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Rep. Costa's San Joaquin River Settlement Act Passes Through Committee

November 15, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jim Costa announced that the San Joaquin River Restoration Act, HR 4074, passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources by a vote of 25 to 15. The committee action marks an important milestone in resolving an 18-year-old lawsuit that will provide long term water certainty for the Valley.

"This is a step in the right direction for the San Joaquin River, and the settlement," said Costa. "It will also help to improve water supply reliability and water quality for Valley residents and farmers."

Costa said his priority now is to get an agreement by the Settling Parties on implementation of the Settlement's Water Management Goal and to find a way to meet Congressional PAYGO requirements. The Committee approved Costa's legislation with temporary provisions to meet Congressional budget rules. Friant water users and other affected parties are still evaluating different options to resolve the PAYGO issue.

"The Water Management and PAYGO issues need to be settled before I take this bill to the House floor," Costa said. "I look forward to working with all the interested parties on both of these matters."

Also included in the bill was Costa's San Joaquin Regional Water Plan, which would provide for a study regarding development of a comprehensive integrated regional water management plan which would address four general areas of water planning, which are improving our water supply, addressing water quality, planning for future flood control, and environmental restoration. This legislation would authorize the California Water Institute located at California State University, Fresno to perform this study through a grant.