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CSPA Action Alert July 30, 2009
Help Stop the Assault on Salmon!
By CSPA’s Conservation Director John Beuttler The Southern Central Valley Ag Lobby has unleashed an unprecedented assault on Central Valley salmon barely clinging to existence that are to be protected under the Endangered Species Act. They are applying intense political pressure on multiple governmental targets to compel the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) to change their Biological Opinion on Sacramento River winter-run salmon so they can obtain increased water diversions from the Delta.
CSPA has done its part. We have written letters of support to the entire California Congressional Delegation and to the various heads of the Department of the Interior, NOAA and NMFS. We're asking our friends in other fisheries advocacy groups to do the same.
For more information on Big Ag's attempt to influence Congress and the federal agencies, see CSPA's Hot Button Issue: Salazar's visit and Nunes' rhetoric
***************************** Send E-mail letters to your senators and congressman: Since we must fight back politically, we as that you send an E-mail letter asking support of NOAA and NMFS to your congressman and your two state senators!
Sample Letter
Once at the page, fill in the form blocks and then:
Enter this text into the body block:
Dear (Full Name), I urge your support of NOAA and the implementation of the Nation Marine Fisheries Service “Biological Opinion on the Operations of the Central Valley and State Water Projects”(BiOp) California’s corporate agricultural industry is exerting a concerted effort to have Congress “roll back” this critical requirement of the Endangered Species Act. They want Congress and the federal government raid the small amount of water (5%) mandated by the BiOp to be held back for fisheries so they can take even more water out of the Delta, a waterway that is in a serious state of collapse! The BiOp has been peer reviewed by two independent teams of scientists and found to use on the best science available to require essential measures to protect our state’s salmon and steelhead fisheries. Clearly, these requirements are in the public’s best interest. The fisheries this document seeks to protect are in jeopardy of extinction due primarily to impacts caused by the state and federal water projects. These fisheries, when healthy, generate over $500 million annually to our state and national economy and represent valuable jobs and food for the people of our state. Please encourage the administration and its agencies, the Department of the Interior, NOAA and NMFS to stand firm in the face of the misinformation campaign being conducted by some of the largest water districts in the world, rich on taxpayer subsidies, focused solely on their own self interests and possessing the most junior rights of any in our state.
Your positive actions on this matter will ensure my continued support. Sincerely, (Your Name)
Cut and paste these addresses.
Sample Letter (Your name) (Your street) (Your city, state and zip) Date (Agency Name) (Agency head) (Street Address) (City, State, Zip) Re: Support of the NMFS Biological Opinion & Saving California’s Salmon I urge you to continue your steadfast implementation of the Nation Marine Fisheries Service “Biological Opinion on the Operations of the Central Valley and State Water Projects”(BiOp) I realize that California’s corporate agricultural industry is exerting a concerted effort to have your agency or Congress “roll back” this critical requirement of the Endangered Species Act. They want Congress and the federal government raid the small amount of water (5%) mandated by the BiOp to be held back for fisheries so they can take even more water out of the Delta, a waterway that is in a serious state of collapse! The BiOp has been peer reviewed and seeks to protect fisheries that are in jeopardy of extinction due primarily to impacts caused by the state and federal water projects. These fisheries, when healthy, generate over $500 million annually to our state and national economy and represent valuable jobs and food for the people of our state. I urge you to stand firm in the BiOps implementation, even the face of the misinformation campaign being conducted by some of the largest water districts in the world, rich on taxpayer subsidies, focused solely on their own self interests and possessing the most junior rights of any in our state. I have already written my two state senators, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and my Congressman, asking that they support your efforts. I will continue to support your agency in the form of informing others in the state of the real facts surrounding the reasons why the BiOp needs to be carried out, without delay, and for the benefit of all Californians. Sincerely, (Your Name)
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