Thursday December 15, 2016
Oakdale Leader –
Two Central California irrigation district general managers say the comprehensive water bill passed Saturday by the U.S. Senate is good news for those who want to increase the salmon population in the Stanislaus River.
Steve Knell of the Oakdale Irrigation District and Peter Rietkerk of the South San Joaquin Irrigation oversee agencies with senior water rights on the river. They applauded Congress for its efforts to promote holistic drought solutions for the region.
The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act features many elements intended to help increase water storage and availability in California. Key language encourages closer collaboration between the districts and the federal Bureau of Reclamation to optimize storage operations in New Melones Reservoir, which provides water supply and ecosystem enhancements on the Stanislaus River.
The bill includes the Save our Salmon Act introduced by 10th District Rep. Jeff Denham and passed in July by the House. It directs the National Marines Fisheries Service to work with OID and SSJID to reduce the threats posed to young salmon and steelhead trout by striped bass and other predators.