** Trump, Bernhardt announce plan to drain San Francisco Bay Delta
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Wednesday, February 19, 2020
The endangered Delta Smelt, threatened by Trump's order to be signed today in California | Peter Johnson, USFWS ([link removed])

President Trump is expected to sign a ceremonial order in California today ([link removed]) , lowering water levels ([link removed]) in the San Francisco Bay Delta. The order will direct more of the state’s water to agricultural regions of the state, including Westlands Water District, the largest former client ([link removed]) of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.

The move goes against the advice of Interior Department scientists ([link removed]) , who found that the rule changes would harm species in the Delta. The move will harm endangered fish such as the delta smelt ([link removed]) and winter-run salmon.

Trump’s visit to California comes on the heels of Interior Secretary Berhardt’s visit to a major water forum in Tulare County ([link removed]) with California Rep. Devin Nunes, where some local press organizations were denied entry. Bernhardt’s work in California has long been criticized, especially following anInterior proposal to award a large federal contract ([link removed]) to one of Bernhardt’s former lobbying clients.
Quick hits


** Utah governor and Moab mayor oppose Sand Flats drilling
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | Deseret News ([link removed]) | Fox News ([link removed]) | Moab Times-Independ ([link removed]) ent ([link removed])


** BLM to pay for 11,000 miles of fuel breaks across the West in untested experiment
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The Oregonian ([link removed])


** Colorado County to BLM: Don’t rush Glenwood quarry study
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Aspen Times ([link removed])


** Oil and gas politics override public in federal land-use decisions, report says
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The Daily Yonder ([link removed])


** Trump, Bernhardt announce plan to drain San Francisco Bay Delta
AP News ([link removed]) | Fresno Bee ([link removed])
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** Opinion: New Mexico needs to fully fund its environmental agencies
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Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])


** Documentary tackles public lands issues
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The Missoulian ([link removed]) | Outside ([link removed])


** Opinion: Legislators need to protect public lands for future users
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Idaho Press ([link removed])
Quote of the day
From a transparency standpoint, this is not good... From a congressional standpoint, it’s confusing, because usually members of Congress really want reporters to cover this.”
—Jordan Libowitz, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
On Bernhardt's Tulare County visit
F ([link removed]) resno Bee ([link removed])
Picture this


** @i ([link removed]) nterior ([link removed])
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Windy days create beautiful wavelets at Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge #Nevada ([link removed])

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