Uncovering Myths vs. Reality

The health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta has been a topic of concern for many years, but the debate over it has recently reached a fevered pitch. An aggressive misinformation campaign is promoting the myth that Delta-area sewer treatment plants – and not proven impacts, such as water pumps – are hurting delta fish. This well-funded misinformation campaign is motivated to divert attention from proven impacts in order to place the financial burden of developing new infrastructure – to move water south – on the Sacramento region’s ratepayers.

In fact, SRCSD and its wastewater treatment plant meet all regulatory and water quality requirements at an exceptionally high rate of compliance, including USEPA aquatic life criteria for ammonia in the Sacramento River. The preliminary studies conducted so far on ammonia’s impact on the Delta’s ecosystem have generally been inconclusive; however, their limited findings continue to be stretched into overly broad and indefensible conclusions about ammonia’s impact on the Delta ecosystem.

The fact that we do not yet have the answers we need to make sound decisions on this issue was confirmed by a panel of national, independent experts convened by CalFed in March 2009. After reviewing existing data, and hearing significant input from stakeholders, the expert panel stated that no clear conclusions can be drawn about ammonia’s impact on the Delta ecosystem. Furthermore, compelling evidence suggests other known factors caused by humans — such as water exports and invasive clams — are more significant drivers affecting the Delta ecosystem.

The most significant recommendation made by the independent CalFed panel was that a comprehensive, integrated model must be developed to evaluate the various potential stressors affecting the Delta ecosystem. These stressors include water exports, urbanization, storm water runoff, residential and agricultural pesticide use and invasive species. Prudent policy and fiscal management dictate the largest Delta impacts be tackled first. Without a full understanding of these stressors and their degree of impact on the Delta, millions more dollars will be spent on “solutions” that will not fix the problem.

SRCSD has worked for years to be part of the process of finding a Delta solution based on sound science, and we will support whatever conclusion such science determines necessary. Though ammonia may be a factor in the shift of the Delta over time, much more scientific data is needed before conclusions can be drawn regarding the role, if any, ammonia has played in the Delta’s decline and how it compares to other documented Delta stressors.

Unfortunately, a rational examination of the facts has been replaced by special interest propaganda and misinformation abounds. We are concerned that overly simplistic analyses and political rhetoric are driving Delta policy decisions more than sound science. Too much is at stake for the environment, California residents and Sacramento ratepayers.