designed to export more water from senior water rights holders in the Delta and Sacramento Valley to junior water rights holders that irrigate drainage-impaired, selenium-filled land on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. Although the Delta Vision Task Force's report recommended that less water be exported out of the Delta to help the estuary's collapsing ecosystem, canal opponents note that the construction of a canal with increased water export capacity would inevitably be used to export more water out of the system.

I have repeatedly asked canal advocates to give me one example, in U.S. or world history, where the construction of a big diversion canal has resulted in less water being taken out of a river system. I have also asked them to give me one example, in U.S. or world history, where the construction of a big diversion canal has resulted in a restored or improved ecosystem. None of the canal backers have been able to answer either one of these two questions.

The push to build a peripheral canal occurs as Central Valley and Delta fish populations are in their greatest-ever crisis. Sacramento River Chinook salmon, Delta smelt, longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish populations have declined to record low population levels in recent years, due to increased water exports and declining water quality. A broad coalition of Delta family farmers, recreational anglers, commercial fishermen, grassroots environmentalists and California Indian Tribes is opposing the peripheral canal because it is expected to push imperiled fish species over the abyss of extinction.

Schwarzenegger has cynically tried to link a deal to remove four aging dams on the Klamath River, owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Corporation, to a water bond including a peripheral canal and more dams. However, the Klamath Riverkeeper and other Klamath Basin stakeholders oppose tying the dam removal project to the construction of new dams in the Central Valley and a peripheral canal as a proposed general obligation water bond would do.

"California must support Klamath dam removal on its own merits," said Georgiana Myers, Klamath Riverkeeper Community Organizer and Yurok Tribal Member. “The Klamath dam removal deal has received support from Oregon with Senate Bill 76, and now we need Governor Schwarzenegger to step up."

Meanwhile, the word from the California State Capitol last week was that a combined hearing by the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and the Senate Natural Resources Committee regarding a host of water bills would take place on July 7, in Room 4202 at 9 a.m. However, now there is talk of the committee meeting being rescheduled for July 9. "Neither date has been finalized, making the date a 'moving target,' intentionally making it difficult for the public to plan to attend the hearing," said John Beuttler, conservation director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.

"These committees plan to establish a 'Delta Water Package' that would lay the groundwork for a Dual Conveyance Facility to move water both through and around the Delta," said Beuttler. "Unfortunately, as of now, we haven’t been told exactly what bills will make the final package. However, it is understood that the bill or bills will contain a $15-20 billion dollar water bond to pay for infrastructure improvements that are likely to include the peripheral canal and at least two dams."

A big turnout of people opposed to the canal and more dams is needed at the upcoming hearing. For the latest action alerts on the movement to stop the peripheral canal and more dams, go to the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA): http://www.calsport.org.

Dan Bacher is an editor of The Fish Sniffer , described as "The #1 Newspaper in the World Dedicated Entirely to Fishermen"