The SacBee reported, today, that the Corps of Engineers has issued a national policy requiring removal of all vegetation from the outside wall of all levees and anything amounting to two inches or more in height from inside levee walls....
In a stunning reversal of prior policy, the Corp says that failure to remove the vegetation will result in withholding of federal funds for flood protection. The Bee reported that the state is attempting to have the Corps exempt California from this national requirement. The major concern is that this policy will result in loss of riparian habitat for animals and will contribute to further decline in threatened fish species. All of the current vegetative growth on levees in California was previously approved by the Corps.
It would seem that this rush to force compliance is unnecessary as a group study is in process to complete a national plan, shortly. If carried out, the damage will be done even if the final policy supports vegetative cover as it will take years to recover the habitat loss.
The full article can be read at: www.sacbee.com/capolitics/story/292327.html
Think maybe there isn't a move afoot to make sure water distributors/users get what they want by eliminating any competing interests (natural or otherwise)
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