A Hudson River environmental group will honor Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tomorrow in New York for his actions on climate change, despite the governor's past clashes with environmentalists on water policy in California.
Riverkeeper is presenting the governor a 2010 environmental advocacy award at its annual Fishermen's Ball, Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said.
Riverkeeper's Web site says its mission is "to protect the ecological integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries, and to safeguard the drinking water supply of New York City and the lower Hudson Valley." The group is honoring Schwarzenegger specifically for his work on climate change, according to a press contact who declined to be named for this post.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., cousin of California first lady Maria Shriver, is the Riverkeeper board's vice chairman. Kennedy and director Spike Lee are expected to present Schwarzenegger the award, McLear said.
Last year, environmentalists were both bemused and frustrated when Schwarzenegger received an award from the National Park Trust in the same year he proposed closing 220 state parks due to the deficit. Dan Bacher, editor of the Fish Sniffer, a fishing enthusiast magazine, has advocated against this latest award.
Schwarzenegger in recent years found himself on the opposite side of environmentalists when pushing for a water deal with dams and a Delta canal. He ultimately agreed to a compromise plan with lawmakers that includes money for water conservation and ecological preservation, in addition to water storage.
The governor last year complained vocally about federal court protections for the Delta smelt and fish. In an interview with Fox News last year, Schwarzenegger said federal judges had to "stop choosing the smelt and the salmon over the people and over farming."
"Governor Schwarzenegger has proven that protecting the environment and growing the economy go hand in hand," McLear said in an e-mail. "He is honored to accept this award on behalf of all Californians who have helped our state earn its reputation as a global leader in environmental protection."
Latest posts:
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.