Costa Brings More Accountability to Striped Bass (Predatory Fish)

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Jim Costa released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2578, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2016. The bill includes an amendment to ensure that all factors, including predation by non-native predators, are addressed in recovery plans for endangered species impacting California's water system.

"As we all know, the drought facing California is having a devastating effect on the San Joaquin Valley, and this bill could create more flexibility in the system allowing us to bring more water to the Valley. Our water system is unable to meet California's existing demands under the current regulatory constraints, which lessen the amount of water moved in wetter periods of time. This bill will ensure that as recovery plans for native endangered species are developed, all factors negatively impacting species recovery, including predation by non-native species, are also addressed. Bottom line, delta pumping isn't the only thing impacting species decline, and this bill ensures that other factors will be addressed in recovery plans."