In February, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, an agency known for its destruction of scores of California fisheries over the past five decades, began to sign contracts with about 200 water districts in the Central Valley. By doing this, the federal agency effectively announced its decision to perpetuate California’s fish and water problems for decades.

Rather than heeding the pleas of fishermen, Indian tribes and environmental organizations to slow down the process so that the environmental impacts of these contracts could be properly reviewed with full public input, the Bush administration decided to proceed with a process that serves the Westland’s Water District and other corporate water kings rather than the public trust.

Mid-Pacific Regional Director Kirk Rodgers gushed effusively about the signing of the contracts, “The results will bring continued stability to one of California’s biggest industries – agriculture – and provide our growing cities, industries and businesses with the water they need for tomorrow.”

In light of the Delta food chain crash and declining Central Valley fisheries. Rodgers’ quote is very revealing. The only “stability” that will result from these contracts is extinction! For his dedication to the continued plunder of our fisheries, Rodgers and the Bush administration receive the “coveted” “Contracts for Extinction” award.

Speaking of federal agencies, NOAA Fisheries – aptly nicknamed “No Fisheries” by Zeke Grader of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations - on June 16 issued its final policy for considering hatchery salmon in making Endangered Species Act listing determinations, putting 131 strains of hatchery fish under the same protection as their wild "cousins."’

By combining hatchery and wild fish under the same umbrella, the federal government in fact took the burden off the destroyers of fish and wildlife – agribusiness, the timber industry and water developers – and put it on recreational, commercial and tribal fishermen. For making this politically pressured decision aimed to destroy wild salmon populations, NOAA Fisheries wins the “See One Fish, You’ve Seen Them All” award.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger added anglers and conservationists to his growing list of enemies when he pulled one of the most despicable public relation stunts of the year by declaring July “Wild Salmon Month” in California. "During July, we celebrate California Wild King Salmon Month to raise awareness about this locally caught fish,” proclaimed the “Governator.”

Yet just 10 days later, with not one bit of irony, the Governor slashed the budget for salmon and steelhead conservation and restoration grants by half - $ 4 million out of $8 million! The impact of the cut to salmon and steelhead restoration is much worse than just the state money lost because the funds would have matched anticipated federal funding. By slashing these and other badly needed fish and wildlife programs out of the California Department of Fish and Game budget, the Governor gets the “Dead, Stinking, Rotting Wild Salmon” of the year award!

For over 10 years, the Alameda Creek Alliance and other conservation organizations have been trying to restore the steelhead and king salmon populations of Alameda Creek. However, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) has lobbied against listing Alameda Creek trout, including landlocked populations of steelhead/rainbow trout behind Calaveras and San Antonio Dams that they operate, despite compelling genetic evidence that these fish are descendants of wild steelhead.

As a result of their lobbying, the National Marine Fisheries Service under the Bush administration excluded Alameda Creek steelhead above the dams from federal protection. According to Jeff Miller of the alliance, this decision is biologically unjustified since it arbitrarily divides steelhead populations, listing only adult anadromous fish yet excluding trout below dams that can interbreed with migratory steelhead and even juvenile trout that are the offspring of steelhead. For joining forces with NOAA Fisheries rather than working with the ACA and other fish restoration groups, the SFPUC gets the “Fishy Smelling Bedfellows” award!

Probably the most poorly timed legislation last year was HR 3691, the Central Valley Project “Reform” Act of 2005, sponsored by Devin Nunes, R-Tulare. This bill would have gutted the Central Valley Project Improvement Act of 1992 and overruled a court mandate to restore the San Joaquin River. The spring salmon run on the San Joaquin River was exterminated after Friant Dam dewatered the San Joaquin below Millerton Reservoir in the late 1940s.

Nunes had the gall to introduce this bill at a time when state and federal scientists were documenting and studying a crash of Delta smelt, threadfin shad, longfin smelt, juvenile striped bass and copepods in the Delta. Nunes gets the “Kill The Delta” award. Fortunately, a broad coalition of fisheries groups, including the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) and Recreational Alliance (RFA), came to the rescue and stopped this bill from going forward.

But Nunes, Schwarzenegger and these federal agencies, although they did a lot to destroy our fisheries, had tough competition in these awards from Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA) and Representative Jim Gibbons (R-NV) These two corporate-owned politicians sponsored an atrocious provision in a House-Senate reconciliation bill that would have sold off millions of acres of our public lands to mining and other companies.

A campaign by 750 sportsmen’s and conservation groups defeated the legislation on December 14. For their attempt to sell off the public trust lands, Pombo and Gibbons get the “Enviro-Thug Team” of the year award.

Now we go to an award that only Pombo wins – and won’t share with Gibbons or anybody else. Since being elected as Congressman, this scion of a wealthy developer family, who poses as a “Western rancher” wearing a cowboy hat, has dedicated his tenure to the destruction of the Endangered Species Act, in spite of its successes in restoring endangered species.

This law has served as the last resort to protect salmon, steelhead and other fish on the brink of extinction. Yet Pombo, in a typical display of extremist rhetoric, has blasted supporters of fish and wildlife restoration as the "eco-federal conspiracy of crypto-communist environmental regulations makers.”

The evil darling of the “‘wise use” movement and “property rights” extremists, Pombo and his buddies in Congress passed HR 3824, the deceptively titled “Threatened and Endangered Species Act,” through the House this fall. The vote was close, passing by only one vote, so it is hoped the legislation will be thwarted in the Senate.

For his dedication to the destruction of the fisheries of California and the nation, Pombo receives the 20th annual “Cold, Dead Fish” award. Hopefully, Pombo will be defeated and sent packing in the upcoming Congressional election!

Note: Retired Congressman Pete McClosky has announced his intention to run against Pombo saying "Pombo has lost sight of the true principals of the Republican party."

More articles by Dan Bacher