California Paid $180 Million for Sacramento River Water to Help Salmon. Critics Say the State Got Fleeced. - Active NorCal
California spent $180 million buying Sacramento River water rights from a private investment firm to help salmon. Critics call it a really bad investment. California has been criticized by environmental groups for paying $180 million to leave water in the Sacramento River for salmon in exchange for a relatively modest amount of water tied to a Northern California farm. The Golden State Salmon Association has been particularly critical of the deal, arguing that the amount of the water does not justify the price and that it is a bad investment for the public. Environmental groups also worry that the deal could set a precedent for overcharging taxpayers as water becomes scarce. State officials argue that this is a one-time payment for water in perpetuity, not a yearly lease, that prime farmland stays in production and that the river gains a permanent source of flow for fish. The debate comes as Sacramento River Chinook returns are being watched closely following three consecutive closed seasons.
Publicerad : I går förbi Active NorCal i Environment
Spending $180 million to leave water in the Sacramento River for salmon sounds like the kind of move fishing advocates would cheer, so it says something that the loudest criticism of the deal is comin... [1621 symbols]
