Fresno, CA (June 11, 2009) On Thursday, June 11, Councilmember Henry T. Perea and the Fresno City Council voted to support and join in potential suits filed against the National Marine Fisheries Service. The decision was made in response to a study released that proposed new rules that would cut water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by 10%. A cut this drastic could lead to a 6,000 acre-ft (or the equivalent supply of 6,500-7,000 families) reduction for the City of Fresno. Questions were raised to the validly of the study when it was released last week and the City of Fresno is now pledging to support potential lawsuits Westland’s Water District or other water users may file against the opinion.

“There has to be a balance that considers the welfare of all parties in any water allocation opinion and I do not believe these proposed cuts achieve that balance. This opinion could have a huge impact on Fresno’s economy. We, as a city, have made a decision to be proactive and protect our economy and our way of life. I fully support protecting our environment but not by destroying the farming community that has fed our families and the world for generations and not by devastating the local economy of Fresno.”
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