THOMPSON STATEMENT ON IRRIGATION RESTRICTION RULING BY FEDERAL APPEALS COURT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) released the following statement after the 9^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court's 2011 ruling that said irrigation restrictions in California's Central Valley lacked sufficient scientific justification. In overturning the lower court's ruling, the circuit court upheld irrigation restrictions in the Central Valley that were created in 2009 after the National Marine Fisheries Service released a "biological opinion" which found that Central Valley irrigation projects endangered steelhead and chinook salmon.

"The 9^th Circuit's ruling in this case affirms that while Delta water is important for farmers in the Central Valley, it's also important for fish, wildlife and those who depend on the Delta for their drinking water and livelihoods. The Delta supports thousands of jobs in farming, fishing and tourism, and has an economic output of more than $4 billion a year. Neither the court, nor anyone else, should be in the business of picking winners and losers when it comes to our limited water supply. Instead, all decisions should be guided by the best available science – and the 9^th Circuit let the best available science guide its decision making. I commend the ruling and look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress, state leaders, and all stakeholders to find fair, science-based solutions to our water challenges."

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5^th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and chairs the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.

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