In Fresno
Delta Water Summit
Saturday, August 3, 2013, Fresno State Student Union
Building
9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Plan to
be at this summit. We want to show our dire concern of pumping restrictions,
and the new biological opinion, which has been delayed. We want to communicate
how unacceptable these restriction are and the need to fix the problem
emmediately, not 10 years from now. Two microphones will be set up for
attendees to question members of three panels. The ag industry needs to attend
and form long lines at these microphones to ask about immediate water needs to
keep the industry alive!
The Issue
The Delta Pumping Restrictions, the Biological Opinions, the
Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and the Alternative Delta Conveyance Project
represent the most significant and important water issues and conversations
that California has had since the 1982 peripheral canal proposal. Yet, if you
asked the average Californian if they know anything much about any of these
various items the answer is typically “Not much or not at water”. This is
particularly true in Southern California and the Silicon Valley who ironically
rely tremendously on their water supplies coming from the Delta.
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| Mario Santoyo |
Even in the Central Valley, ground zero for water supply
shortages and economic impacts (due to the Delta Pumping restrictions), chances
are that most have felt or heard of the Delta problems but really do not
understand much about the details.
The Summit
The summit, organized by Mario Santoyo, Director of the
California Latino Water Coalition (CLWC), will bring high-level policy,
technical and legislative representatives from both the State of California and
the Federal government along with key water agencies to present, discuss and
answer questions through a series of panels moderated by well-known media
figures. The target audience will be the general public principally but invites
will go out to all elected officials and legislators. Examples (not in any particular order):
1.
Welcome by CSUF President Joseph Castro.
2.
CLWC Member (TBD) introduces Governor Brown (Invited). Governor Brown addresses his
Water Supply Vision for California.
3.
KMPH Video Overview of the Delta issues and the
BDCP at a level the general public can understand and appreciate (Intro by Rich
Rodriguez).
4.
First Panel discussion, lead by Fresno Bee
Moderator Bill McEwen, regarding water agencies roles, challenges and
expectations with the BDCP.
Q&A by the audience;
a.
Ara Azhderian, Water Policy Administrator, San
Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
b.
Joan Maher, Deputy Operating Officer for Water
Supply, Santa Clara Valley Water District
c.
Ron Jacobsma, General Manager, Friant Water
Authority
d.
Jim Beck, General Manager, Kern County Water
Agency
e.
Tom Birmingham, General Manager, Westlands Water
District
f.
John Colemen, Vice President, Association of
California Water Agencies (ACWA)
5.
Second Panel Discussion, lead by moderator
(Univision), regarding their roles and actions associated with the BDCP and any
short-term relief.
Q&A
by the audience;
a.
Michael
Connor, Commissioner, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Invited)
b.
John Laird, Secretary, Natural Resources Agency (Invited)
c.
Gloria Gray, Delta Stewardship Council
d.
Sunne McPeak, Delta Vision Foundation
6.
Third Panel Discussion, lead by KMPH Moderator
Rich Rodriguez, regarding current legislative efforts by them or colleagues to
assist e3ither the short term relief or long term solutions
Q&A by the audience;
a. U.S.
Congressman Jim Costa
b.
U.S. Congressman David G. Valadao (Invited)
c.
State Senator Jean Fuller
d.
State Assemblymember Henry Perea
e.
State Assemblymember Jim Patterson
f.
State Assemblymember Rudy Salas
7.
Close with Assemblymember Henry T. Perea,
California Latino Water Coalition Central Valley Co-Chair.
Labels: California Ag Today, California Latino Water Coalition, Delta Smelt, Delta Water Summit Aug. 3, Mario Santoyo, Water Summit
