Rep. Mike Thompson Applauds National Academy Science Report on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Congressman Mike Thompson (CA-1) issued the following statement today regarding the National Academy of Sciences review of the draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The National Academy of Sciences report released this week, found that serious scientific gaps exist in the Bay Delta Conservation Plan as proposed. The report found fundamental flaws regarding the goals of the plan and a lack of scientific analysis on how the project would affect the enormously valuable fisheries and farms of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta:

“The National Academy of Sciences report confirms what we already knew -- the plan is so murky that it's unclear whether the project is simply to restore the troubled delta, or build a pipeline to south-of-delta water interests. Such failings run counter to good water policy, and run against the science-based planning I have supported for years.

“At a Congressional summit I attended last week, farmers and fishermen came together to call for science-based solutions to guide the Delta's restoration process. The message was clear -- weak science will not restore the delta, but instead unfairly favors powerful south-of-delta water interests and harms family farmers and fishermen.

“We cannot move forward with the ongoing push by the House Majority to defund science in the Delta, and this report backs that assertion. Efforts to divert more Northern California water to the south must be heavily scientifically scrutinized with an eye toward protecting these water resources for present and future generations - not just for a few powerful corporate water interests today.”