More of the Same? Saving the Delta Smelt

More of the same- A record of failure

We agree that the San Francisco Bay Estuary needs to be saved. All Californians need a healthy environment in order to thrive and farmers’ very survival depends on it. Being good stewards of the land is what allows us to produce more than 50% of the U.S.-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables.delta_smelt_by_metric_ruler_usfws

What we disagree with is the method being proposed. Decades of releasing billions of gallons of water to the ocean in an attempt to save the Delta smelt has been a proven failure. This year alone, California has flushed over 1 million acre-feet of water out to sea, enough to provide 6 million domestic users with water for a year or grow almost 17 billion salads. Decades old state and federal policies have failed and brought delta smelt to the brink of extinction. The very definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

Science shows better strategies exist for saving the Delta Smelt

The good news is that recent science shows that there are strategies available to us that could actually help preserve the fragile delta ecosystem all Californians rely on. We should embrace what independent scientists have been calling for since the beginning: a comprehensive strategy.

Focus on common sense, science-based solutions

Farmers, fishermen, environmentalists, as well as urban water users should be furious at this reliance on outdated, failed practices that help no one and hurt millions. We need to focus on common sense, science-based solutions and we welcome all Californians to join us in working for a balanced approach towards allocating the water that we all need to share.

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