Steve Evans, Wild Rivers Consultant for Friends of the River
In mid-March, The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board of Directors affirmed its support for state Wild & Scenic River protection for the Mokelumne River. Although the utility has supported protection of the river in the past, the new resolution specifically urges the California Legislature and Governor Jerry Brown to pass and sign legislation to protect 35 miles of the river in Amador and Calaveras Counties in the Sierra Nevada foothills.
An EBMUD resolution adopted last year supported state legislation to protect the river but the utility's support was contingent on the approval of other "stakeholders" in the watershed, including Amador County and local water agencies, which have fanatically opposed legislative protection of the river. Because EBMUD delivers water from the Mokelumne to 2.4 million ratepayers in the east Bay Area, the utility should have a strong interest in maintaining the river's water quality and to preventing inappropriate development.
EBMUD's newly clarified support for Mokelumne River protection proves that elections have consequences. The revised support resolution was championed by newly elected EBMUD Board member Marguerite Young, who unseated former Board member Katy Foulkes in last year's November election. A key issue in the election was Foulke's tepid support for river protection. Young's effort to improve the utility's position on protecting the source of its water supply was ably supported by EBMUD Board member Doug Linney. EBMUD ratepayers can thank both Young and Linney for leadership by sending them an email at
The new resolution unanimously adopted by the EBMUD Board may revive the possibility for introduction of a Mokelumne Wild & Scenic River bill in the current session of the California Legislature. Senator Loni Hancock championed a bill to protect 37 miles of the Mokelumne last year and successfully shepherded it through the Senate and the Assembly Natural Resources Committee, only to have the bill stalled without a vote in Assembly Appropriations, at the insistence of Assemblymember Frank Bigelow.
Meanwhile, Assemblymember Bigelow and opponents of protecting the Mokelumne River have not been idle. Bigelow introduced A.B. 142 earlier this year, which directs California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird to study the Mokelumne River, determine its suitability or non-suitability for Wild & Scenic protection, and report back to the Legislature. Because it provides no deadline for completion of the study, A.B. 142 is widely regarded as little more than a delaying tactic and a clumsy green-washing attempt by Assemblymember Bigelow, who has many Sierra foothill constituents who strongly support protection of the river. Because of this, Friends of the River and more than 50 local, regional, statewide, and national conservation organizations oppose A.B. 142. The Assembly Natural Resources Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the bill on March 23.