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Afternoon update: House passes Valley water provisions; is a big Delta bill next?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 1, 2009 at 4:30 pm

From McClatchy Newspapers:

“The House on Thursday gave final approval to a $33.5 billion energy and water bill, a snap compared to a future Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta package some lawmakers now envision.

The appropriations bill easily approved Thursday funds projects throughout the Central Valley, including Delta levee studies and regional flood control. Its final passage was never in doubt, as it’s one of a dozen bills needed to run the federal government in fiscal 2010.

But even as lawmakers were approving the energy and water bill, which includes $40 million for restoration of the Delta and San Francisco Bay, they were starting to anticipate a potential new bill focused strictly on the vulnerable Bay-Delta region. If it flies, the prospective Delta legislation could literally reshape California.

“The Delta estuary has enormous national significance,” Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein reiterated Thursday, and “it is seriously at risk.”

Feinstein first revealed her intentions for a comprehensive Delta bill in a brief interview Wednesday with the San Francisco Chronicle. The seemingly offhanded revelation made following a heated public hearing caught many by surprise. Well-connected lobbyists and water district officials contacted Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity, admitted being caught off-guard by the prospect of a big Delta bill. …”

Find out more about Senator Feinstein’s plans from McClatchy Newspapers by clicking here.

From the Central Valley Business Times:

“The bill includes two provisions authored by Reps. Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and his colleague Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, aimed at increasing water flows to San Joaquin Valley farmers.



“As I have said before, we all would like to see the pumps permanently ‘turned on’ throughout the entire growing season and ensure that water is flowing from the San Joaquin Delta to our farmers. Because it has become abundantly clear this strategy is not working, common sense dictates we need to pursue other workable options,” says Mr. Cardoza. “These practical amendments are a significant means to help us address our water needs in the Valley.”



The first provision will make it easier for water to be transferred from one county to another. Currently, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation restricts such transfers.

The amendment also directs the Secretary of the Interior to implement a recovery plan for the giant garter snake, an endangered species. A recovery plan will help water transfers, the congressman says.



The second provision provides $10 million in increased funding for the California Bay-Delta Restoration Program, which will help fund water projects such as the Two Gates and the Intertie projects.”

Read more from the Central Valley Business Times by clicking here.

October 1, 2009 · Filed Under Agriculture, Delta Issues, Water Legislation

Comments

One Response to “Afternoon update: House passes Valley water provisions; is a big Delta bill next?”

  1. dfb on October 1st, 2009 9:47 pm

    I’m not sure why this would catch anyone off guard. Feinstein has been actively seeking resolution of the Delta’s issues issues for a while now. I think it is a likely reaction to Sen. DeMint trying to undercut her a couple weeks ago. I assume her bill will include a provision that provides water rights-holder style contractual guarantees for Westlands in return for the Westlands’ farmers agreement to take on all liabilities related to its groundwater issues. The water will need to come from somewhere so the fight should be intense among the various contractors. I wonder if it might just be cheaper for the feds to opt-out of the Westlands contracts altogether.

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