Rep. Costa Presses Administration to Revise Water Regulations After Wanger Decision

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Salazar and Commerce Secretary Locke, urging the Departments to incorporate new science into revising the current water regulations restricting the flow of water to the Valley. Theletter was spurred by findings from Judge Wanger's court that the regulationsdo not take into account human factors and that they have not beenscientifically justified by the federal agencies. Wanger's conclusions set thetable for more water to flow to the Valley.

Costacalled Wanger's decision another step forward in his fight for more water.

"The bottom line is that we are winningour fight for water," said Costa. "Our work to get our economy going again isproducing results. But we must keep the pressure on the Administration. Now isnot the time to let up and I will continue to push the Administration for morewater."

Costaalso pushed the Administration to take into account the findings by theNational Academy of Sciences initial report on the status of California'sBay-Delta and the recent University of Maryland study on the devastating effects of wastewater discharges into the Delta.

Thefull text of the letter is copied below the release.A signed copy of the letter is attached.

# # #

May 20, 2010

TheHonorable KenSalazar TheHonorable Gary Locke

Secretary,Department of theInterior Secretary, Department of Commerce

1849C Street, N.W. 1401Constitution Avenue, N.W.

Washington,D.C.20240 Washington, D.C. 20230

DearSecretaries Salazar and Locke:

This letter is tofollow-up with you in regards to your recent announcement to launch aninteragency plan to better integrate science in California's Bay-Delta. This announcement is welcome news to us and to the farmers, farmworkers, andfarm communities of California's San Joaquin Valley that we represent. Asyou know, water equals jobs in the Valley and your commitment to working withus and related federal, state, and local agencies are producing results,increasing the water allocation to 40% for South of Delta agricultural waterusers, up from 10% last year. We are grateful for your efforts.

Recent eventscontinue to shed new light on California's water crisis, including findings bythe National Academy of Sciences, the University of Maryland and University ofCalifornia Davis, as well as this week's decision by the United States DistrictCourt for the Eastern District of California that the agencies violated theNational Environmental Policy Act when they adopted the June 2009 biologicalopinion for the protection of salmonid species and that the National MarineFisheries Service failed to base its decisions on the best available scienceand failed to provide scientific justification for certain actions prescribedby the biological opinion. Given what is at stake, we strongly encourage youto act expeditiously to analyze these findings and incorporate new science intowater operations for Delta exports for this water year. As you know,decisions by the agencies to restrict water deliveries to California's SanJoaquin Valley without considering the human health and the safety of the humanenvironment have devastated the Valley's economy and persist to this day evenas more rain and snow continues to fall throughout the state.

This emergencystill exists, and every additional drop of water that we can secure by holdingourselves to the highest scientific standards is essential. We lookforward to continuing to partner with you as we seek to find short, mid, andlong-term solutions to California's water challenges and thank you in advancefor your prompt response.

Sincerely,

JIMCOSTA DENNIS CARDOZA

MemberofCongress Member of Congress