California’s salmon rivers are at a crisis point. Over 45% of California’s fisheries are facing extinction within 50 years and large scale fish kills are becoming normal. Most salmon runs are currently facing extinction, as are Delta Smelt, and Green Sturgeon. Loss of habitat, low river flows and poor water quality due to diversions and pollution are the main issues impacting the fish in Northern California.  

Most of California’s water is being delivered to Central Valley Project agricultural exporters such as almond growers. The Bay Delta, Sacramento River and Klamath-Trinity River salmon declines are connected to overallocation of water to the Central Valley Project and State Water Project.

This situation has been made much worse by bad water management and excessive diversions from our rivers during recent droughts. Despite this he state of California is taking public comments on the plan to build a new 7000 cfs diversions that would be fed by California's most important salmon rivers

CALIFORNIANS HAVE OVERWHELMINGLY OPPOSED THIS MASSIVE NEW DIVERSION, WHICH HAS BEEN TIED TO THE PROPOSED SITE RESERVOIR.

At public hearings on the Delta tunnel proposal, hundreds of people from at least eight Tribes, four fishing organizations and many social justice and environmental groups testified against this proposal. 

The situation could not be more dire for our rivers. Even fish that are not endangered are facing rapidly dwindling numbers, which means that members of California’s Tribes do not have access to an essential food source. Commercial fishing and coastal communities are also suffering from the economic impacts from loss of salmon. The rivers that are the source for much of the state’s drinking water are facing toxic algae and increasing salinity and chemical concentrates. This severely impacted people in Northern California and Southern Oregon.  

Concerns around the Tunnel range from water quality concerns to fisheries extinction. Delta Tribes have also expressed opposition due to the desecration of cultural sites from the construction of the tunnels and residents of Stockton, California said they will have to deal with the health impacts from tunnel construction and diminished water quality.

Luckily the people of California do not need this tunnel. Californians are saving water and support conservation to save the environment. 

WE DO NOT NEED NEW DAMS AND DIVERSIONS IN A STATE WITH OVER 15,000 DAMS.

WE NEED CLEAN WATER AND CLIMATE ACTIONS AND IT IS TIME FOR BIG AG TO DO ITS PART.