Costa Says Reduced Pumping Lacks Commonsense and is Unacceptable

Fresno, CA - Today, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reduced pumping in the south Delta by a minimum of 3,000 acre-feet per day:

“The decision to reduce pumping in the Delta by a minimum of 3,000 acre-feet per day compared to what the regulations allow is unconscionable, especially to those of us who live in the San Joaquin Valley and are facing the most serious effects of our prolonged drought,” said. Rep. Costa. “Every single acre-foot of water is significant to the farmers, farm workers, and communities that I represent in the Valley, and as a result of the determination made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a minimum of 3,000 acre feet of water will be lost daily as long as the decision to reduce pumping continues to be implemented.”

Costa continued saying, “California is dealing with four consecutive dry years and recent news reports have detailed the effects of El Niño and the resultant flooding up and down the state. However, the drought continues on here in the Valley. Decisions like the one implemented today lack commonsense, and if the state and federal governments continue to implement decisions like the one today, even with the El Niño rains and snow in the mountains and flooding in Southern California, it is more likely than not that farmers in the Valley will receive another zero allocation of water. This is unacceptable and I implore the Administration to retract this decision immediately because the livelihoods of the people throughout the state of California depends on it.”

Earlier this week, Rep. Costa spoke on the House floor to express the importance of passing legislation that will provide short-term relief so water from the El Niño rains can be delivered to the San Joaquin Valley. Rep. Costa’s floor speech can be viewed here.

The Determination Letter issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can be viewed here.

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