Passage of Bills Mark a New Era for California’s Delta

Sacramento, California — November 4, 2009 — The Nature Conservancy today released the following statement from Leo Winternitz, Delta project director for The Nature Conservancy in California:

“After decades of research and discussion, California’s leaders have reached consensus on a solution to address California’s water crisis. These six pieces of legislation mark a new era to rebuild a healthy Delta and provide for sustainable water management in California. The Nature Conservancy commends the legislature for seizing this historic opportunity and jointly agreeing that the status quo, which threatens the ability for all Californians to thrive, must end.

“In addition to establishing a much needed governance structure in the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, the bond proposal, which will go before voters next November, will set aside $3.2 billion dollars toward environmental conservation and restoration projects throughout the state, $1.5 billion of which will be used for ecosystem restoration in the Delta.

“With the impacts of climate change, a rapidly growing population and a Delta ecosystem on the brink of collapse, this move couldn’t have come at a more critical time.”

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.