Reed Smith’s Thoughts about the Sen. Feinstein Letter
English: Dianne Feinstein http://bioguide.congress.gov/bioguide/photo/F/F000062.jpg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
November 28, 2011
The Honorable Dianne Feinstein
United States Senate
Re: Water Transfer Discussions
Thank you for taking the time to meet with the group from Modesto Irrigation District and City and County of San Francisco. It was a pleasure to talk with you and we appreciate the opportunity to brief you on our discussions regarding a potential water transfer. I especially enjoyed viewing your wonderful painting of the Hetch Hetchy Valley. Thank you for that treat and for the signed photograph to commemorate our visit.
[ CODE for we will help tear down Hetch Hetchy and return it to a granite valley. ]
As we discussed, MID and San Francisco have developed some key points for a potential sale of Tuolumne River water that San Francisco could take through its existing Hetch Hetchy pipeline facilities, . . .
[ NOT conserved water, Water not controlled by the CA WRCB ]
with the revenue for MID being used to finance necessary irrigation distribution infrastructure improvements . . .
[ NOT True. Short told everybody, including YOU that it would be used for current obligations. Now we know that his proposed 34% salary and retirement SPIKE are to be paid out if the water sale.]
. . . that also would achieve system and water use efficiencies to produce sufficient water to serve San Francisco.
[ Here is the most disgusting statement in the document. Allen Short works for the SFPUC, but MID rate payers foot the bill. ]
MID conducted a series of public outreach meetings . . .
[ NO HEARINGS HAVE BEEN HELD. NOT ONE! ]
[ These were not designed to inform the public, they were to get the public to disclose their objections to what a stupid irrational idea this was and have the public tell Short what he needs to tell the rest of the public to con them. ]
. . . to provide information about the discussions with San Francisco, and to solicit as wide a variety of opinions and comments as possible.
[ What we find is the Allen Short has spent $640,000 paid by MID to Martino Associates, who pays Mike Lynch, who pays Rubin Villalobos, who pays other people to write OpEd’s for the Bee, or come to the microphone to promote this water sale. The ONLY farmers who have supported this sale are Bill Lyons, Jr., Billy Lyons, Bob Ott, and his son, and one poor destitute share-crop farmer that farms 1,000 acres of Bill Lyons Jr.’s Mapes Ranch with free water. This is a mater of public record. ]
Attached are the final presentation materials used in those meetings.
[ I do not find the materials where Short claims he has bribed Senator Feinstein to personally interfere in the FERC relicensing of Don Pedro. We intend to find out what specific contractual activities she agreed to do for 30,000 Acre Feet of out pre-1914 water rights? ]
The meetings were very well attended. The key issues raised, as anticipated, were protecting MID water rights, making certain its customers, including the City of Modesto, are served during dry periods, and ensuring there would be no significant impact to the River or the environment.
[ MID has completely failed to account for where the water to accomplish the needs. There are NO ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP allocations in any of the pie charts. What we do find is 40,000 AF given to Bill Lyons, Jr. FOR FREE. ]
We have developed a set of “frequently asked questions” and responses, which is also attached for your information.
[ Why were these FAQs full if fraudulent statements? The MID Board has done nothing to provide truthful facts. ]
The next steps would be to complete negotiations with San Francisco and present the deal points to MID’s Board of Directors to consider initiating a small 2,200 acre foot transfer as well as a new environmental review process for a subsequent larger water transfer up to 25,000 acre-feet. We will certainly keep you apprised of any developments.
[These amounts are co-joined. This is one deal, because the SFPUC has first right of refusal on ALL THE REST. ]
As always, if you have any questions or if we can provide additional background, please contact my office.
Allen Short General Manager
Copy: Michael Carlin
Eye On Modesto 
