Dear supporters of our North Coast Rivers and Salmon:
A US Senate vote will happen very soon on S.1472, the North Bay Water Reuse Program Act (Feinstein, Boxer). This project would send some 22-30,000 acre feet of recycled water, originally taken from the Eel and Russian Rivers and Santa Rosa Plain groundwater by SCWA and used by its contractor cities, then treated and pumped through a massive pipeline project mostly to benefit grape growers who have overdrafted their local water supplies in southern Sonoma and Napa Valleys and Solano county. We strongly believe that the highest priority for reuse of treated wastewater is to use it locally by cities to greatly reduce current and future urban demands for water from our North Coast rivers, not to create new vineyard customers.
This SCWA-Bureau of Reclamation Project would use 5-11,000 new horsepower for pumps, but deliver only 1400-1459AF/Yr of recycled water to displace potable water demands in Novato and Sonoma. The Project cost is estimated at $311-512M in capital costs, with $10-12M/yr operating costs.
Opposition to the bills have come from Friends of the Eel River, Sonoma County Water Coalition, O.W.L. Foundation, Sonoma County Conservation Action and the Sonoma League of Women Voters. No North Coast river and fisheries stakeholders were consulted in developing the Program or the legislation. The Bureau of Reclamation itself testified that the Program’s legislation is premature. Yet, the House has already passed its version of the legislation (HR236, Thompson, Woolsey).
We need your messages to convince Senators Feinstein and Boxer to withdraw S.1472 now. The bill can then be re-written to address North Coast concerns. Please pass this Action Alert to your friends and organization members ASAP.
The following message should be sent now by as many people to both Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer. You can write your own notes, or add your own comments. Your voice will count here!
Due to mail screening processes, letters mailed to the D.C. Senate offices are significantly delayed.
It is best then to either write to their local SF offices, or phone, fax or email your comments to their DC offices.
Thank you!
Friends of the Eel River
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to: Senator Dianne Feinstein
One Post Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 393-0707
Washington DC Phone: (202) 224-3841
DC Fax: (202) 228-3954
Email: fill in the form at http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
to: Senator Barbara Boxer
1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 403-0100
Washington DC Phone: (202) 224-3553
DC Fax: (202) 228-2382
Email: fill in the form at https://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm
Dear Senator Feinstein and Senator Boxer:
I strongly oppose your bill, S.1472 North Bay Water Reuse Program Act. This bill takes critical water supplies originating in the Eel and Russian Rivers and Santa Rosa Plain groundwater and, after it is used in cities and turned it into highly treated wastewater, then pumps it eastward to benefit mostly grape growers in Napa, Solano and southern Sonoma counties who have overdrafted their local water supplies.
This recycled water should instead be used closer to home, to greatly reduce current and future urban demands for water from our North Coast rivers, home of endangered Coho and Chinook salmon and Steelhead. This massive pumping project will also add huge greenhouse gas emissions at a time when we must be reducing them.
North Coast river and fishery citizen stakeholders were not consulted or involved in developing the Program and S.1472.
I urge you to withdraw S.1472 now, before worsening an already desperate situation.
Sincerely,
/s/ Name, address, ZIP.