Rep. Costa Response to National Academy of Sciences Review of Bay Delta Water Issues
"Our Valley needs waterto survive," Costa said. "We have made real progress lately, but we can't winthis fight completely until the one-sided and flawed biological opinions beingused to cut off our water are revised to reflect what is actually happening inthe Delta. For too long, critics of our Valley have pointed fingers at ourfarmers, workers, and communities for the decline in Delta health. It istime for the science community, along with the Administration, to join me andthe people of our Valley in saying, ‘Enough is enough.'"
According to the report: "[…] Noscientific study has demonstrated that pumping in the south delta is the mostimportant or the only factor accounting for the delta-smelt population decline.Therefore, the multiple other stressors that are affecting fish in the deltaenvironment as well as in the other environments they occupy during their livesmust be considered, as well as their comparative importance with respect to theeffects of export pumping."
Costaadded, "One of the first steps to ensuring an increased and more reliable flowof water to the Valley is to recognize that there are multiple stressorsdegrading the health of the Delta. I am pleased that the National Academy ofSciences has acknowledged that other factors like nonnative species, runoff, andthe dumping of nitrates and ammonia have a large impact on Delta health."
"Flawedpolicies are endangering our livelihoods and local economy," Costa said. "Iremain confident that we can further increase this year's supply. I also lookforward to reviewing the Academy's full findings on this critical issue."
Ontop of the drought crisis, Valley farmers have suffered under devastating waterrestrictions aimed at protecting Delta fish. Congressman Costa has long said thatthese restrictions are based on flawed science and that a multiple stressorapproach must be taken to restoring the Delta's health.
Most recently, Congressman Costa joined with Congressmen Cardoza and Radanovich to call on the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, to address non-native striped bass that are preying on salmon and Delta smelt.