Posted by: thepinetree on 07/15/2014 12:13 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 07/15/2014 04:02 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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Keep the Mokelumne River from State Control ~ Letter To The Editor From Vicky Reinke
Angels Camp, CA....The Democrats and environmental groups are on their way to designating 37 miles of the Mokelumne River as “Wild and Scenic” What does it mean to be designated “Wild and Scenic”? It means that the river must remain free-flowing without artificial impoundment, diversion, or other modification of the river. In other words, the water in that portion of the river cannot be diverted for the use of the people and farmers, now and in the future. Any future water use will be controlled by the State....
On April 3, 2014 Senator Loni Hancock a Democrat from Berkeley sponsored a bill, SB1199 with the support of The Friends of the River and Foothill Conservancy . This bill will authorize the designation of a 37 mile stretch of the Mokelumne River as “Wild and scenic”. SB 1199 is rapidly moving through the legislative process as it needs to be passed by the end of August of this year. So far the bill has gone through the Senate and was passed on a partisan vote with Democrats voting YES and Republicans voting NO. Our own Senator, Tom Berryhill is opposed to this designation; along with every water agency in both Calaveras and Amador counties.
The bill is now going through the State Assembly and has been heard in the Assembly Natural Resource Committee and was passed again with a partisan vote: Democrats Yes and Republicans NO. Frank Bigelow our Assemblyman is also opposed to this designation. The final stop is the State Assembly floor which needs to be heard sometime in August.
Our Board of Supervisors authored and approved a resolution on February 25, 2014 in support of the “Wild and Scenic” river designation. Because of the overwhelming opposition to the bill the Calaveras Board of Supervisors will take public commit, possibly at the July 29, evening meeting. I hope that all concerned citizens will attend this meeting and express their concerns. This law will take future water rights away from the people.
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