SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued an Incidental Take Permit to the Department of Water Resources today.
DWR Director Karla A. Nemeth and CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham issued the following statement:
“California’s water operations need to support our communities while protecting our fish and wildlife. This Incidental Take Permit enables this balance. Most importantly, it ensures that our state water infrastructure operates in a manner protective of fish species listed under state’s endangered species law. It does so in many ways, including by dedicating water for Delta outflows during drier periods when fish and habitat need it the most. The permit also provides flexibility to capture and store water during wet years for both water supply and the environment. The ITP also better utilizes existing infrastructure to improve habitat conditions; creates a new barrier to minimize entrainment of migrating salmon at SWP pumps; and commits significant new funding to ecosystem improvements and expanded scientific research. It enables adaptive water management based on scientific monitoring while providing final decision-making authority to CDFW on operational changes that protect fish. Together, DWR and CDFW will implement this permit to meet the needs of Californians and our state’s natural environment.”
Senate Republican leader Shannon Grove issued to following statement:
"As the Senate Republican Leader, I have worked alongside the Governor throughout the COVID-19 crisis to support efforts to mitigate the effects of this pandemic. However, I will not stand idly by while his actions put America's food security in jeopardy. The Governor has disregarded our food producers, workers and families by proposing to restrict water flows to a region which supplies one of America's most essential needs - food. California grows much of the nation's food and is home to the top three agricultural-producing counties. It is immoral to eliminate the water which grows the food that stocks America's pantries. During a time when Californians are reliant on state leadership to support basic needs, the Governor needs to stand up and meet this moment by investing in our nation's food security," said Senate Republican Leader Shannon Grove.
DWR’s final environmental document can be found here and CDFW’s ITP can be found here.
