thank you letter to senator dianne feinstein for ......3 thank you letter to senator dianne...
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THANK YOU LETTER TO SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN FOR OPPOSITION TO H.R. 1837
2 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
March 14, 2012
Senator Dianne Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Feinstein: On behalf of the thousands of Restore the Delta supporters, I would like to thank you for your statement of opposition to H.R. 1837, passed by the House of Representatives on February 29, 2012. As stated in our letter to Speaker Boehner of February 27, 2012, Delta communities oppose this piece of legislation for the following reasons: H.R. 1837 overrides the public trust as defined in the California Constitution and state water
laws. It reverses the long-standing Congressional principle that the federal government should
follow state water law whenever possible.
H.R. 1837 would reduce water quality and water availability for Delta communities and Delta
farmers. It seeks to ensure water flows to corporate agribusiness in the western and southern
San Joaquin Valley at the expense of Delta family farmers. The recently-released Economic
Sustainability Report authored by the Delta Protection Commission shows that Delta agriculture
is worth $4.2 billion annually and provides tens of thousands of jobs. Delta agriculture and jobs
should not be sacrificed to benefit water users in other parts of the state, some of whom do not
even use that water for agriculture.
H.R. 1837 would hinder efforts to restore fish populations in the Delta. Science-based
protections for salmon and other endangered species are required under both California state
law and the Endangered Species Act. Since 2009, the State of California has consistently
opposed legislation that would weaken the Endangered Species Act in the San Francisco Bay-
Restore the Delta 10100 Trinity Parkway Suite 120
Stockton, CA 95219 (209) 479-2053
www.RestoretheDelta.org
3 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Delta and Estuary. Title I of H.R. 1837 would substitute measures that were part of a short-
term agreement in 1994, when the health of the Delta had not deteriorated so seriously and
when recent scientific studies had not yet been done.
H.R. 1837 would reverse San Joaquin River restoration, thereby further impacting water quality
and quantity for the south Delta. While the San Joaquin River restoration allows for a limited
flow of additional water into the south Delta, breaking the promise of San Joaquin River
restoration would signal to Delta communities the federal government’s sacrifice of the Delta
for the preference of another region in California.
This deeply-flawed bill joins a long list of water strategies created behind closed doors without
input from the Delta communities that rely on a healthy Delta for their livelihoods. It threatens
the economic security of families, farmers, and small business owners in the Delta, as well as
those in the Delta and Northern California who depend on recreational and commercial
fisheries. It also threatens the urban economy surrounding the Delta – an area that is home to
four million Californians and that is dependent on the Delta to meet its water user needs.
Again, we thank you for your support in opposing H.R. 1837.
Sincerely yours,
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla Executive Director Restore the Delta Ann Johnston Mayor, City of Stockton Delta Coalition Chair
Steve Dial Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Executive Director San Joaquin Council of Governments
John R. Beckman Chief Executive Officer BIA of the Delta
Douglass W. Wilhoit, Jr. Chief Executive Officer Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce
Ron Addington President and Chief Executive Officer Business Council of San Joaquin County
Bill Wells Executive Director California Delta Chambers & Visitor's Bureau
J. Chaka Santos Mayor City of Lathrop
Blair Hake Director California Delta Chambers
4 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
John Herrick South Delta Water Agency
Dante John Nomellini, Sr. Manager and Co-counsel Central Delta Water Agency
Mary Peinado Executive Director Rio Vista Chamber of Commerce
Richard Aschieris Port Director Port of Stockton
Nelson Bahler Secretary Grupe Company
Thomas R. Allen Vice President A.G. Spanos Companies
Kristin Lynch Pacific Region Director Food & Water Watch
Nick Di Croce Co-Facilitator Environmental Water Caucus
Bill Jennings Executive Director California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Katherine K. Evatt President Foothill Conservancy
Nancy Ballot Sierra Club
Warren V. Truitt Save the American River Association
Nona Dennis Marin Conservation League
Roger Mammon President Lower Sherman Island Duck Hunters Association
Darryl Foreman President Delta Habitat Foundation
Darryl Foreman President Strata Habitat Foundation
Vic Ulmer Co-Director Our Developing World
Barby Ulmer Co-Director Our Developing World
Rob Burness Co-Chair Habitat 2020
Rick Guerrero President Green Democrats of Sacramento County
Roger Mammon President CSBA West Delta Chapter
Jim Cox Vice President of the state board of CSBA
James Cox Sport Fishing Charters
Jackson Chapman CSBA, Sacramento Chapter
5 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Jackson Chapman California Striped Bass Association
Larry Collins President Crab Boat Owners Association
Capt. Scott Feist Feisty Fish Guide Service
Mike Hudson President Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fishermen's Association
Linda Hall San Joaquin Yacht Club
Trevor Kennedy Executive Director Fishery Foundation of California
Sheila Shepherd Sea Ray Boat Club
Rick Hennes River Delta Unified School District
Wendy Stokes Stokley Orchards Thomas W. Hester Islands Incorporated
Mary Hildebrand Hildebrand Farm
Robert K. Ferguson Ferguson Farms Inc.
Michael McDowell Double M Farms McDowell Hunting Preserve
Kurt Jonson President J.H. Jonson & Sons, Inc.
Richard and Jeanette Marcucci Luccadeira Farms
George & Pam Vierra GV Farms
Marc Ceccarelli C & M Orchards
Jeanne McCormack McCormack Sheep & Grain, LLC
Chuck and Joy Baker Chuck Baker's Ranch
Elmer and Diana Muller Muller Ranch
Susan Dell'Osso Project Director River Islands at Lathrop
Carel and Linda Van Loben Sels Burchell Farms, Zimmerman Duck Club, Linn Acre Cattle Co., Van Loben Sels Farms ETAL, Reclamation District #551, Amistad Ranches, Esperanza Enterprises
John M. Gray President Bubbies of San Francisco, Inc.
Tom Williams President, Reclamation District No. 830 General Manager, Ironhouse Sanitary Dist.
Stephen F. Heringer President
Susan Dell'Osso President
6 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Reclamation District 999 Reclamation District 2062
Jerry Robinson Reclamation District 544
Bob Ferguson Reclamation District 2
Brent Gilbert Past Chairman/Trustee Director RD 2059, Past Director Byron Bethany Island RD, Trustee RD 2137, Administrator, Mark E. Gilbert Admin Trust
Stacey T. Boyd Superintendent Reclamation District 501
Christopher H. Neudeck Kjeldsen, Sinnock, Neudeck Civil Engineers and Land Surveyors
Dr. Mark Rockwell Co-VP Conservation, NCCFFF
Robert Johnson, Jr. President Californians Against the Canal
Al Rojas Vice President Labor Council for Latinamerican Advancement
Nicolette Smith President Latina Democratic Club
Linda Soliven League of Women Voters Diablo Valley
Catherine White League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County
Jan Howe League of Women Voters Diablo Valley
Mark Poulson Mark Poulson Custom Building
Spiro Stamos Imperial Moving & Storage
John E. Caprio Orwood Resort, Inc.
Elaine Caprio Orwood Resort, Inc.
Emily Pappalardo Steamboat Resort
Linda Looney Delta Water Sports
David Theis Windmill Cove Resort
Rich Costello Marine Lien Sale
Armundo Vanni A & M Properties
Reni Della Maggiore Commercial Realtor/CEO Reni Della Maggiore, Inc.
Antoinette Celle Antoinette Celle Vineyard
Gail Herrou Fine Wines of Stockton
Russell Fisher Managing Member Media Creations, LLC
Rosemary M. Atkinson Campaign for Common Ground
7 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Michael Schoop Computer Legal Forensic Services
Jeff Gillenkirk Chief Executive Officer Your Message Media
Rob Zinn Owner & Creative Director Blankblank, Inc.
Charles Schroder President Professional Roof Inspection Service, LLC
Rae and Leon Bordua Holy Mountain Trading Company Jay M. Hislop Jay M. Hislop, DDS Esq. Echelon Consulting
John F. Walsh Principal AgPlus Agribusiness Consulting
Joel Chaban President All Things Connected, Inc.
Jane Humes Secretary WHSJWC
Paul Helliker General Manager Marin MWD
Dave R. Spensley Clare M. Spensley
Nancy Robertson Gene Beley
Rob Globus Beverly Clark
Don Heichel William Brooks
George Wright Jim Marsh
Marybeth Ryden Dave Wagner
Ralph B. Grunauer, Jr. Katherine Walker
Tina Holt Stephen Tyack
Mary Switzer Robert R. Anderson MD
William Joseph Kristin Joseph
Rebecca Talley Donna M. Brown
Katie Harrar Patricia Williams
8 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Michael Steinbacher Peggy Gulliere
Jill Steinbacher Thomas W. Dan
Gail Grundman Harry Gundman
Pamela Calvert John A. Minnehan
Chris Larson Katherine A. Marks
Peter Ottesen Jesse Marks, Jr.
Jeffrey Wayne Allen Norman J. Marks
Rachel M. Frame Jan T. Warren
Jack Meyer Cindy Wong
Jack S. Sahouria Natalia Orfanos
Gene Beley Dea Berberian
Anthony Vierra Evie Robinson
Wesley Vierra Kathleen Fleming
Betty Liske Karen Cunningham
Ronald L. Crawford Smith Cunningham
Maryn Whitney Karen Schoueberg
Mary Switzer Gina K. Bloam
Robert Arata Margo Praus
Anna Pavao Zinn Stan Thomas
Hugh M. Reynolds Jesslyn L. Farros
Pete and Kay Corsun Nick S. Farros
Mike McCleery Jan McCleery
Dixie L. Braas Sherry Kelly
9 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
John E. Braas Steven G. Kost
Richard L. Schwerin Christine Huttinger
Amber McDowell Todd Title
Dave Wittenbrock Mary J. Vanni
Joe Rivera Jorge Speckman
Richard B. Engfer, Jr. Inga DeMent-Machado
Jean McGurk Bonnie K. Dixon
Marci Coglianese Susan Morgan
Austen Schmalz Tyler Mortimore
Mary Louis Thompson Chris Serafin
David F. Scatena Betty J. Scatena
Richard Dangles Nancy L. Leman
Frank Middleton Gary Jacobson
Maureen Dannen Vance Staplin
John Herrick, Esq. Traci Erinn Stubbe
David G. Yee JoAnn Schreiber
Sue L. Yee Peter Sustarich
Nancy Miller David Frison
Tim Miller Katherine Casenave
Kathryn Fairchild Phoebe Storey
William Reynolds Rogene Reynolds
Brandon Maley John Kaehler
Emily Pappalardo Maridee Stanley
10 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Richard Baum Maggi Baum
Erica A. Tyler Eileen Heaser
Mike Hall Joyce D. Grunauer
Elaine Grunauer Robert D. Grunauer
Gary Buck Judy L. Hall
Ron Mah Ron Straub
Daniel Zador Yvette Stairrett
Robert Stinman Barry V. Stuart
Dana Stinman Elaine Jordan-Adams
Robert Stinman Gary Ray Adams
Elyse Stinman Gary Arroyo
Gordon Stinman George Wight
Joan Stinman Cynthia B. Mammon
Kirk McCabe Cathy Case
Galen Onizuka Kenneth Connelly
Colin Brodie Bob Felan
Robert J. Verkerk Chuck Vickerson
Susan Swensson Joe Klaczynski
Edward P. Martinez Sharon R. Sterud
Tammy L. Martinez Kali Persall
Lupe Martinez Sherri L. Whittenburg-Hampton
Paul H. Martinez Georgia Sack
Robert H. Wills Don Sack
11 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Sherry Embrey Jared Laiti
Bob Wills Peggy Wills
Susan Cors Tom Cors
Dennis Doorman Cathy Doorman
Rudy Retamoza Hilary McGahey
Christafer Wills Michael Frost
Cath Wills Corey Cate
Craig Breschi Virginia Ciruli
Julie Pearlman Shane Pearlman
Margaret Arnold McGrath Dave Dove
Craig Bowman Penny Dove
Martin Wong Ken Belanger
Kathleen Wong Randele Kanouse
Emelia Berol Linda Abrahams
Linda Babcock Susan Lane
Ashley Babcock Sean Corrigan
William Dutra Steaphen W. Pinther
William J. Kelly Rhondda Nunes
Jaonna Jeronimo Dianne Comini
Karen T. Fisher Kristin McCleery
Paul La Follette Brent Eubanks
James Hall Frank Emerson
Mick Canevary Jesus Manual Mena Garza
12 Thank you letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein for Opposition to H.R. 1837
Dan McCorquodale David L. McGrath
Janet Ratto Giffen Jenny Scott, Esq.
Ronald McGlaughlin John Turnbull
CC: Senator Barbara Boxer