Release Immediate
Aug. 22, 2013  

FLOWS TO BE RELEASED ARE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED

(The following is a statement by Dan Nelson, Executive Director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, in response to Judge O’Neill’s order lifting the temporary restraining order which prevented the release of water from Trinity Reservoir for use on the lower Klamath River.)

“Today’s decision by Judge O’Neill to lift the temporary restraining order which prevented the release of water from Trinity Reservoir results in a significant decrease in the harm originally expected to occur. Yesterday, the United States reduced their stated need of up to 109,000 acre-feet of water, which they claimed just last week was the amount necessary, to now only 20,000 acre-feet. Clearly the scientific justification they provided last week just couldn’t hold up.

“We appreciate Judge O’Neill’s understanding of the urgency and importance of this matter. We also recognize the burden he placed upon himself by setting aside his heavy case load to allow for the careful consideration of the question at hand. In his decision, Judge O’Neill stated that, “all parties have prevailed in a significant, responsible way.”

“While no one knows whether or not this action will alter what would of happened in its absence, it is clear that in order to move beyond this current conflict we must all work together to develop a lawful long-term approach to managing these requests that is balanced and scientifically supportable.”

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