Thompson Hails 9th Circuit Salmon Decision

Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) issued the following statement today in reaction to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals' rejection of the Bush administration's water diversion plan for the Klamath River. The court rejected the plan on the grounds that it would not protect threatened Klamath River Coho salmon. Thompson was one of the plaintiffs in the case.

“Today's unanimous decision by the court confirmed what we have been saying for years, Klamath River salmon need sufficient flows of cool, clean water to survive,” Thompson said. “A sustainable water plan in the Klamath benefits fishing communities up and down the Pacific Coast. This year's drastically reduced salmon season is a product of the first year of the administration's water plan, which resulted in up to 80,000 dead fish. The 9th circuit has handed down a major victory for salmon restoration efforts.”

Congressman Thompson represents California's First District, which spans much of the Northern California Coast.