On Thursday, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor announced they would honor rescheduled water deliveries for Central Valley Project water contractors. The contractors have spent approximately $150 million on water transfers to secure approximately 340,000 acre feet of water in San Luis Reservoir with the expectation that this water would be carried over for use in dry years. When hearing of the possibility that this water would not be available to those contractors and farmers, California legislators wrote Commissioner Connor, saying, “To withhold by government fiat hundreds of thousands of acre feet of water that these growers had already paid for, without compensation to those affected, would be an injustice that is impossible to ignore.”
Congressman David Valadao responded to the news, saying, “Commissioner Connor called me directly this afternoon to inform me that the Bureau has decided to make 100% of the rescheduled water available to CVP farmers and contractors under the same conditions laid out in the Bureau’s December guidelines. The Bureau’s decision to honor their original promises will help ensure the farmers and contractors who invested in drought reserve water supplies will have the certainty they need to plan for the coming year. I am proud elected officials on both sides of the aisle were able to work together to resolve this issue for our constituents.”
“This year is going to bring unprecedented water management challenges, and I applaud the Bureau and the Administration for making a fair decision to preserve rescheduled water deliveries,” Mr. Costa continued. “Given the sensitivity and far-reaching impact of these decisions, we have to work together to balance the interests and provide as much assistance as possible to all water users. Today’s victory proves that progress on our water challenges is possible with cooperation and coordinated effort.”
Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer also weighed in:
“I commend Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor for his decision to preserve rescheduled water for CVP contractors who invested in additional supplies,” Senator Feinstein said. “With farmers already suffering from extraordinary drought conditions, it would be unfair to take away water they set aside at great expense and upon which they are depending to get through this year. I fully support Reclamation’s decision to stand with these farmers.”
“I am so pleased that the Bureau of Reclamation has heeded our call and honored its commitment to Central Valley Project contractors,” Senator Boxer said. “These contractors prudently saved water during wetter years and today’s announcement will ensure that they are able to use those resources as promised during this unprecedented drought.”
