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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Bob Carretta October 26, 2004
PHONE: 202-225-1986
CALVERT’S
CALFED LEGISLATION SIGNED INTO LAW
WASHINGTON,
DC –
Yesterday,
President Bush signed H.R. 2828, the Water Supply, Reliability and
Environmental Improvement Act, into law. Congressman Ken Calvert
(CA-44th) was the lead sponsor of H.R. 2828. This
legislation, also known as CALFED, allows California, and the Western
States, to meet their goal of enhanced water quality and supply
through more efficient delivery and additional storage.
U.S.
Interior Secretary Gale Norton praised H.R. 2828 in a statement
today. “This landmark legislation represents the culmination of a
strong bipartisan effort by the
California Congressional
delegation to secure California’s water future,” Norton said. “As the
largest and most comprehensive water management plan in the nation,
the CALFED program is a national model of collaborative resource
management. The Department of the Interior affirms its commitment to
working with the State of California and water and environmental
interests to address California’s water needs.”
“I want to
acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of Chairman Richard Pombo, Sen.
Dianne Feinstein, Chairman Pete Domenici, and Rep. Ken Calvert in
working to craft this bill,” Norton continued, “and for working so
hard with the many stakeholder interests in
California that support
this program. With the President’s signature, the CALFED family can
now take on the most challenging phase in its decade long history --
implementation.”
“This bill
will help guarantee viable and livable solutions for
California’s, and the
Western States’, water needs,” said Rep. Calvert. “I wish to offer my
thanks to the President for his support of this important bipartisan
legislation. Additionally, my gratitude goes out to the Chairman of
the House Committee on Resources, Richard Pombo, Ranking Member Grace
Napolitano, and Senator Diane Feinstein, for their commitment to
meeting California’s water needs.”
The Water
Supply, Reliability and Environmental Improvement Act authorizes $389M
over 6 years to improve
management and coordination of existing water supply projects for
meeting present and future water demands. The bill also recognizes
the importance of preserving and enhancing ecosystems while both
developing new sources of water for growing consumptive needs and
moving existing supplies to meet changing demands. Provisions which
were included are:
Bay-Delta Water Quality Protections:
Disallows increased pumping unless water quality standards are met;
and requires the reduction of salinity in the Delta through increased
flow and recirculation.
Water Storage:
Allows building and improving water storage projects throughout
California, which will ensure that adequate storage is part of a
balanced CalFed plan.
Ecosystem Restoration:
Requires that federal agencies submit a management plan and be
accountable for ecosystem restoration– cost analysis, possible
alternatives, disclosure of impact and required mitigation – for
CalFed related ecosystem projects under the “right to know” provisions
as to how taxpayer dollars are being spent on ecosystem restoration.
This provision does not give Congress any authority to veto management
plans, but is simply a “good government” safeguard.
The Water
Supply, Reliability and Environmental Improvement Act recognizes the
importance of improving management and coordination of existing water
supply projects for meeting present and future water demands. The
bill also recognizes the importance of preserving and enhancing
ecosystems while both developing new sources of water for growing
consumptive needs and moving existing supplies to meet changing
demands.
Levee Protection:
Provides for $90,000,000 for the reconstruction of levees in the
Delta, Suisan Marsh, and in the lower San Joaquin.
“We have
spent a decade working on a bill that would enhance water quality,
supply, and delivery for the people of
California,” Chairman Pombo
said. “This would not have been possible without the tireless efforts
of Congressman Ken Calvert (R-Riverside) and the other members of the
Resources Committee.”
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