Restore Hetch Hetchy & David Brower Center Announce ‘Water Fights’ Series on CA Water Policy

SAN FRANCISCO - Oct. 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Restore Hetch Hetchy and the David Brower Center present ‘Water Fights’ designed to enlighten the community on the past, present, and future of California’s water. Presented as part of the public programming for the Brower Center’s Art/Act: Maya Lin gallery exhibition, the two part series will be held October 23^rd and November 5^th at the Brower Center in Berkeley.

Part one, ‘Water Fights: Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the California Water Bond,’ will focus on informing voters about the controversial November ballot initiative to overhaul our state's water systems. Part two, ‘Water Fights: California Water Conflicts,’ highlights California's history of major water redistribution projects with a focus on environmental restoration.

The Brower Center’s Michael Anzalone and Restore Hetch Hetchy’s Executive Director and water policy expert, Spreck Rosekrans, will introduce the October 23^rd ‘Water Fights: Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the California Water Bond,’ featuring Central Valley farmer Stuart Woolf in discussion with the Pacific Institute’s PeterGleick, and moderated by Dave Sunding of UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources.On November 5^th, Rosekrans debates San Francisco Public Utility Commission's Michael Carlin on Hetch Hetchy Valley restoration as part of ‘California Water Conflicts,’ which focuses on past and present water debates in California. The evening also includes discussions on the restoration of Mono Lake and San Joaquin River, featuring Mono Lake Committee's Geoff McQuilkin; Natural Resources Defense Council's Monty Schmitt, and Friant Water Authority's Steve Ottemoeller.

“We look forward to presenting the ‘Water Fights’ series to keep the dialogue on water issues in California at the forefront,” said Restore Hetch Hetchy Executive Director Spreck Rosekrans. “California has been called ‘the most hydrologically altered landmass on the planet,’ and there are few more critical subjects than the future of our water policies. We invite our fellow citizens to join us for what will no doubt be lively, provocative and informative debates.”

Water Fights: Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the California Water Bond

Delta Tunnels and the $7,000,000,000 Bond

Thursday, October 23 at 7pm, RSVP (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/water-fights-california-water...)

Part one focuses on informing voters about two controversial efforts to dramatically alter our state’s water systems. Also known as the “twin tunnels,” the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) is the latest iteration of a proposal to divert water from the Sacramento River around the Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, with the aim of providing more fresh water to the California Aqueduct system. Currently in the public review phase, the BDCP has drawn a range of proponents and detractors from within the environmental community. The BDCP discussion will feature the Natural Heritage Institute’s Jerry Meral in discussion with Friends of the River’s Ron Stork, moderated by Tom Berliner, former general counsel to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Currently on the November ballot, 2014 California Water Bond will allow the state government to borrow $7.2 billion to overhaul our water system. Allocations within the complex measure include funds for water storage projects, ecosystem protection, groundwater protection, and technology solutions such as desalination – all of which elicit passionate responses from across California. This portion of the evening will feature Central Valley farmer Stuart Woolf in discussion with the Pacific Institute’s Peter Gleick, moderated by Dave Sunding of the UC Berkeley College of Natural Resources.

Water Fights: California Water Conflicts

Wednesday, November 5 at 7pm RSVP (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/water-fights-california-water...)

Part two of the Brower Center’s water-themed series focuses on past and present water debates in California, which has been called “the most hydrologically altered landmass on the planet.”  In November, the Center will take a look at California’s water history, exploring the successes and failures of three major water redistribution projects: Mono Lake, San Joaquin River, and the Hetch Hetchy Aqueduct. Special guests will include Mono Lake Committee's Geoff McQuilkin; Natural Resources Defense Council's Monty Schmitt and Friant Water Authority's Steve Ottemoeller in discussion about the San Joaquin River; and Restore Hetch Hetchy's Spreck Rosekrans and the San Francisco Public Utility Commission's Michael Carlin in discussion about Hetch Hetchy Valley.

For more information, go to the Brower Center website: http://www.browercenter.org/exhibitions/maya-lin/events#w...

ABOUT RESTORE HETCH HETCHY: The mission of Restore Hetch Hetchy is to return the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park to its natural splendor while continuing to meet the water and power needs of all communities that depend on the Tuolumne River.

ABOUT DAVID BROWER CENTER:Opened in 2009, the nonprofit David Brower Center is a vibrant community center that inspires, sustains, and brings together people committed to environmental causes and social action. The Center offers a museum-quality art gallery and myriad educational public programs, as well as stunning event facilities, conference space, and high-quality office space for nonprofits — all in the greenest building in Berkeley. It is named to honor David Brower, a Berkeley native who many consider the father of the modern environmental movement.

INTERVIEWS: We will gladly arrange interviews with Restore Hetch Hetchy Executive Director Spreck Rosekrans or the David Brower Center’s Director of Programs Michael Anzalone.

Contact:

Media Relations
Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, (424) 603-4340, melanie@mwebbcom.com
Elizabeth Johnson, mWEBB Communications, (213) 713-4865, elizabeth@mwebbcom.com