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The hearing, originally scheduled for June 10th, has been re-scheduled for Tuesday, June 24th. Please send your letters NOW.CSPA Advisory 6.4.2008CSPA Advisory 6.4.2008 Your support is critical to move AB 1806 out of Senate Committee HearingsHundreds of letters needed for AB 1806Anglers, conservationists and friends of the Delta and the Delta fisheries. We are calling on YOU for hundreds of letters of support for AB 1806. The bill is critical for restoration of the delta fisheries. This is NOT a slam-dunk deal. It is expected to be fought hard by water interests who could prevail. The bill requires full fishery mitigation for the impacts of the Federal and State Water Projects. This is absolutely essential if we are to stop the horrendous collapse of the fishery resources dependent on the delta and its tributaries. The next few weeks will be crunch time for AB 1806. The bill will have to successfully pass policy and appropriation committees in its route to a senate floor vote. Since it's already passed the assembly, if it passes the senate floor vote, it will go to the governor's desk for signature or veto. Unfortunately, unlike the large water districts with their millions of dollars in revenue, the CSPA, the delta and delta fishermen have no professional lobbyists. That job has to be filled by YOU. However, don't give up. YOUR LETTERS and YOUR opinions are much more influential than any lobbyist's maneuvering. Why? Because, you took the time, WITHOUT BEING PAID, to express your views to your state representative. And YOU vote! CSPA and the fish in the delta are asking each of you to write two, possibly three letters, one each to the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee AND, if you live in the district of any of the committee members, an additional letter to your district senator. These letters ARE important. They are recorded in favor and against a particular bill. We also ask you to ask your significant other, your kids (a good lesson in civics), your friends, fishing buddies and neighbors to write as well. The addresses, e-mails and fax numbers of all of the committee members are listed below. Better yet, the e-mail addresses are hot. You can cut and paste your letter and send it NOW. The letters do not have to be long. If you do not know your senatorial district, go to: http://www.calsport.org/billtracker.htm and enter your address complete with zip code. The program will respond with your district and senator's name. Here is a sample letter that you may cut and paste. Please revise as you see fit. ********************* Dear Senator [name, see below for cut and paste] Re: In support of AB 1806 As a [angler, conservationist, concerned citizen] I am extremely concerned about the rapidly declining fishery resources of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The stocks of every species are in critical decline and some at the point of collapse. Much of this damage is caused by the excessive pumping of water from the delta to water agencies using this water for agricultural (85%) or municipal use (15%). AB 1806 will require full fishery mitigation for the losses suffered by the pumping process. Without this requirement, the delta fisheries will simply never be restored. The Delta is not a political issue, its health is important to all Californians, Democrat and Republican, north and south, city dweller and farmer. Please support AB 1806 both in committee and when it reaches the senate floor. The state's ability to restore these fisheries is critical to properly protect the public's valuable natural resources. Respectfully, Name [Important] ### Here is a second letter suggested for clubs and other organizations. Please revise as you see fit. ******************************* Organization letterhead if possible Dear Senator [name, see below for cut and paste] Re: In support of AB 1806 I am writing as a member of ______________________, an organization of over _________________ members. Our organization gives its full support to AB 1806. AB 1806 will provide full mitigation for the damage to the Delta's fisheries by the pumping conducted to transport water south by the State and Federal water projects. I'm sure you are aware of the catastrophic collapse of the Sacramento Chinook salmon runs. This collapse is only one part of a Delta fishery disaster. In addition to the Chinook salmon, the Delta Smelt is endangered, Longfin Smelt is in serious decline, the Striped Bass population is at an all time low, the Threadfin Shad population, food for most of the pelagic species, is decimated, the American Shad population is a shadow of it's former health. The Delta has been abused and overused for too long by too many interests without regard to the cost of doing so. AB 1806 addresses this issue by requiring full mitigation for the damage done to the Delta fisheries by the pumping process. Without this requirement, the delta fisheries will simply never be restored. For the health of the state's resources, and especially, the health of the Delta, please support AB 1806 both in committee and when it reaches the senate floor. Respectfully, Name [Important} ### Additional reference and source material about AB 1806 can be found at: http://www.calsport.org/5-27-08.pdf And the bill itself can be found at: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm Printed letters, stamped and mailed have the greatest impact. Faxes are almost as good. E-mail is least preferred but if that's all you can do, please DO IT! Remember, ONE letter to the Chair. ONE letter to the Vice Chair and, if you live in one of the committee member's district, an additional letter to that member. Don't forget spouses, kids, friends and neighbors. Senators receiving e-mails from sources outside their district, frequently trash those e-mails. If you wish to state your views regarding AB 1806 to committee members outside your district, the recommended method of contact is by fax or snail mail. Let's Pack the Committee Room!Finally, if we could pack the committee room with 100 fishermen, that would be OUTSTANDING. The hearing will be held at the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee, Tuesday, June 24th. The hearing will be at 9:30am in Room 112 at the Capitol. CARPOOL. Pick up five friends and drive to the capitol. Wear fisherman's clothes, NOT suits. You WILL have the opportunity to say whether you support or oppose the bill. Senate Natural Resources and Water CommitteeChairSenator Darrell Steinberg (D) 06th District Vice ChairSenator Dennis Hollingsworth (R) 36th District MembersSenator Dave Cogdill (R) 14th District Senator Christine Kehoe (D) 39th District Senator Sheila Kuehl (D) 23rd District Senator Michael Machado (D) 05th District Senator Bob Margett (R) 29th District Senator Carole Migden (D) 03rd District
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