I find it amazing just how often Ahnuld is held up as the Green governor example for all to see. Well, maybe in comparison to some that might be the case. However, I would like the rest of the world to see what one California thinks of T3. The author of this is the editor of a West Coast magazine dedicated to fishing. I just recieved a press release in my email.

Schwarzenegger Easily Wins 2007 Cold, Dead Fish Award

by Dan Bacher

There is no doubt that 2007 was a rough year for California and West Coast fisheries. We annually “honor” those individuals, government agencies and corporations that went out of their way to destroy our fisheries and erode our fishing rights with the “Cold, Dead Fish” awards.

<snip>

Atlhough a lot of people, organizations, agencies did “stellar” jobs in destroying our fisheries, one man has surpassed every one else in his goal to take away our fishing rights and destroy the California Delta and other fisheries – Governor Arnold “Fish Terminator” Schwarzenegger. While the mainstream media portrays Schwarzenegger as the “Green Governor” for his grandstanding about climate change at the United Nations and elsewhere, his administration has been an unparalleled disaster for fish and the environment. Among some of his many attacks on our fisheries are the following examples:

• Under his “leadership,” the Delta fishery has declined to the lowest levels as state water exports have risen dramatically. Four pelagic (open water) species, delta smelt, longfin smelt, juvenile striped bass, and threadfin shad, continue to hover near the edge of extinction.

• His appointees on the Central Valley Water Control Board have consistently voted against holding agricultural polluters to the same standards that industry and municipalities are required to observe.

• He has made the DFG into an agency joined at the hip with the Department of Water Resources (DWR), the agency responsible for much of the destruction of Delta and Central Valley fisheries.

• His abysmal leadership resulted in the state opting to appeal a decision by Alameda County Court Judge Frank Roesch requiring the DFG to get in incidental take permit from DWR for killing Delta smelt, winter run chinook and spring run chinook in the Delta pumps.

• While doing everything he can to serve corporate agribusiness in the destruction of Central Valley and Delta fisheries, Schwarzenegger has fast-tracked the MLPA process, resulting in the creation of draconian no fishing zones on the Central Coast that went into effect on September 20. This was done even though huge de-facto no fishing zones instituted by PFMC regulations are already in place.

These are all disasters in and of themselves, but it is Schwarzenegger’s decision to build the peripheral canal and new dams to export more Delta water south the crown jewel of his “environmental” policy that has most outraged anglers and conservationists.

Since June 14, 2007, Schwarzenegger has relentlessly campaigned for the canal and the Temperance Flats and Sites reservoirs to expand the capacity of the Delta pumping infrastructure. On September 11, Schwarzenegger convened a special legislative session to push his $9 billion water bond proposal to build a peripheral canal and more dams.

Fortunately, strong opposition to his proposal by a wide ranging coalition of environmental, fishing and farming groups and the Winnemem Wintu Tribe – and their support for the more environmentally sane water bond sponsored by Senate Pro Temp Don Perata - has prevented Schwarzenegger to date from ramming his “bailout for water contractors” bond measure through the State Legislature.

For all of his efforts to destroy California fisheries, Schwarzenegger, the worst governor for fish and the environment in California history, receives the highly “coveted” “Cold, Dead Fish” Award for 2007!

Technorati Tags: