Costa Statement on Voluntary Agreement Framework for California's Water Supply
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement following the state of California, the federal government and San Joaquin Valley water leaders March 29, 2022 announcement of an agreementto provide a new framework to manage California's complex water system through collaborative, science-based solutions to address our state's greatest water supply and environmental challenges. Often referred to as voluntary agreements, the framework strives to create more certainty for farmers, businesses, and communities, while also providing better environmental conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta watershed.
"This new water framework is long overdue and will provide the much-needed flexibility for state and federal water managers to respond to conditions in real time. Sadly, California and Western states face another year of extreme drought. There are multiple causes for our water shortages, but we know with climate change this is the new normal. This agreement updates California's approach to allocate water effectively with the challenges ahead," Costa said.
"But this is only a first step. We must invest state and federal dollars to increase our water efficiency and supply. Otherwise, we will never fully address our over-drafted groundwater, which is critical to sustainability of California's agricultural production and to providing clean drinking water to our rural communities.
"State and federal agencies must continue work to include as many water agencies as possible in this new strategic water plan"
State and federal leaders have actively worked with local water agencies since 2016 to bring together water agencies, farmers and environmental groups to create an enforceable agreement to better balance the management of California's water system. This approach is important because it gives us the opportunity to sustainably manage California's water system for the long-term to support the needs of agriculture, homes, and at-risk wildlife without delays caused by lawsuits. Collaboration is always better than litigation.
Rep. Costa has actively participated in this process, advocating to bring key stakeholders together to refine the agreement. He sent the following letters:
Letter to U.S. Dept. Of the Interior Secretary, Deb Haaland and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner, Camille Touton, providing recommendations on how the Biden administration can utilize funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to support San Joaquin Valley water storage projects. (2022)
Letter to the federal and state Departments of Interior expressing concerns about new filings in the State of California's lawsuit challenging the management of the federal Central Valley Project and protections for endangered fish species. (2021)
Joint letterto state and federal officials to delay implementation of the interim operating plan for the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project. (2021)
Joint letterto the U.S. Dept. of Interior and Gov. Newsom to maintain coordination of operations between the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project. (2020)
In addition, Rep. Costa has secured key funding to improve water storage in the Valley, including funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was signed into law by President Biden. The funding brings billions to water storage in California including:
$1.15 billion to improve water storage in California and the San Joaquin Valley, which could benefit B.F. Sisk Dam, Sites Reservoir, Los Vaqueros Reservoir and Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir expansions
$3.2 billion to repair aging water infrastructure projects in California
$3.5 billion to improve drinking water infrastructure in California
$1 billion for rural water projects
$500 million to repair aging dams and ensure safety, for projects like B.F. Sisk Dam/San Luis Reservoir
$400 million for WaterSMART program grants for California water districts and farmers
Funding to address drought, which includes:
$1 billion to revitalize water recycling projects, which can expand water supplies
$980 million to environmental programs in the West
$250 million to bolster desalination water projects
Additionally, Costa helped secure more than $200 million in funding through passage of a federal budget continuing resolution in Fall 2021 to build, expand and repair water storage projects in California. The bill provides:
$60 million for the B.F. Sisk Dam expansion project near Los Banos to develop more than 130,000 acre feet of additional water storage;
$80 million for construction of the Sites Reservoir, a 1.81-million-acre-foot off-stream surface storage reservoir in the Sacramento Valley;
$50 million for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir expansion project in the Bay Area to develop an additional 115,000 acre feet of water storage and new conveyance infrastructure;
$15 million for the construction of the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir near Patterson, an 82,000 acre feet off-stream storage reservoir.