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California tribe sues over federal water plan
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
The unrecognized Winnemen Wintu Tribe joined environmentalists and fishermen in filing a lawsuit on Tuesday that challenges a federal water plan in California.
The tribe and its allies say the approval of an October 2004 biological opinion endangers salmon in central California. The plan diverts water to cities and farms in southern California.
A first draft of the opinion said the salmon would face harm. But the final version concluded there would be "no jeopardy" to several endangered species of fish.
"Our brothers, the salmon, are already listed as endangered and threatened due to the dams and their operating procedures," said Gary Mulcahy of the Winnemem Wintu. "This is not just a question of just water, and fish. It is the basic question of life itself. We ask, how much more ‘no jeopardy’ can the salmon withstand?"
Separately, the tribe is challenging a proposal to raise the water levels at Shasta Dam. The tribe says sacred sites will be flooded and destroyed.
Get the Story:
U.S. charged with approving water plan that endangers threatened fish
(AP 8/10)
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Press Release: Politics Trumps Science in California Water Management (Earthjustice 8/9)
Relevant Links:
Winnemum Wintu Tribe -
http://www.winnememwintu.us
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Winnemem Wintu Tribe goes to war for sacred
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Wintu Tribe's ceremony will
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