The Natural Resources Defense Council is winding down its San Francisco Bay-Delta program and losing two key staff attorneys as it shifts resources to protecting wetlands. Kate Poole retired this summer, and Doug Obegi is expected to leave in October. After 20 and 15 years at NRDC, respectively, the hard-charging and respected duo will leave a void in the environmental advocacy on the Delta, where anglers, farmers and cities are duking it out over a limited but precious water source. The decision was taken in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling this spring that slashed federal protections under the Clean Water Act, Drew Caputo, NRDC’s chief program officer, said in a statement.
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