Local07/25/09 7:44:10 pm EDT
Saturday 25 July 2009
Democratic Party Supports Protecting the Mokelumne River
At the recently concluded California Democratic Party Executive Board meeting, party leaders voted to support National Wild and Scenic River designation for the Mokelumne River and oppose the expansion of Pardee Reservoir. The CDP joins conservation advocates, businesses and thousands of Californians from all walks of life who want to preserve the scenic nature of the Mokelumne River. The Mokelumne flows from the high Sierra to the Delta and provides 90 percent of the water for the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s 1.3 million customers.
As described in the resolution adopted by the CDP Executive Board , the Mokelumne River is “a valuable part of California’s natural and human heritage, noted for its high water quality; important wildlife and fish habitat; unique and numerous American Indian sites dating back thousands of years; important historical sites from the Gold Rush, hard-rock mining, and early hydroelectric development eras; outstanding family, fishing, and whitewater boating recreational opportunities; and great scenic beauty.”
“While Sierra foothill Democrats brought this resolution to the party’s attention, it’s clearly an issue that concerns the whole state,” said Tillman Sherman, Chairman of the Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee. “Protecting the Mokelumne River is important not only for our local communities, but also for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the state’s threatened salmon and steelhead fisheries. And it can help move the East Bay to more sustainable, long term water supplies.”
The Democratic Party resolution supports National Wild and Scenic River designation from just below Salt Springs Dam on the North Fork Mokelumne to the backwaters of Pardee Reservoir, covering about 37 river miles. The designation, which requires an act of Congress, would protect the designated reaches from new dams, diversions and inundation by reservoir expansion. 
The latter is especially important because of the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s recent proposal to build a new, 400-foot dam on the Mokelumne, which would expand Pardee Reservoir and flood about three miles of the river, including the historic Middle Bar Bridge.
The resolution opposes that expansion and encourages EBMUD to employ less destructive means of meeting its future water supply needs.
“California’s majority party has officially recognized what we’ve long known: the Mokelumne River has nothing left to give,” remarked Chris Shutes, FERC Projects Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. “Wild and scenic status should be implemented as soon as possible, and EBMUD should reconsider its water supply assumptions and options.”
In opposing the reservoir expansion, the CDP joins foothill local governments, conservation and recreation organizations, historical preservation groups, tribal members, and countless individuals who have strongly opposed the EBMUD plan.
“Protecting the Mokelumne River isn’t a partisan issue,” said Chris Wright, Foothill Conservancy executive director. “The river belongs to everyone, and it has broad support from people of all political persuasions. But we’re grateful to the Democrats for weighing in on this important issue, and we’re happy to add them to the growing Mokelumne supporter list.”
Comments
As described in the resolution adopted by the CDP Executive Board , the Mokelumne River is “a valuable part of California’s natural and human heritage, noted for its high water quality; important wildlife and fish habitat; unique and numerous American Indian sites dating back thousands of years; important historical sites from the Gold Rush, hard-rock mining, and early hydroelectric development eras; outstanding family, fishing, and whitewater boating recreational opportunities; and great scenic beauty.”
“While Sierra foothill Democrats brought this resolution to the party’s attention, it’s clearly an issue that concerns the whole state,” said Tillman Sherman, Chairman of the Calaveras County Democratic Central Committee. “Protecting the Mokelumne River is important not only for our local communities, but also for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and the state’s threatened salmon and steelhead fisheries. And it can help move the East Bay to more sustainable, long term water supplies.”
The latter is especially important because of the East Bay Municipal Utility District’s recent proposal to build a new, 400-foot dam on the Mokelumne, which would expand Pardee Reservoir and flood about three miles of the river, including the historic Middle Bar Bridge.The resolution opposes that expansion and encourages EBMUD to employ less destructive means of meeting its future water supply needs.
“California’s majority party has officially recognized what we’ve long known: the Mokelumne River has nothing left to give,” remarked Chris Shutes, FERC Projects Director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. “Wild and scenic status should be implemented as soon as possible, and EBMUD should reconsider its water supply assumptions and options.”
In opposing the reservoir expansion, the CDP joins foothill local governments, conservation and recreation organizations, historical preservation groups, tribal members, and countless individuals who have strongly opposed the EBMUD plan.
“Protecting the Mokelumne River isn’t a partisan issue,” said Chris Wright, Foothill Conservancy executive director. “The river belongs to everyone, and it has broad support from people of all political persuasions. But we’re grateful to the Democrats for weighing in on this important issue, and we’re happy to add them to the growing Mokelumne supporter list.”
Comments
