The Green Democratic Club of Sacramento, CA
Social Economic and Environmental Justice Occupy Monsanto Davis, CA Friday May 24, 2013
Governor Brown, take the billions about to be spent on cementing over California and join us in our opposition to the tunnels to create good paying jobs on the sustainable water infrastructure by creating rainwater capture systems and by massive tree plantings, food forests and community gardens.
RESOLUTION ON CA PERIPHERAL TUNNEL SUBMITTED BY GREEN DEMOCRATS FOR CONSIDERATION AND ENDORSED BY CDP ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS EXECUTIVE MEETING, JULY 20-21
WHEREAS, the proposed Peripheral Tunnels Project would deteriorate even further California’s water quality and would cause the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast of both North and South America, to become so saline that Delta agriculture could no longer be sustained, thereby undoing our region’s economy, culture, history, and way of life;
WHEREAS, the proposed Peripheral Tunnels Project will divert financial resources from local projects throughout California that can improve regional water quality, reliability and self-sufficiency and reduce vulnerability to drought, climate change, and water supply interruptions; and will be a disincentive to fund projects to fix Delta levees or to create a flood management plan to protect Delta people, Delta property, and Delta infrastructure, such as railways and gas lines; located within the Delta.
WHEREAS, the proposed Peripheral Tunnels will cause drinking water quality for surrounding Delta communities to suffer negatively impacting public health and will cause the Delta recreation industry to cease to exist as we know it due to even more polluted waters;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the California Democratic Party supports proposals for long-term Delta management that are based on a firm understanding of Delta freshwater needs and include strong protection for sufficient flows of water necessary for healthy Delta communities, including Delta agriculture with a strong assurances for such protections and the provision of needed flows in the Delta and its tributaries, with appropriate and sustainable water export reductions, before any proposals for alternative export conveyance or diversion methods are approved, funded or permitted.
THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the California Democratic Party supports a Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan that looks at the impact on the entire state, not just on exporters, including a full and equal analysis of alternatives to the proposed Twin Tunnels project, with a no tunnel/reduced exports alternative and a portfolio approach that would look at a smaller tunnel combined with water infrastructure investments in other parts of the state. The full and equal analysis of alternatives should include the plans for the Delta as proposed by Congressman Garamendi, the Environmental Water Caucus, Dr. Bob Pyke, and the Portfolio Alternative proposed by NRDC and PCL.
Endorsements:
1. The Green Democratic Club of Sacramento
2. Conner Everts Southern California Watershed Alliance
3. Clark Strategic Partners
4. Food and Water Watch
5. California Democratic Party Sacramento County Central Committee
DRAFT Future Proposal
Water Quality
1. WHEREAS, the Bay Delta Conservation Plan is supposed to improve the environmental health of the Delta, and a critical element of this strategy needs to be increased freshwater flows into the Delta, the proposed Twin Tunnels will conversely threaten reductions in freshwater flows undermining efforts to restore the Delta’s ecosystem functions; and would have the capability to deteriorate even further California’s water quality and to cause the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the largest estuary on the Pacific Coast of both North and South America, to become so saline that south Delta agriculture could no longer be sustained, thereby undoing our region’s economy, culture, history, and way of life; and the potential to cause drinking water quality for surrounding Delta communities to suffer negatively impacting public health, and will cause the Delta recreation industry to cease to exist as we know it due to even more polluted waters.
Water Volume
2. WHEREAS, proponents of the Twin Tunnels insist that their full capacity only be utilized during winter high water events, the reality is that flows can be increased year round to supply politically connected vocal users to the south, and will likely prove an unavoidable temptation. As well, investments in water conservation and efficiency would likely far outstrip the benefit of being able to export greater quantities of water during high water events in terms of yield for investment. Further, dependency upon an artificially increased volumes will be cruel when the day arrives when this volume can no longer be met.
Financial
3. WHEREAS, the proposed Peripheral Tunnels Project will divert financial resources from local projects throughout California such as LADWP’s aging water system, which has over 1000 water main breaks per year, and that can improve regional water quality, reliability and self-sufficiency with such proven measures such as water conservation, cradle to cradle design in manufacturing, the encouragement of the consumption of local organic farming, downcycling, gray water recycling, drought resistant lawns, rainwater capture, and massive restoration of the water shed to reduce vulnerability to drought, climate change, and water supply interruptions; and will be a disincentive to fund projects to fix Delta levees or to create a flood management plan to protect Delta people, Delta property, and Delta infrastructure, such as railways and gas lines; located within the Delta.
Flows
5. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the California Democratic Party supports proposals for long-term Delta management that are based on a firm understanding of Delta freshwater needs and include strong protection for sufficient flows of water necessary for healthy Delta communities, including Delta agriculture with a strong assurances for such protections and the provision of needed flows in the Delta and its tributaries, with appropriate and sustainable water export reductions, before any proposals for alternative export conveyance or diversion methods are approved, funded or permitted. Proposals for long-term Delta management must be based on a firm understanding of Delta freshwater needs, and include strong protection for sufficient flows of water necessary for healthy Delta communities, including Delta agriculture with a strong assurances for such protections, and the provision of needed flows in the Delta and its tributaries, with appropriate and sustainable water export reductions, before any proposals for alternative export conveyance or diversion methods are approved, funded or permitted.
Cost Analysis
6. THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the California Democratic Party supports a Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan that looks at the impact on the entire state, not just on exporters, including a full and equal analysis of alternatives to the proposed Twin Tunnels project, with a no tunnel/reduced exports alternative and a portfolio approach that would look at a smaller tunnel combined with water infrastructure investments in other parts of the state. The full and equal analysis of alternatives should include the plans for the Delta as proposed by Congressman Garamendi, the Environmental Water Caucus, Dr. Bob Pyke, and the Portfolio Alternative proposed by NRDC and PCL.
Title. Double click me.
What's up with the Tunnels?
Here is Conner Evert's latest editorial on the Tunnels:
* Gov Brown's Twin Tunnel Project http://www.dailynews.com/opinion/20131219/gov-browns-twin-tunnel-project-undermines-las-water-future-guest-commentary
* Here is Conner going off! a quick watch :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdN0Djy0ck4
* Here is a 6-7 minute video that encapsulizes the issue effectively: see the lower right hand side of the page http://www.stopthetunnels.org/
* This is a one and a half video on the topic narrated by Ed Begely, let me know if you would like a copy: Its China Town all over again! http://www.restorethedelta.org/over-troubled-waters/
2014 Candidates Endorsed by
The Green Democrats of Sacramento County Endorsed Sept 10, 2014
Sacramento City School Board Dist# 2: Ellen Cochrane
Sacramento City School Board Dist# 7: Linda Tuttle
SMUD Ward #3: Gregg Fishman
Cosumnes Community Services Dist: Orlando Fuentes
Cordova Park & Recreation: Terri Leimbach
San Juan School Board: Paula Villescaz & Mike McKibbin
American River Flood Control: Earl Lagomarsino
Sacramento Suburban Water: Stephen Hanson
San Juan Water Dist: Marcia Fritz
Orangevale Recreation & Parks: Manie Meraz
Galt Joint Union High: Daniel Villalobos
To see more of our endorsements, click on the endorsements page......