Pombo moves on fish crisis in the Delta

By Mike Taugher
Thursday, August 25, 2005

A congressional hearing to explore the possible causes of an ecological crisis in the Delta is likely to be scheduled this fall, Rep. Richard Pombo told the Times editorial board on Wednesday.

The Tracy Republican said he wants to hear more about what might be causing the fish decline and why, after $250 million in federal money and far more than that in state funds, the Delta's environmental problems have worsened.

"I think there will be a lot of questions about whether the money has done any good," Pombo said.

In his first public comments on the Delta fish crisis, Pombo said the situation has the potential to constrict water supplies throughout the state.

"When you talk about fish in the Delta, that affects everybody north of the Delta and south of the Delta," he said.

Pombo, the chairman of the House Resources Committee, wields considerable influence over water operations in the Delta and enforcement of wildlife protection laws.

Last year, he and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, ushered through legislation that clears the way for more federal money to go to CalFed, the multibillion-dollar state and federal program meant to increase California water supplies and improve environmental conditions in the Delta.

That program has come under fire this year from state lawmakers over its failure to secure long-term revenues from water users, and from others, including Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, for its inadequate response to the crash of several Delta open-water species.

But Pombo, like other key policy-makers, said he is convinced CalFed is essential to the stability of California's water supply picture and should remain in some form. He predicted the program would see increases in its federal budget in coming years.

Still, he said serious questions are being raised about how the fish crisis developed after so much money and effort was devoted to the Delta environment.

Scientists earlier this year confirmed that, for unexplained reasons, several species of open-water fish and zooplankton species have declined rapidly over the past three years.

A $2 million scientific investigation is under way to try to narrow down the list of possible causes. For now, scientists say the culprit likely falls within three broad categories: water diversions out of the Delta; toxic contaminants; invasive species or some combination of factors.

One tantalizing clue is the decline of a key food source of all the fish in decline, a speck-sized copepod that has fallen to very low population levels. No one knows what has caused that decline.

Pombo said Wednesday he has not heard any more specific explanations from scientists.

In July, Miller wrote to Pombo requesting he convene a hearing to try to get answers to four questions: What is causing the crisis? Why did policy-makers learn of the issue only after it was reported in the Times? Is CalFed capable of responding to the problem? Can federal agencies ensure they are not making it worse?

That final question involves a report by a federal inspector general that found changes to a document meant to protect endangered species of salmon and steelhead were irregular.

Pombo, who said there were discussions about a possible hearing before Miller's letter was sent, said it would be preferable to conduct the hearing near the Delta rather than in Washington, D.C.

Mike Taugher covers the environment and energy. Reach him at 925-943-8257 or mtaugher@cctimes.com.

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