Greedy water users are pressuring Congress to override Endangered Species Act protections to endangered fish which could have disastrous consequences for America's iconic salmon fishery and the economy. California Senator Dianne Feinstein is considering attaching a rider to the Senate jobs bill, which could be voted on next week.

The rider would undermine the Endangered Species Act and ignore the best available scientific and economic data about these endangered fisheries. Just last week, the government announced that the returns for west coast salmon are at an all time low which could mean continued closure of the west coast salmon fishing and devastating consequences to family fishermen and coastal communities.

The magnificent San Francisco Bay and Sacramento River Delta is the largest estuary on the West Coast of North America and the source of the west coast salmon fishery which provides thousands of jobs and millions of dollars of income to the economy. Tragically, one of the nation's most important ecosystems is collapsing and the salmon populations are endangered. Over the past two years, the California salmon fishery has been shut down due to the collapse of salmon populations. This has resulted in thousands of lost jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in lost income, each year.

An amendment to waive the requirements under the federal Endangered Species Act could lead to the permanent closure of this fishery, with long-term job losses and economic damage. In addition, it would undermine scientific protections for species on the brink of extinction.

Instead of waiving our nation's environmental laws, we should be working toward long-term solutions that restore and maintain the health of the environment on which the health of our economy and the quality of our lives depend. Investments in water recycling, groundwater recharge and cleanup, urban and agricultural water efficiency, and stormwater capture have the potential to yield more water each year than has ever been exported out of the Delta, with significant environmental benefits.

The Senate jobs bill should not include any legislation that would destroy thousands of jobs and undermine long-term solutions to natural resource issues.

Click here to send a letter to your Senator asking them to stand up for strong protections for our nation's fisheries and economy.

Thank you for your help to save America's fisheries and fishing families.

Source: Endangered Species Coalition