First, the Democrats in California failed to properly prepare for a drought by giving in to militant environmentalist demands that have limited the number of reservoirs being built in the State, as well as limiting the number of artificial waterways to transport the water. Then, as 70% of the rain water in the State is dumped into the Pacific Ocean due to liberal left policies, another 10% of the water in California, during the drought, is being dumped into the Pacific Ocean in the hopes of saving the Delta Smelt, a small fish that is not even indigenous to California. The actions being taken to save the fish has, in turn, resulted in a denial of water to the farms in Central California, turning the once lush and green "Salad Bowl" of America into a dead dust bowl. But, destroying California farms through those methods was not enough. Now, in an attempt to create water tunnels, more farms are being targeted and seized.
California's leftist agenda is going after as many as 300 more farms at the California Delta, an area known as the hub of California's water supply system, at the north end of the Central Valley and in the same region as California's Capital City, Sacramento. The plan is to create massive water tunnels that Governor Jerry Brown has proposed, though not yet approved. The property-acquisition plan would allow the State to build 30-mile-long tunnels in the delta formed by the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers.
Farmers in the area, made aware of the plan when opposition to Brown's efforts gained access to a 160-page proposal, fear that the State will bully the farmers into submission, "and take what they want."
They are trying to plan now to make up for the lack of planning in the past, and the State is willing to jeopardize delta farming, and destroy vital wildlife habitat to chase Brown's tunnel plans, rather than simply rework the States aquaduct system, and establish systems designed to capture more rain water throughout the State.
The plan is nothing new. Brown pushed for a massive delta makeover back during his first stint as governor in the 1970s and 1980s.
Some observers are saying that as far as Brown is concerned, the tunnels project is inevitable. There is an environmental review, but it is being pushed through to simply be used to justify the project.
Through October, the project officially is in a period of public comment on the environmental impact of the tunnels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which opposed an earlier version of the project, also must still weigh in.
The plan to acquire the land needed by the State is planned to be put into motion in a way similar to the sustainable development conservation seizures of private property, giving landowners 30 days to consider and negotiate a one-time state offer, while officials simultaneously prepare to take the land by forced sale if owners decline to sell.
"All transactions are conducted, reviewed and approved internally by DCE (Delta Conveyance Enterprise, a private contractor group brought in to establish the tunnels) staff and managers to maintain control and avoid unnecessary delays to schedule," the property plan outlines. "DCE shall seek to minimize external review and approval requirements."
Government has made plans, and California better put up or shut up. . . or at least that is Governor Brown's attitude.
Some observers are saying that as far as Brown is concerned, the tunnels project is inevitable. There is an environmental review, but it is being pushed through to simply be used to justify the project.
Through October, the project officially is in a period of public comment on the environmental impact of the tunnels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which opposed an earlier version of the project, also must still weigh in.
The plan to acquire the land needed by the State is planned to be put into motion in a way similar to the sustainable development conservation seizures of private property, giving landowners 30 days to consider and negotiate a one-time state offer, while officials simultaneously prepare to take the land by forced sale if owners decline to sell.
"All transactions are conducted, reviewed and approved internally by DCE (Delta Conveyance Enterprise, a private contractor group brought in to establish the tunnels) staff and managers to maintain control and avoid unnecessary delays to schedule," the property plan outlines. "DCE shall seek to minimize external review and approval requirements."
Government has made plans, and California better put up or shut up. . . or at least that is Governor Brown's attitude.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
Records: California Plans Taking Land for Huge Water Tunnels - Associated Press
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