Late Friday night, the Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act, a bill that contained controversial California water provisions. Here’s what legislators and organizations are saying about the passage of the bill.
Senator Feinstein’s press releases come first, followed by others in alphabetical order.
From Senator Dianne Feinstein:
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement on passage of the Water Resources Development Act, which included both short-term and long-term provisions to address the ongoing drought in California:
“This bill is the product of three years of effort, and is a compromise that I believe will truly help all of California. A state with 40 million people simply can’t rely on a water system put in place when we were 16 million people, and this bill is a big step in the right direction.
“The goal of the short-term provisions in the bill—which will sunset after five years—is to run California’s water system based on good science, not intuition. The provisions include daily monitoring of fish in turbid water, ending the winter storm payback requirement, requiring agencies to explain when they pump less than biological opinions allow, maximize water supplies consistent with law, a pilot project to see if the Delta Cross-Channel Gates can be opened for longer, extend the time period for voluntary water transfers, allow 1:1 transfer ratios in certain conditions and allow expedited reviews for projects to improve water quality.
“The long-term provisions are vital for California to not become a desert state. We absolutely must hold water from wet years for use in dry years, and this bill will help accomplish that by investing more than $500 million in projects. The bill directs $30 million to desalination projects, $150 million to water recycling and water conservation projects, $335 million to groundwater and surface storage projects and $43 million to projects that benefit fish and wildlife.
“I’d like to thank House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy who negotiated this bill with me. Neither of us got all we wanted, but we were able to finalize a bill that will help California. And I would also like to thank Senator Barbara Boxer, a tireless champion for the state who should be proud of all that she has accomplished. I also thank Congressman Costa and Congressman Garamendi for their tireless efforts along the way.
“I look forward to working with the agencies to ensure this bill is implemented in a manner consistent with the Endangered Species Act and relevant biological opinions, and to finally begin modernizing our aged water infrastructure.”
Summary of legislation
A summary of the bill follows:
- Overview: California’s water infrastructure is largely unchanged since the 1960s, when California was home to 16 million people. Our state—with a population of 40 million and the 6th largest economy in the world—relies on water infrastructure that is stretched to the breaking point and desperately needs to be improved and changed.
- Environmental protections: We worked with experts from federal and state agencies to draft an environmental protection mandate and a strong, comprehensive savings clause that makes clear the legislation must be implemented consistent with the Endangered Species Act and relevant biological opinions.
- Long-term provisions: This bill includes $558 million in long-term funding authorizations. Paired with state and local funding, many of the 137 projects identified by the Feinstein drought bill introduced in February (S. 2533) will be within reach. Those projects could produce upwards of 1.4 million acre feet of water, enough for 2.8 million (See additional details below.)
- Short-term provisions: The bill also includes short-term provisions to ensure the system is operated using science, not intuition. This will help operate the water system more efficiently, pumping water when fish are not nearby and reducing pumping when they are close.
- Duration: The short-term operations will last for five years. Long-term construction projects still underway at the end of five years will continue to receive federal funding. One provision that expires after 10 years provides additional opportunities to environmental groups and water districts to consult on any future biological opinions.
- Federal and State input: The bill was reviewed extensively by federal and state agencies to ensure it is consistent with environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act and biological opinions.
Environmental protections
- Most importantly, the bill includes a strong, comprehensive savings clause. This clause is included at the end of this press release.
- Drafted by Department of the Interior and the Commerce Department, the savings clause prohibits any federal agency from taking any action that would violate any environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act and biological opinions.
- The savings clause is stronger than the clause included in Feinstein’s February 2016 drought bill, containing additional language to make clear nothing in the bill overrides or amends any obligations to manage coastal fisheries off the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington.
- Includes an environmental protection mandate drafted by NOAA Fisheries to ensure full consistency with the Endangered Species Act.
- Includes language at the request of the administration that protects agencies’ abilities to develop successor biological opinions.
The long-term authorizations include $43 million to benefit endangered fish and wildlife, including:
- $15 million for the protection and restoration of salmon: These funds will be used to increase spawning habitat on the Sacramento River and purchase water to increase flows to reducing predation at Clifton Court Forebay. These funds can also be used to fix the broken cold water valve at Shasta to prevent 98 percent mortality rates from happening again. These devices must be fixed and functioning so that we can avoid what we saw in 2015, when 98 percent of the salmon year class died, and in 2014 when 95 percent of the salmon year class died.
- $15 million for fish passage projects: Reauthorizes at $15 million the Fisheries Restoration and Irrigation Mitigation Act (which expired in 2015), a voluntary, cost-sharing program the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses to pay for installing fish screens and diversions that protect migrating salmon.
- $3 million for a Delta Smelt Distribution Study: The better the fish is understood, the better we can operate the system and protect this endangered species. The Fish and Wildlife Service recommended this provision.
- A program to reduce predation: The bill directs agencies to address the threat to smelt and salmon by reducing the threat of predators. The regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries (who oversees salmon in California) has stated that predation in the Delta is “unequivocally” a problem.
- A program to purchase additional water: The bill authorizes the federal government to purchase water from willing sellers to augment flows needed for fish. Currently there is limited workable authority to accomplish this. The Department of the Interior requested this authority to enable targeted water purchases to provide more water for fish in conjunction with measures to improve habitat and food supply, which will help restore fish populations.
- Programs to reduce invasive species that harm fish: The bill authorizes pilot projects under a CALFED program to control invasive species. Invasive species—such as water hyacinth and Asian clams—have contributed to the decline of native listed fish in the Bay-Delta, including the Delta smelt.
- $10 million for wildlife refuges: This will allow refuges to connect to additional sources of water supply, for example through channels.
- The bill has a comprehensive environmental protection mandate drafted by NOAA Fisheries and the Department of the Interior to ensure that the actions under this bill fully reflect the protections of the Endangered Species Act.
- Consistency with state law: All provisions in the bill must be consistent with state law including water quality and salinity control standards.
- Coastal salmon fisheries: The bill protects agencies’ authority to manage salmon and other fisheries off the coast of California, Oregon and Washington under the Magnuson Stevens Act or the Endangered Species Act.
- Environmentalist and water district input into Endangered Species Act consultation: The bill increases transparency and public input during any Endangered Species Act consultations by providing environmental groups and water districts with the opportunity to work with the agencies on any future biological opinions. The provisions also provide for quarterly stakeholder meetings so the public is kept informed of any Endangered Species Act Nothing in this section affects in any way the substantive requirements of consultation under the Endangered Species Act to protect species.
Long-term water infrastructure provisions
- Authorization of projects: $515 million, fully offset, goes to storage, recycling, reuse and desalination projects. These funds will help supplement California’s water bond.
- Funds: The bill authorizes the following funds:
- Desalination: $30 million for design and construction of desalination projects.
- Water recycling, reuse and conservation: Increases funding for WaterSMART by $100 million (from $350 million to $450 million), including $50 million for water supply and conservation activities on the Colorado River. Includes another $50 million for water recycling through a new Title XVI grant program that actually works for new water recycling projects, unlike the current program. The revised program will allow new water recycling projects to get federal funding even if Congress has not authorized each specific project.
- Storage: $335 million in funding for storage and groundwater projects.
- Coordinated implementation with the state water bond: This will allow federal funding to go to qualified, environmentally-mitigated and cost-beneficial projects such as desalination, recycling, groundwater and storage projects on the same timeframe as projects funded under the state water bond.
Short-term operational provisions
- Duration: The short-term operational provisions expire after five years. Researchers from UCLA have reported that it will take approximately four and a half years for a full recovery from the drought.
- Eight key provisions will allow more water to be captured and stored.
- Daily monitoring for fish closer to the pumps will allow pumps to be operated at higher levels while better protecting fish. This daily boat monitoring for smelt will occur when water turbidity levels are high (cloudy water attracts fish to pumps), which will allow pumping decisions to be made based the actual location of the fish.
- Ending the winter storm “payback” requirement will allow agencies to capture additional water during winter storms. Agencies may increase pumping during winter storms so long as they do not violate the environmental protection mandate. Once storms end, agencies would no longer be required to “pay back” water already pumped unless there was an environmental reason to do so.
- Requires agencies to explain why pumping occurs at lower levels than allowed by the biological opinions. The requirement is about transparency: agencies must provide reasons for why pumping was reduced.
- Agencies must maximize water supplies consistent with applicable laws and biological opinions. The bill also makes very clear that agencies can take no action that would violate the Endangered Species Act or biological opinions.
- Pilot Project to open Delta Cross-Channel Gates in a manner that achieves increased water supply without any harm to fish. The agencies would evaluate alternative ways to open the gates and protect fish during their migration. If the pilot project is successful, it would yield extra water with no harm to the fish or water quality.
- Extending the time period for water transfers by five months. The current transfer window of July through September is extended to April through November. This makes water available during the critical spring planting season.
- Allowing a 1:1 ratio for water transfers. The provision provides a strong incentive for water transfers during critical salmon migratory periods in April and May in the lower San Joaquin. Through transfers, the same unit of water can therefore help both fish and farms. This provision helps facilitate voluntary transfers in April and May by allowing a 1:1 inflow to export ratio solely for water transfers. Buyers and sellers have little incentive to transfer water unless they receive the full value of their water—the 1:1 ratio. The bill includes strong environmental protections to ensure this water is in addition to the regular flow of the river, extra water that will benefit fish.
- Allowing expedited reviews of transfers and the construction of barriers. To expedite environmental reviews of proposed water transfers, agencies are directed to finish their reviews within 45 days of receiving complete applications for the transfers. The approval of temporary salinity barriers must be completed within 60 days. If environmental impact statements must be prepared under NEPA, the agencies can take longer than the generally applicable deadlines.
Outreach process
Over the course of two years, Senator Feinstein and her staff took hundreds of meetings, phone calls and discussions. Feedback was accepted from Republicans and Democrats and Senator Feinstein made dozens of changes to the bill text in response to comments from environmental groups, water districts, cities, rural communities, fishermen and farmers.
The bill was also reviewed by experts with federal and state agencies to ensure it would remain within the bounds of the Endangered Species Act and relevant biological opinions.
A previous version of the bill introduced in February 2016 (S. 2533) received support from 151 organizations and public officials from across California.
Savings clause
Following is the bill’s savings clause that prevents the legislation from violating state or federal environmental laws including the Endangered Species Act and biological opinions. Bracketed text is where each part of the clause originated.
Sec. 4012. SAVINGS LANGUAGE.
- In general.—This Act shall not be interpreted or implemented in a manner that—
- preempts or modifies any obligation of the United States to act in conformance with applicable State law, including applicable State water law; [requested by Governor Brown’s office; also included in February 2016 Feinstein drought bill]
- affects or modifies any obligation under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Public Law 102–575; 106 Stat. 4706), except for the savings provisions for the Stanislaus River predator management program expressly established by section 12(b); [included in February 2016 Feinstein drought bill]
- overrides, modifies, or amends the applicability of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) or the application of the smelt and salmonid biological opinions to the operation of the Central Valley Project or the State Water Project; [drafted by NOAA Fisheries and the Department of the Interior; also included in February 2016 Feinstein drought bill]
- would cause additional adverse effects on listed fish species beyond the range of effects anticipated to occur to the listed fish species for the duration of the applicable biological opinion, using the best scientific and commercial data available; [drafted by NOAA Fisheries and the Department of the Interior] or
- overrides, modifies, or amends any obligation of the Pacific Fisheries Management Council, required by the Magnuson Stevens Act or the Endangered Species Act, to manage fisheries off the coast of California, Oregon, or Washington. [requested by Senator Wyden]
- successor biological opinions. —
- In general. —The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce shall apply this Act to any successor biological opinions to the smelt or salmonid biological opinions only to the extent that the Secretaries determine is consistent with:
- the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), its implementing regulations, and the successor biological opinions; and
- Subsection (a)(4) above. [requested by administration]
(2) Limitation. –Nothing in this Act shall restrict the Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce from completing consultation on successor biological opinions and through those successor biological opinions implementing whatever adjustments in operations or other activities as may be required by the Endangered Species Act and its implementing regulations. [requested by administration]
- Severability.—If any provision of this Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be inconsistent with any law or the biological opinions, the remainder of this Act and the application of this Act to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected. [included in February 2016 Feinstein drought bill]
Also this, from Senator Feinstein:
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the bill:
Water infrastructure
“The bill includes a host of programs that benefit California. These include Corps of Engineers projects to limit the risk of flooding in West Sacramento, restoring the Los Angeles River and the American River Watershed and improve the San Francisco shoreline. The ports of Hueneme and San Diego are also now eligible for funding in the bill to cover crucial harbor maintenance programs.
“Overall this bill is a big win for California’s aging infrastructure, flood protection and ecosystem restoration and I’m grateful to Senator Boxer for her work as chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works.”
Key projects in California:
- San Francisco Shoreline: Authorizes $70 million for critical flood protection and environmental restoration in Santa Clara County.
- Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Project: Authorizes $380 million to restore ecosystems along the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles County.
- American River Watershed: Authorizes $880 million to reduce floods along American and Sacramento Rivers in Sacramento.
- West Sacramento flood control: Authorizes $780 million to reduce flooding in West Sacramento.
- Expands the eligibility of an existing federal program to increasing funding for harbor maintenance to include the ports of Hueneme and San Diego.
Lake Tahoe
“I’m thrilled that the Lake Tahoe Restoration Act is included in this bill. We’ve been working to pass an updated Tahoe restoration bill for seven years. This bill authorizes $415 million to carry on the work of the original bill, improving water quality, reducing hazardous fuels to prevent wildfires, fighting the spread of invasive species and restoring critical habitat throughout the Tahoe Basin.”
The bill authorizes:
- $45 million for lake-wide aquatic invasive species control and a watercraft inspection program.
- $113 million for storm water management and watershed restoration projects.
- $80 million for environmental restoration projects.
- $150 million for fire risk reduction and forest management programs.
Tribal Water Rights Settlements
“The bill includes two important Indian water rights settlements that will bring to a close decades of litigation and uncertainty: The Pechanga Water Settlement Act and San Luis Rey Settlement. These two settlements will go a long way toward providing much-needed closure for the tribes, surrounding communities and federal government.”
The bill:
- Finalizes the water rights settlement among the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians California Tribes, the United States and surrounding water districts, and authorizes $28.2 million for the purchase of water and the construction of vital water infrastructure.
- Finalizes the San Luis Rey settlement, directs Interior to provide 16,000 acre feet of water to the five tribes and allows the tribes to access $57 million in settlement funds.
From the American Composites Manufacturing Association:
The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) commends Congress for passing the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act and sending it to the President for signature.Title I of the legislation is the Water Resources Development Act of 2016, which takes steps toward promoting critical improvements to our nation’s waterways, harbors, and drinking water infrastructure. The legislation empowers the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build stronger and longer lasting structures.Back in September, the Senate passed its version of WRDA, which included a provision authored by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) directing the Corps to study the performance of composites and other innovative materials in water resources projects. It also makes recommendations on their ability to improve the performance of water infrastructure.“The support of Sen. Whitehouse has been crucial to positioning composites for greater use by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has been a champion for our industry in Rhode Island and around the country and sees the value composites bring to building stronger and longer lasting infrastructure,” said Tom Dobbins, ACMA President.In a victory for the composites industry, the final bill includes the language from the Senate version. ACMA worked with members of both chambers to ensure the inclusion of the study language in the final package. Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-Conn.) led efforts to build support for the provision in the House.“ACMA applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for working with the Senate to send a comprehensive WRDA bill to President Obama that takes steps to vastly improve the quality of our nation’s water infrastructure,” said Dobbins.In addition to assessing the performance of composites and other innovative materials in current Corps projects, the provision will also make recommendations on how these materials can be used to build structures less susceptible to corrosion and structural degradation. ACMA believes this initiative will identify data points that will allow for the construction of world-class infrastructure.
From the Association of California Water Agencies:
Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) Executive Director Timothy Quinn issued the following statement today regarding passage of comprehensive water legislation by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives this week. ACWA supported passage of S. 612, which addresses the nation’s water infrastructure needs and includes provisions to address lead in drinking water, California drought, and long-standing water settlement agreements with Native Americans.
“This legislation is important to California’s water future and is consistent with our state’s policy of managing water resources for the coequal goals of enhancing ecosystem health and improving water supply reliability.
“It reflects a compromise to address the devastating effects of drought in California and the West, and we commend House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Senator Dianne Feinstein for their diligence in crafting a bill that moves us toward the coequal goals. We also appreciate the hard work and support of the California congressional delegation to bring this legislation to fruition after five years of effort.
“S. 612 contains key Water Resources Development Act provisions that authorize numerous projects in California, including restoration of the Los Angeles River, Lake Tahoe and the Salton Sea. It also authorizes $515 million for water storage, recycling and reuse, and desalination projects in California – projects that will benefit the entire state and make a difference in building drought resilience and meeting future water needs.
“The drought language included in the bill reflects a balanced compromise that will help provide improved water supplies without violating the Endangered Species Act or biological opinions. In short, it reflects compromises that will improve water supplies for all Californians. We need a partnership with the federal government that will move us closer to achieving the coequal goals, not further away. We urge President Obama to sign this legislation.”
From the California Water Alliance:
For six years in a row House Republicans have passed drought-relief legislation. The latest legislation passed the House on Thursday by a 360-61 vote and won support from 138 Democrats, including Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove), Jim Costa (D-Fresno), John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove) and Doris Matsui (D-Sacramento).
In a late-Friday Senate vote that tallied 78-21, California’s senior senator, Dianne Feinstein, led the effort for passage as soon-to-be-retired fellow Senator Barbara Boxer sought unsuccessfully to block it with the help of Washington State’s U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell.
Facing a broad revolt from their own delegation and party, Boxer and Cantwell fought the bill to the bitter end with inflammatory rhetoric and tired alarmist claims. Their positions were ironic, since Boxer authored the legislation and was its early sponsor.
The bill, containing real drought-relief and pro-environment provisions that authorize water storage, conservation, desalination and recycling projects, as well as giving federal agencies more flexibility to manage water in the Delta, now will move to President Obama’s desk.
The future of our nation’s water infrastructure rests squarely in the president’s hands.
Faced with a bill passed by both houses with broad bipartisan support, the President must directly address the California water crisis he has ignored for six years. Obama will decide the fate of our state’s water supply in this sixth year of California drought and the fate of $12 billion in water infrastructure projects and policies that span states across the nation.Killing the bill would also mean no funding for Flint, Michigan. A veto would block healing for Flint’s health emergency and delay replacement of pipes carrying lead-contaminated water to its poor, black population. Waiting another year for a new Congress and president to act is just too expensive for California and for the people of Flint, Michigan.
Should President Obama play political chess and decide a veto would put a better face forward for Democrats in 2018’s midterm election, ordinary Americans would be left out in the cold to continue their suffering in Flint and here in California.
With a veto, tens of thousands would head into the holidays without any water at all. They’ll continue to bathe in church parking lots and fill their buckets and tanks with water for drinking, washing and cooking. Millions more in California and Flint will force down foul, polluted, unsanitary water hazardous to their health.
The American people will applaud the Congress for putting down rancor, compromising and getting a bill passed. Since the Democrats could claim a win either way, let’s give Californians a win now, rather than spoil this rare instance of true bipartisan and bicameral agreement.
Those who want immediate relief for California’s drought to begin to flow to California — whatever your party affiliation — must call, write and use social media to convince President Obama to sign the water bill into law without delay. It’s the right thing to do.
President Obama, the cost is too dear to make the wrong decision or listen to special interests. Sign the Water Resources Development Act and help ordinary Americans like us.
From Congressman Jim Costa:
Today, Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act with language to assist in reducing the impacts of California’s drought crisis and to build additional long-term drought resiliency.
“The passage of this legislation in both the House and Senate is significant for the entire state of California,” said Rep. Jim Costa. “With the enactment of this bill, California can begin to repair its broken water system and more water will be delivered to Valley agriculture and communities. My House and Senate colleagues and the people of the Valley have fought long and hard to get this legislation passed out of both chambers. Finally, drought stricken communities, farmers, and farm workers will feel some relief. I hope the President acts swiftly and signs the legislation as soon as possible.”
From Defenders of Wildlife:
The United States Senate passed the Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (S. 612), which includes a disastrous rider for California water, fishing jobs and wildlife. On December 5, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), inserted a secretly negotiated anti-environmental rider into the bill that jeopardizes salmon, Delta smelt and other endangered species in California.
Statement from Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark:
“This rider harms both water quality and wildlife in California’s Bay-Delta. The legislation endangers salmon runs and other native fish, impairs water quality, and sets up years of legal battles.
“The bill passed over strenuous objections from Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Maria Cantwell(D-WA) , who did everything in their power to fight for salmon and other imperiled wildlife. Their efforts should inspire environmental champions in the next Congress.
“House Majority Leader McCarthy, aided by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) cynically used the Flint community’s need for clean water to gut environmental protections for fish and wildlife. However, this was a false choice created by opportunistic politicians who have signaled that they will use any means at their disposal to roll back important environmental protections. If this is the new way of business for the next Congress, we will fight them every step of the way, because voters did not vote to roll back protections for water, air and wildlife.”
From the Friant Water Authority and Friant North Authority:
The Friant Water Authority (FWA) and Friant North Authority (FNA) jointly released the following statement on passage by Congress of California drought relief provisions as part of the larger Water Infrastructure Improvement for the Nation Act (WIIN) (S. 612):
Jason Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of the Friant Water Authority:
“Passage of the WIIN Act represents critical and timely step toward addressing the acute water problems facing us locally in the droughtstricken areas of California, and important movement toward modernizing our water infrastructure nationally. Although more must be done on this issue, under the circumstances we consider the actions mandated in the WIIN Act an important beginning in our efforts to develop a comprehensive, long‐term solution to address some of California’s persistent water challenges.
We greatly appreciate the efforts of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senator Dianne Feinstein and the Members of the Central Valley Delegation and their staffs, all of whom have worked tirelessly over the past three years to improve the flexibility and operations of our water system during this extreme drought. There is still more to be done, but the provisions approved by Congress will ensure that we’ll be able to capture desperately needed water from the coming winter storms. And facing a fifth year of drought, the communities and farms of the San Joaquin Valley are truly desperate for water.
We in the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project offer our gratitude and congratulations to the Members of the California delegation who have worked so hard to respond to the needs of their constituents and all Californians. We look forward to working with them, the new Administration, and the incoming Members in 2017 to develop comprehensive, long‐term solutions to this persistent challenge and to finish the job we began this year.”
David Orth, Executive Officer of the Friant North Authority:
“The California water provisions of the WIIN Act are the product of hard‐fought bipartisan effort. We spent nearly three years working with Members in both houses, officials in both State and Federal administrations, and the White House to develop effective compromise legislation that would be broadly acceptable to all. In the process, we each gave up ground but came to an agreement that, though modest, will truly help us in the short term this winter.
Contrary to many claims, the legislative language will not amend or damage the Endangered Species Act. All actions authorized will be carried out only if they do not harm sensitive species. The legislation also includes some very important requirements for use of best available science in agency decision‐making, and increased transparency for the forthcoming consultation with agencies on long‐term federal and state water operations.”
FWA is a joint‐powers authority formed in 2004 by a majority of the water agencies receiving water from the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project. Its primary purposes are to operate and maintain the Friant‐Kern Canal and to serve the information and representation needs of its member agencies.
FNA is a joint‐powers authority formed in 2015 by certain water agencies receiving water from the Friant Division of the Central Valley Project to jointly advance common interests and objectives with respect to their Friant Division water supplies.
From the Natural Resources Defense Council:
Flint, Michigan will receive at least $100 million to begin funding the needed work of replacing lead service lines that deliver drinking water throughout the city, with the Senate’s passage today of the Water Resources Development Act. However, the bill also included a rider that rolls back environmental protections in California’s Bay-Delta estuary.
The following is a statement by Scott Slesinger, legislative director at the Natural Resources Defense Council:
“Federal funding to help begin fixing the pipes at the heart of the Flint water crisis is shamefully overdue. This is a start, but far more is needed to fix Flint and ensure safe drinking water to communities across America.
“We should not have to trade delinquent Congressional action in Michigan for the erosion of endangered species protection and a threat to fishing jobs in California, but that is the result of the partisan games at play in this bill.
“In spite of the poison pill rider gutting federal protections in California, we will redouble our efforts to protect the Bay-Delta. We are grateful to the leadership of Senator Boxer, Senator Cantwell, and all of the other members who opposed this rider to stand up for fishing jobs and a healthy environment.
“Despite the active resistance of Republican leadership to providing Flint with needed resources, the continued efforts from Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, and Flint Congressman Dan Kildee—along with recent leadership by Representative Fred Upton—will finally bring needed funding more than two years after the water crisis emerged.”
From the San Luis-Delta Mendota Water Authority:
“The recent passage of the Water Resources Development Act by a broad, bi-partisan coalition of elected representatives is an encouraging sign for California’s 40 million residents who count on reliable water supplies. We encourage President Obama to sign it as soon as possible.
This bill creates new opportunities for all water users to work together on new and innovative programs that will enhance California’s water supply and is a first step in a long process of restoring reliable water deliveries to the state.
The Water Resources Development Act provides broad water supply benefits including sensible storage projects, new conservation initiatives and innovative recycling programs that will benefit farms, urban areas and wildlife refuges. It also maintains existing regulation intended to protect some of the state’s most vulnerable fish and wildlife resources by preserving provisions under biological opinions prepared pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.
We look forward to working with the various federal agencies to put this plan into action by increasing water deliveries to the maximum extent possible under existing environmental protections.
We appreciate all of the hard work by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Congressman Kevin McCarthy for their leadership in this critical moment in the state’s history. They, along with many of their colleagues, recognized the need for a new path forward on California water issues and we look forward to working with them to make their vision for the state a reality.
We also appreciate the tremendous vision and support of our water supplier partners Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and others for their efforts to help pass this legislation. The unity among diverse regions of the state is a demonstration of how important this piece of legislation is for California’s future.”
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