Water Restrictions in Sea Cliff
Lawsuit Could Expand Water Restrictions in Sea Cliff
Environmental laws are never without their intricacy and, oftentimes, controversy. Citing the mandates of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), a nonprofit activist group has filed a lawsuit in regard to the distribution of water in San Francisco.
The organization claims the effect of the Hetch Hetchy Valley Reservoir on salmon populations violates the ESA. This situation could lead to a number of new water restrictions placed on the Bay Area.
In the Interest of Fairness
Signed into law in the early 1970s by Richard Nixon, the Endangered Species Act sought to restore much of the wildlife that was being put at risk by continued development of U.S. cities. One of the primary stipulations of the law concerns water usage and distribution.
Though many organisms have been successfully removed from the list of endangered species, the ESA has not been without its share of controversy and criticism. The Act has led to restrictions that affect California farmers. The lawsuit alleges the Hetch Hetchy Valley Reservoir violates those same water restrictions.
Controversy Over the Hetch Hetchy Valley Reservoir
The reservoir provides water to the nearly 3 million citizens of San Francisco. The lawsuit claims local endangered species of salmon are under threat due to the increased salinity as a result of diverted water. According to The Fresno Bee, this area has been a point of contention for many years now.
While it seems the Center for Environmental Science, the group filing the lawsuit, has the interests of the environment at the forefront, other experts aren’t as convinced, as SFGate reports. The Center for Biological Diversity, in particular, isn’t buying the legitimacy of the lawsuit.
Referring to the group as “shadowy” and un-environmental, the executive director of the Center for Biological Diversity has pointed to previous lawsuits that follow a similar pattern and seem to be attempts at demonstrating the extremities of environmental regulations.
Should the lawsuit pan out in favor of the Center for Environmental Science, it’s clear that water distribution in San Francisco might undergo some serious changes.
Water Damage Services in San Francisco
For homeowners who have recently experienced a flood, regulations concerning the local reservoirs might be the last topic on their mind. Water damage can cause obscene amounts of destruction, and it’s usually indicative of a larger problem. If you’ve recently had a flood in the home and are in need of water-damage remediation services, call Allied Restoration Company at 415-529-5637 to get in touch with our Sea Cliff flood-repair specialists.