Prevent a New Dam on the San Joaquin (CA)

Posted: 09/19/2018
By: Theresa Simsiman

We need your help to protect the San Joaquin River! The proposed Temperance Flat Dam would drown an incredible river canyon that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has already recommended for Wild and Scenic River designation. Despite the enormous price tag of at least $2.6 billion, according to the Bureau of Reclamation's preferred alternative for the project, the dam would only yield 70,000 acre-feet of water per year on average. That's less than .2% of California's annual water use. The 665-foot dam would be the second highest in California, wasting billions of public dollars to destroy an amazing river gorge for a tiny drop in the bucket.

TAKE ACTION
http://bit.ly/TempFlatDam18AW

We need your help letting your Senator (for California residents Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Dianne Feinstein are priority targets) know that you value the San Joaquin and that it should be protected not dammed.

The San Joaquin River Gorge has outstanding scenery, class III-V whitewater, an extensive trail system, two public campgrounds, an environmental education center, a nature and cultural history museum, sites that are significant to area tribes, habitat for 11 sensitive, threatened, and endangered wildlife species, and the unique Millerton Cave System, perhaps the world's best example of a granite cave carved by a year-round flowing underground stream. The San Joaquin is already a river that in most years doesn't reach the sea and putting another dam on it will not help solve California's water supply issues.

Your letter voicing your support for protecting the San Joaquin will encourage your representative to help stop the Federal government from pushing through the Temperance Flat Dam. We've made it easy for you to do this here. Your letter will have more meaning and impact if you add a sentence or two (or more, if you'd like) about why the San Joaquin River is important to you.

Watch Our Film: You Can't Dam Your Way to Paradise

Theresa Simsiman

Sacramento, CA

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Associated Projects

San Joaquin (CA)

The "Big Creek" dam relicensing on the San Joaquin River is one of AW's landmark river restoration successes in California

San Joaquin River Gorge Protection

American Whitewater is working to protect the San Joaquin River Gorge and preserve and its free-flowing nature.

Associated Rivers

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