| Judge issues temporary restraining order on pumping restrictions |
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| Friday, 05 February 2010 | |
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Statement by Dan Nelson, Executive Director, San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority “The San Joaquin Valley secured a small measure of relief following a judge’s decision to allow an increase in pumping water to storage facilities south of the Delta during the next two weeks. The judge determined that no risk exists for salmon from the increased pumping. “The temporary restraining order issued today by Judge Wanger recognizes that the salmon biological opinion that was sending water to the Pacific Ocean instead of going into storage for use by farms and 25 million Californians did not take into account the harm caused to people and the human environment. “The principle the court applied is very clear. The judge found that the federal agencies should have considered alternatives that would still adequately protect the fish while causing less harm to people. “At this time when the Delta is receiving increased water inflows resulting from recent storms, this order will now allow the capture of a portion of that water. Without the judge’s order much of this water would flow to the ocean while providing no benefit to the fish. “It is imperative that agencies issuing the biological opinions that govern water flowing through the Delta recognize the impacts their opinions have on human health, safety and the affected communities as emphasized by the judge in his decision. “The court noted that without the temporary restraining order, ‘farms, businesses, water service areas, and impacted cities and counties’ would suffer further harm. “The decision by Judge Wanger will benefit water users south of the Delta while posing no harm to salmon during the next two weeks.” Read the Temporary Restraining Order HERE |
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