[BCNnet] BCNnet: Action Alert - Pacific Flyway Protection
Birdchris@aol.com
Birdchris@aol.com
Sat, 30 Aug 2003 12:35:05 EDT
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Making a call to tIllinois' Senators on Monday will help protect an importan=
t=20
stop-over on the Pacific Flyway.
Christine Williamson
Chicago/Cook
birdchris
ALERT! Issued by the Sierra Club Colorado River Task Force
Please distribute widely
Don't let the Bush Administration Damage the Pacific Flyway
ISSUE: Operation of the Yuma Desalting Plant in southern Arizona will destro=
y=20
the largest remaining wetland in the Colorado River delta in Mexico. This=20
wetland, La Ci=E9nega de Santa Clara is a major stopover on the Pacific Flyw=
ay and=20
its loss will significantly affect the entire Flyway. The Energy and Water=20
Appropriations Bill, S 1424, is before the Senate and could come to a vote a=
s=20
soon as this week. The House of Representatives has already passed the compa=
nion=20
bill. The United States Senate may be the best chance to protect one of the=20
last remaining refuges for migrating birds and many endangered, threatened,=20=
and=20
declining species clinging to life in the Colorado River delta in Mexico.
BACKGROUND: 50,000 acres of cattail wetland - the Ci=E9nega de Santa Clara -=
is=20
the largest remnant wetland in the once vast Colorado river delta, and today=
=20
supports at least 56 varieties of birds and fish threatened with extinction=20=
or=20
in decline. Six thousand Yuma Clapper Rails, amounting to 80% of the entire=20
population of this cross-border species, designated endangered by the United=
=20
States, resides in the Ci=E9nega. As a major stopover along the Pacific Flyw=
ay,=20
every year the Ci=E9nega hosts flocks of birds, some migrating the length of=
the=20
Americas. It is the major wetland in an area designated a United Nations=20
Biosphere Reserve for its ecological importance and is a Ramsar site, under=20=
the=20
international Convention on Wetlands.
The Senate will shortly consider authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to=20
start up its Yuma Desalting Plant in Arizona across the border from the Ci=
=E9nega.=20
The purpose of the Yuma Desalter is to filter waste irrigation water from=20
nearby farms, but operating the plant will replace the brackish runoff water=
that=20
now sustains the Ci=E9nega with concentrated brine. Studies funded by the BO=
R as=20
long ago as 1993 show that the wetland vegetation would not survive the=20
increased salinity.
This plant has only operated for three months, when construction was=20
completed 11 years ago, because it was too expensive to run. Now drought and=
the=20
failure of California to resolve its overuse of Colorado River water are the=
=20
excuses to restart the plant, yet there are cheaper alternatives, proposed y=
ears ago=20
by the Department of the Interior, which could preserve the Ci=E9nega. Among=
=20
them are simply buying needed water from farmers willing to sell, and more=20
aggressive water conservation programs in southern California cities and Pho=
enix.=20
The federal taxpayer would save tens of millions of dollars annually by=20
permanently retiring the Yuma Desalting Plant.
The government's own studies show that operating the Yuma Desalting Plant=20
would destroy the Ci=E9nega. The amount of water that flows to the wetland i=
s less=20
than 1% of the annual flow of the Colorado River, but it's life itself for t=
he=20
Ci=E9nega.
MESSAGE: The Yuma Desalting Plant would destroy the largest wetland in the=20
United Nations Biosphere in northern Mexico and a major stopover on the Paci=
fic=20
Flyway. Scientists who study the Pacific Flyway say that the loss of the=20
Ci=E9nega would, at minimum, significantly affect the Flyway. In the U.S, an=
d Canada=20
the decrease in bird migration will affect the ecology of northern Californi=
a,=20
Oregon Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. Furthermore, the Yuma=20
Desalting Plant is the most expensive alternative for obtaining a relatively=
small=20
amount of water. Millions of dollars could be saved annually by purchasing=20
water from willing agricultural sellers.
ACTION NEEDED:=A0 If your Senator is listed below, contact him or her=20
immediately, preferably by Tuesday, September 2, or as soon thereafter, as p=
ossible, by=20
email or telephone. Request their opposition to restarting the Yuma Desaltin=
g=20
Plant authorized in S. 1424, the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill.=20
Although the Senate is expected to vote on the bill soon after it reconvenes=
, the=20
vote could be anytime between September 2nd and early October. If you read t=
his=20
after Tuesday, September 2, you can check on the status of the bill at=20
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app04.html and you can check the floor cal=
endar by=20
clicking on "Floor Calendar on the right side of the page at=20
http://www.senate.gov/
Illinois
(202) 224-2152; E-mail: dick@durbin.senate.gov
Fitzgerald (202) 224-2854; Web Form:=20
fitzgerald.senate.gov/contact/contact_email.htm
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<HTML><FONT FACE=3Darial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"=
Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0">Making a call to tIllinois' Senators on Monday w=
ill help protect an important stop-over on the Pacific Flyway.<BR>
<BR>
Christine Williamson<BR>
Chicago/Cook<BR>
birdchris</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff"=
SIZE=3D4 FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
ALERT! Issued by the Sierra Club Colorado River Task Force</FONT><FONT COLO=
R=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SANSSER=
IF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3=
FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0">Please distribute wide=
ly</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=
=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D4=
FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3=
FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D4=
FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0">Don't let the Bush Adm=
inistration Damage the Pacific Flyway<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3=
FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0">ISSUE: Operation of th=
e Yuma Desalting Plant in southern Arizona will destroy the largest remainin=
g wetland in the Colorado River delta in Mexico. This wetland, La Ci=E9nega=20=
de Santa Clara is a major stopover on the Pacific Flyway and its loss will s=
ignificantly affect the entire Flyway. The Energy and Water Appropriations B=
ill, S 1424, is before the Senate and could come to a vote as soon as this w=
eek. The House of Representatives has already passed the companion bill. The=
United States Senate may be the best chance to protect one of the last rema=
ining refuges for migrating birds and many endangered, threatened, and decli=
ning species clinging to life in the Colorado River delta in Mexico.<BR>
<BR>
BACKGROUND: 50,000 acres of cattail wetland - the Ci=E9nega de Santa Clara -=
is the largest remnant wetland in the once vast Colorado river delta, and t=
oday supports at least 56 varieties of birds and fish threatened with extinc=
tion or in decline. Six thousand Yuma Clapper Rails, amounting to 80% of the=
entire population of this cross-border species, designated endangered by th=
e United States, resides in the Ci=E9nega. As a major stopover along the Pac=
ific Flyway, every year the Ci=E9nega hosts flocks of birds, some migrating=20=
the length of the Americas. It is the major wetland in an area designated a=20=
United Nations Biosphere Reserve for its ecological importance and is a Rams=
ar site, under the international Convention on Wetlands.<BR>
<BR>
The Senate will shortly consider authorizing the Bureau of Reclamation to st=
art up its Yuma Desalting Plant in Arizona across the border from the Ci=E9n=
ega. The purpose of the Yuma Desalter is to filter waste irrigation water fr=
om nearby farms, but operating the plant will replace the brackish runoff wa=
ter that now sustains the Ci=E9nega with concentrated brine. Studies funded=20=
by the BOR as long ago as 1993 show that the wetland vegetation would not su=
rvive the increased salinity.<BR>
<BR>
This plant has only operated for three months, when construction was complet=
ed 11 years ago, because it was too expensive to run. Now drought and the fa=
ilure of California to resolve its overuse of Colorado River water are the e=
xcuses to restart the plant, yet there are cheaper alternatives, proposed ye=
ars ago by the Department of the Interior, which could preserve the Ci=E9neg=
a. Among them are simply buying needed water from farmers willing to sell, a=
nd more aggressive water conservation programs in southern California cities=
and Phoenix. The federal taxpayer would save tens of millions of dollars an=
nually by permanently retiring the Yuma Desalting Plant.<BR>
<BR>
The government's own studies show that operating the Yuma Desalting Plant wo=
uld destroy the Ci=E9nega. The amount of water that flows to the wetland is=20=
less than 1% of the annual flow of the Colorado River, but it's life itself=20=
for the Ci=E9nega.<BR>
<BR>
MESSAGE: The Yuma Desalting Plant would destroy the largest wetland in the U=
nited Nations Biosphere in northern Mexico and a major stopover on the Pacif=
ic Flyway. Scientists who study the Pacific Flyway say that the loss of the=20=
Ci=E9nega would, at minimum, significantly affect the Flyway. In the U.S, an=
d Canada the decrease in bird migration will affect the ecology of northern=20=
California, Oregon Washington, Alaska, and British Columbia. Furthermore, th=
e Yuma Desalting Plant is the most expensive alternative for obtaining a rel=
atively small amount of water. Millions of dollars could be saved annually b=
y purchasing water from willing agricultural sellers.<BR>
<BR>
ACTION NEEDED:=A0 If your Senator is listed below, contact him or her immedi=
ately, preferably by Tuesday, September 2, or as soon thereafter, as possibl=
e, by email or telephone. Request their opposition to restarting the Yuma De=
salting Plant authorized in S. 1424, the Energy and Water Appropriations Bil=
l. Although the Senate is expected to vote on the bill soon after it reconve=
nes, the vote could be anytime between September 2nd and early October. If y=
ou read this after Tuesday, September 2, you can check on the status of the=20=
bill at<U> http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app04.html</U> and you can chec=
k the floor calendar by clicking on "Floor Calendar on the right side of the=
page at<U> http://www.senate.gov/</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"B=
ACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=
=3D"0"></U><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3=
FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0"><U><BR>
<BR>
</U>Illinois<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3=
FAMILY=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0">(202) 224-2152; E-mail:<U> d=
ick@durbin.senate.gov<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3=
FAMILY=3D"SERIF" FACE=3D"Times New Roman" LANG=3D"0"></U>Fitzgerald</FONT><=
FONT COLOR=3D"#000000" style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3D3 FAMILY=
=3D"SANSSERIF" FACE=3D"Arial" LANG=3D"0"> (202) 224-2854; Web Form: fitzgera=
ld.senate.gov/contact/contact_email.htm<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT></HTML>
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