Published June 30, 1999

Sutter joins wild, scenic
fight Supervisors OK funds for lobbying effort

Harold Kruger
Appeal-Democrat

Sutter County supervisors went on the political warpath Tuesday night, attacking the South Yuba River Citizens League and allocating $10,000 to defeat the Yuba River wild-and-scenic bill. Without comment, they agreed to contribute the money to the Northern California Water Association, which opposes SB 496. 

The bill designates a 39-mile stretch of the river's south fork wild and scenic, barring dam construction.


"It has been apparent that we are fighting well-organized group with significant philosophical and political support in
Sacramento," County Administrator Larry Combs said in a memo to supervisors.

"This group is ignoring, downplaying or not understanding the potential flood
threat to Sutter County and Yuba County, as well as other areas." The Water
Association, which represents agricultural water interests in the Sacramento Valley,
"will have to conduct a significant public information and education campaign, both in the Legislature and in the public arena,"
Combs wrote. "This is obviously beyond NCWA's normal budget and is of
significant benefit to Sutter County."  Supervisors also approved a letter to Calfed opposing SYRCL's efforts to
obtain a $216,500 grant to conduct its own flood control study of the Yuba River.

Yuba County interests also oppose SYRCL. A Calfed committee put the proposal on hold earlier this month due to
the opposition. It may be considered again next month.

In their letter, the Sutter supervisors said their county "was not consulted during preparation of this study and is not even
mentioned as one of the 'stakeholder' groups that would be involved with the study." The SYRCL proposal is in
reaction to the Yuba County Water Agency's ongoing flood control study.

"At best, the result of this (SYRCL) study would be two politically polarized views, instead of consensus, which will likely
result in no action being taken," the Sutter County letter said.

"Not only does that mean the potential waste of almost a million dollars
($700,000 for the Yuba County Water Agency study and $216,000 for the
proposed study), but more importantly to Sutter County, the risk of flooding from
the Yuba River would remain." The supervisors' letter said that "measures
must be taken to enhance flood protection on the Yuba River. Anything which would
unduly delay the development and implementation of such measures, or lead
to a political stalemate which results in nothing being done, is unacceptable."