WASHINGTON – Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources advanced Congressman David G. Valadao’s bill, H.R. 215, the Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms (WATER) for California Act, out of a full committee markup. The WATER for California Act focuses on streamlining operations, expanding water storage infrastructure, and increasing accountability.

“California’s recent storms have brought much needed water to our communities that have suffered drought conditions for years,” said Congressman Valadao. “Unfortunately, we’ve wasted a seemingly immeasurable amount of water because we do not have the proper storage.  For years, I have stressed the dire need to increase water storage, but extreme environmentalists and Sacramento bureaucrats have grossly mismanaged our water and prevented these projects from getting off the ground.

“If we don’t take action to fix the complex and contradictory laws and regulations that control how much we’re able to pump, and what storage projects we’re able to build or use, our ability to provide food for the nation will be in trouble. The WATER for California Act brings desperately needed commonsense to the way we manage water, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this critical legislation.” 

Background:

The comprehensive legislation promotes water conveyance through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, consistent with the Endangered Species Act, and advances key surface water infrastructure projects. Among other provisions, the WATER for California Act:

1. Requires the Central Valley Project (CVP) and State Water Project (SWP) be operated consistent with the 2019 Biological Opinions (BiOps), which were independently peer-reviewed and informed by the most accurate, best available science, but allows modification under certain circumstances.
• Why it matters: The 2019 BiOps and Preferred Alternative inform corresponding long-term operations plans for the CVP and SWP. The Biden administration’s misguided attempt to reverse the 2019 BiOps has caused significant uncertainty for Valley farmers about their water supply.
2. Helps to ensure CVP and SWP water stakeholders receive the water they contract and pay for.
• Why it matters: For the past two years, South-of-Delta agricultural repayment and water service contractors have received zero percent of their allocation from the CVP. This has resulted in extreme water loss for both agricultural producers and rural communities.
3. Provides eligibility for funding for the Shasta Enlargement Project.
• Why it matters: The Shasta Enlargement Project is the most per acre/foot cost-effective water storage project in California, but the infrastructure bill explicitly excludes any of the $1.15B allocated for storage projects from going to the Shasta Project.
4. Reauthorizes the successful surface water storage project program and coordinated operations of the CVP and SWP established by the WIIN Act.

• Why it matters: Water storage is critical to better preparing communities for drought conditions. The authorities under the WIIN Act that brought more water to the Valley expired in 2021, and this bill extends the storage project authorizations to 2028 and the operations provisions of the WIIN Act to 2033
  
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