The Lake Tulloch Alliance
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jack Cox (209) 785-1944
April 9, 2015
Sierra/Foothill County and Leaders Demand Protection
Of 10,000 People on Lake Tulloch – Instead of Fish Enhancement:
Two Million Fish is a Waste!
(Calaveras/Tuolumne Counties) The publicized fish flows on the Stanislaus River will only push about a dozen Steelhead fish toward the Delta at a water cost of $2 million per fish according to research findings announced today. This findings were developed by the Lake Tulloch Alliance with internationally known FishBio, a biological research firm based in Oakdale, California with offices in South East Asia.
“It is ridiculous to use 30,000 acre feet of water to impact about nine fish!” declared Jack Cox, chairman of the Lake Tulloch Alliance, a Sierra foothill conservation organization. “To spend $22 million in precious water for nine fish is beyond the pale in stupid water/environmental policy.” LTA works closely with Congressional, State Legislative and local government leaders representing the Sierra and valley.
Congressman McClintock, among other officials, has sharply criticized federal and state action that would effectively drain Lake Tulloch to a puddle and destroy the lives and economy of an entire basin. In a recent meeting with Estevan Lopez, the US Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner, in Washington, McClintock declared it would be the responsibility of the agency and State Water Board if the community was devastated by environmental policy that placed fish over people.
Lake Tulloch, home to about 10,000 people in both counties, has been threatened six weeks ago with being drained in order to meet mandated water releases to enhance the fish population. The Lake Tulloch reservoir, below New Melones Dam, capacity is 67,000 acre feet while Melones is 2.4 million acre feet. Leaders in both counties and elected officials have noted that the draining of Tulloch will destroy the local economy and sensitive ecology of the lake. The reservoir is managed by the Tri Dam Authority, an agency owned by the Oakdale and South San Joaquin Irrigation Districts.
Leaders in both Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties are demanding that State and Federal Officials protect the Sierra Foothills and specifically Lake Tulloch from being drained for the purpose of fish population enhancement. Both Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties have passed resolutions demanding this action. Recently the officials took part in the Water Crisis Forum in Copperopolis.
The Lake Tulloch Reservoir was built in 1957 by OID and SSJID and has grown over the years into a home for thousands of residents and the site of a California State Prison. The community depends entirely on the lake for its drinking water. It is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and is required to protect the ecology of the lake and is home to a variety of endangered species including Bald Eagles.
