Take Action Now to Ensure The Removal of the Klamath Dams!

Last week we asked for your help in stopping the House of Representatives from passing H.R. 1 – a bill loaded with provisions that will make it harder for California Trout to protect and restore wild trout, steelhead and salmon and puts the recently reached Klamath Settlement Agreements at risk.

Unfortunately, H.R. 1 passed the House on Saturday and now heads to the Senate and we need your help again, NOW.

The bill, also called the Continuing Resolution, is needed to keep the federal government running past March – so the pressure is on to pass it. However, attached to the core of the bill are a swarm of provisions – many targeted at weakening environmental laws like the Clean Water Act and some directed at dismantling some of CalTrout’s hard fought victories.

We are asking you to weigh in again – this time with emails to Senators Feinstein and Boxer asking them to remove the host of provisions that will eliminate countless safeguards to California’s clean water, air, healthy lands and oceans.

CalTrout’s most immediate concern is Amendment 296 which would defund implementation of the Klamath Settlement Agreements and cut off funding for dam removal feasibility studies. The amendment undermines years of locally-driven and collaborative Settlement Agreements that have helped resolve the water issues on the Klamath River.

“These provisions are effectively saying no to local collaboration by Klamath water stakeholders and a solution-based approach and instead dictating from Washington a path that leads to litigation and long-term uncertainty for local communities and water users”, says Curtis Knight, CalTrout Conservation Manager.

In addition to dismantling the Klamath Settlement Agreements, the hundreds of harmful provisions include:

• Reducing funding for fish restoration from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, NOAA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Stripping funding for the San Joaquin River Restoration Agreement
• Dismantling the Bay Delta Conservation Plan
• Halting California water use efficiency and recycling programs
• Waiving clean air standards for certain industries
• Barring the Interior Department from protecting wilderness quality lands

It’s imperative that these provisions are removed from H.R. 1. The stakes are enormous. Please send emails to Senators Feinstein and Boxer asking them to strike down the many harmful provisions attached to this bill.

Thank you,

Jeff Thompson
Executive Director