San Joaquin River restoration clears major hurdle
- added May 8, 2008
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- San Joaquin River (1)
Long-stalled legislation to bring life back to the dried-up San Joaquin River and restore its historic salmon run cleared a significant hurdle today when a U.S. Senate committee gave its approval.
The bill passed by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee now joins similar legislation approved by a House committee in November that would pay for restoring the once-mighty river, which foamed with spawning salmon until it was dammed in 1942.
The two bills are expected to be consolidated and brought to the floors of the House and Senate for final approval later this year.
"This is badly needed good news for West Coast fishermen who are faced with the complete closure this year of the salmon fishery," said Monty Schmitt, project manager and senior scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Restoring the San Joaquin and bringing back its salmon will produce tremendous benefits not only for fishermen, but for all Californians."
Environmentalists have characterized the draining of the San Joaquin as one of the most egregious examples anywhere of habitat destruction to quench civilization's thirst for water. It provoked an 18-year battle among ecologists, federal water regulators and agricultural interests over the various demands to restore California's second-longest river.
The bill passed by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee now joins similar legislation approved by a House committee in November that would pay for restoring the once-mighty river, which foamed with spawning salmon until it was dammed in 1942.
The two bills are expected to be consolidated and brought to the floors of the House and Senate for final approval later this year.
"This is badly needed good news for West Coast fishermen who are faced with the complete closure this year of the salmon fishery," said Monty Schmitt, project manager and senior scientist for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Restoring the San Joaquin and bringing back its salmon will produce tremendous benefits not only for fishermen, but for all Californians."
Environmentalists have characterized the draining of the San Joaquin as one of the most egregious examples anywhere of habitat destruction to quench civilization's thirst for water. It provoked an 18-year battle among ecologists, federal water regulators and agricultural interests over the various demands to restore California's second-longest river.
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