Reply #4: You know, most people are not realistic

[malakai2]

They do correctly identify the problems-the dams, agricultural diversion, overfishing, and climate change-but when it comes to solutions reality goes out the window. Those dams are not coming down. Electrical demand and agricultural interests will see to that. Even if by some miracle a few of those dams did fail, the buildup of communities and economies based on what those structures provide would dictate that people with some astronomical pay grades order them rebuilt. I imagine fishing curtailments are about as much as we'll see, but just like in California now, the industry will not agree to meaningful cuts until severe and lasting damage leaves them with no other option, or until they can be scapegoated for other problems (water temps, delta water system, etc.). Removing the relatively few sea lions that have set up shop below the dam may make change the returns somewhat, but are we to believe that 1) those individuals are the primary cause for declines in those runs, and 2) other individuals won't set up shop in the same food-rich area that was so attractive to the animals currently occupying the dam outflow?

I'm at the point now where I feel if we aren't going to make an honest effort to do something correctly, we shouldn't throw money into an effort we know is going to fail. For instance, we know flow alterations and physical barriers are the problem in this case...if we aren't going to address those issues, and we aren't, what are we trying to accomplish?