[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 7, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10218-S10222]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mrs. Boxer):
  S. 1759. A bill to authorize certain transfers of water in the 
Central Valley

[[Page S10219]]

Project, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today on behalf of myself and 
Senator Boxer to introduce the Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009.
  The measure should reduce unnecessary delays in water transfers at a 
time when Central Valley farmers have been hard hit by a 3-year 
drought. It would allow new water transfers of roughly 250,000 to 
300,000 acre-feet of water per year, depending on the rainfall that 
year.
  Here is how the bill would work: it would grant new authority to the 
Bureau of Reclamation to approve water transfers between sellers and 
buyers in the San Joaquin Valley. The measure also would streamline 
environmental reviews for Central Valley water transfers by ensuring 
that they occur on a programmatic basis, instead of project-by-project 
basis as is current practice.
  Here is why we need this bill: this past water year, South of Delta 
agriculture users received 10 percent of their contractual allocation 
from the Central Valley Project. At the same time others in the San 
Joaquin Valley, such as the Friant Division and the exchange 
contractors, had a surplus of water and were willing to sell some of 
their water to Westlands Water District, where fields have been 
fallowed and communities have close to 40 percent unemployment--yet 
there were serious obstacles to making those transfers happen.
  That is why I am introducing this bill. It will address those 
obstacles.
  Specifically, the bill will do three things to ease the drought 
crisis:
  First, it would authorize transfers within San Joaquin Valley between 
Divisions of the Central Valley Project and among contractors within a 
Division by removing two of the biggest obstacles to these transfers.
  Water users tell me that the Bureau of Reclamation has not allowed 
transfers of water if the water could have been used for irrigation or 
stored, or if the total amount of water transferred was more than what 
had been received on average the 3 years prior to 1992. These two 
conditions previously prevented a whole host of potential transfers of 
water.
  Neither of these restrictions is necessary for environmental reasons, 
and removal of these two obstacles alone could make up to 100,000 or 
150,000 acre-feet of water available for transfer to the communities 
most in need, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.
  So, this bill would explicitly grant the Bureau the authority to 
approve these types of East-West transfers, as long as they qualify 
under environmental regulations.
  Second, the bill directs the Department of the Interior to facilitate 
transfers from the Sacramento Valley to the San Joaquin Valley by doing 
programmatic consideration of all the environmental concerns, rather 
than requiring individual review on each transfer as is current 
practice.
  Water users and the Bureau of Reclamation estimate that this step 
could facilitate up to 150,000 or 200,000 acre-feet of transfers each 
year.
  Third, the bill also requires the Bureau of Reclamation to prepare a 
report and recommendations on how to facilitate transfers more 
efficiently and expeditiously, including transfers in all directions 
and between the state and federal projects.
  The bill is supported by a great number of water users across the 
Central Valley, including: Friant Water Users Authority; San Joaquin 
River Exchange Contractors Authority; Delta-Mendota Canal Authority; 
Westlands Water District; Metropolitan Water District; Glen Colusa 
Irrigation District; Northern California Water Association; Banta-
Carbona Irrigation District; Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority; Association 
of California Water Agencies; Placer County Water Agency; Conaway 
Preservation Group; Reclamation District 2035; and San Luis Water 
District.
  Companion legislation is also being introduced today by 
Representatives Costa and Cardoza in the House of Representatives.
  There is no question that the drought and federal pumping 
restrictions have had huge impacts on Central Valley Agriculture.
  Nearly 500,000 acres of fields have been fallowed. Fields of fruit 
and nut trees have been stumped and uprooted. Some farmers simply chose 
to forego planting their row crops at all.
  The agricultural industry estimates that about $700 million in 
revenues have been lost.
  About 21,000 agriculture jobs have been lost, nearly all in San 
Joaquin Valley.
  For example, Mendota unemployment is currently 37.4 percent.
  Workers who once tended America's ``bread basket'' are now standing 
in bread lines.
  The impacts are not limited to agriculture:
  Urban areas like Los Angeles are imposing rate hikes for non-
conserving households, limiting lawn irrigation, and other conservation 
measures.
  Municipal industrial users south of Delta are restricted to 60 
percent of their contractual allocation.
  The truth is that this crisis has been building for some time--and 
there are several causes to blame.
  California's population is close to 40 million, but its water 
infrastructure hasn't been updated in three decades.
  Due to groundwater pumping, the Central Valley lost 60 million acre-
feet of groundwater since 1962.
  This year, Federal agencies imposed pumping restrictions to protect 
endangered species--yet there is some misconception about the scope of 
these restrictions.
  In 2009, roughly 25 percent of delivery shortages for farms and water 
users due to pumping restrictions, about 500,000 acre-feet.
  The other 75 percent of the restrictions were due to lack of run-off, 
about 1.6 million acre-feet.
  So, the drought is largely to blame for California's water shortages.
  Invasive and non-native species are also a threat. The non-native 
striped bass, although a popular sport fish, are top predators on 
native fish like the smelt.
  Pollution remains a problem, despite water quality standards. Ammonia 
discharge may be a problem from wastewater treatment discharge, and 
toxic insecticides accumulate and contribute to the deterioration of 
the ecosystem.
  So, California's water crisis is a complicated issue that cannot be 
simply solved by saying ``Turn on the Pumps.''
  It is clear that we need solutions for the Delta, both long-term and 
short-term.
  I am working with my colleagues on both.
  The bill we are introducing today will provide more flexibility in 
the system, allowing water to flow more freely around the Central 
Valley. Just this past water year, 600,000 acre feet were transferred 
around the Central Valley, and this bill will allow even more water to 
flow.
  But transfers alone cannot provide the entire solution--they are 
costly, and they are still constrained by the pumping restrictions.
  So this legislation is just one of several steps we are taking to 
provide timely relief to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley.
  In the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, there is $10 million for 
the construction of short term projects that could provide more water 
supply or flexibility, including Two Gates and the Intertie.
  We also provided funding for the science that will be relied on by 
the Bay Delta Conservation Plan--our best long-term option to restore 
the Delta and improve water supply.
  We also included funding for water recycling projects, and are 
working to authorize more projects to help communities develop local 
water supplies based on groundwater and desalination.
  Finally, there is $750,000 for the National Academy of Sciences 
review of the two biological opinions that currently govern water flows 
in the Central Valley. The independent scientific study, announced by 
Secretaries Salazar and Locke last week, should be completed within six 
months.
  The National Academy study will assess whether there are other ways 
to provide the same protections for endangered species, while supplying 
more water to the drought-stricken Central Valley. And it will put to 
rest any lingering questions about whether pumping restrictions in the 
Delta are based on the best available science.
  It is a critical step to moving forward with any near-term and long-
term solutions for the Delta.

[[Page S10220]]

  This bill we are introducing today is but one of several steps we are 
taking to address the water crisis in California.
  We look forward to an early hearing on this bill, and working with 
others towards its passage and implementation. I thank Senator Bingaman 
for his commitment to hold an early hearing on the bill.
  Mr. President, I ask that the text of the bill and the letters of 
support be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1759

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Water Transfer Facilitation 
     Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF IRRIGATION WATER TRANSFERS, CENTRAL 
                   VALLEY PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), the following 
     voluntary water transfers shall be considered to meet the 
     conditions described in subparagraphs (A) and (I) of section 
     3405(a)(1) of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and 
     Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-575; 106 Stat. 4709):
       (1) A transfer of irrigation water among Central Valley 
     Project contractors from the Friant, San Felipe, West San 
     Joaquin, and Delta divisions.
       (2) A transfer of water among current or prior temporary or 
     long-term water service, repayment, water rights settlement, 
     or exchange contractors within a division of the Central 
     Valley Project.
       (b) Condition.--A transfer under subsection (a) shall be 
     subject to the condition that the transfer not interfere 
     with--
       (1) the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act 
     (Public Law 111-11; 123 Stat. 1349), including the priorities 
     described in section 10004(a)(4)(B) of that Act (123 Stat. 
     1350) relating to implementation of paragraph 16 of the 
     Settlement (as defined in section 10003 of that Act (123 
     Stat. 1349)); and
       (2) the Settlement.

     SEC. 3. FACILITATION OF WATER TRANSFERS, CENTRAL VALLEY 
                   PROJECT.

       (a) In General.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
     through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife 
     Service and the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation 
     (referred to in this section as the ``Secretary''), using 
     such sums as are necessary, shall initiate and complete, on 
     the most expedited basis practicable, the programmatic 
     development of environmental documentation to facilitate 
     voluntary water transfers within the Central Valley Project.
       (b) Inclusions.--The environmental documentation under 
     subsection (a) shall include all applicable environmental 
     reviews, permitting, and consultations, including the 
     environmental documentation needed to address concerns with 
     respect to the Giant Garter Snake (Thamnophis gigas).

     SEC. 4. REPORT ON CENTRAL VALLEY PROJECT WATER TRANSFERS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than January 10, 2010, the 
     Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation (referred to in 
     this section as the ``Commissioner'') shall submit to the 
     appropriate committees of Congress a report that--
       (1) describes the status of efforts to help facilitate and 
     improve the water transfers under this Act; and
       (2) provides recommendations on ways to facilitate, and 
     improve the process for--
       (A) water transfers within the Central Valley Project; and
       (B) water transfers between the Central Valley Project and 
     State water projects.
       (b) Updates.--Not later than July 15, 2010, and every 180 
     days thereafter until the Commissioner determines that no 
     further Federal action is warranted or authorized with 
     respect to the water transfers under this Act, the 
     Commissioner shall update the report submitted under 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 5. TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.

       Section 3405(a)(1) of the Central Valley Project 
     Improvement Act (Public Law 102-575; 106 Stat. 4710) is 
     amended--
       (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``transfers to'' and 
     inserting ``transfers of''; and
       (2) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``to combination'' and 
     inserting ``or combination''.
                                  ____

                                         Association of California


                                               Water Agencies,

                                                  October 5, 2009.
     Re ACWA support for Water Transfer Legislation.

     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
     Senator Barbara Boxer,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC
       Dear Senators Feinstein and Boxer: Thank you for 
     introducing water transfer legislation for the Central Valley 
     Project (CVP) which ACWA is pleased to support. As 
     California's water supply challenges multiply, this 
     legislation can provide greater flexibility for management of 
     CVP water supplies. As you know, ACWA's 450 public agency 
     members are collectively responsible for 90 percent of the 
     water delivered in California for residential and 
     agricultural uses.
       California's water supply situation is dire and worsening. 
     Three years of below average precipitation along with heavy 
     regulatory restrictions through the ESA and Biological 
     Opinions, have seriously diminished California's water 
     supplies. Under these conditions, it is essential that short 
     term actions, such as provided by your legislation to 
     flexibly enable water supplies to move across the San Joaquin 
     Valley, be pursued.
       Again, thank you for introducing water transfer 
     legislation. ACWA looks forward to working with you to secure 
     its passage in an expedited manner.
           Sincerely,
                                                    Timothy Quinn,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____

                                                 San Joaquin River


                                              Water Authority,

                                 San Joaquin, CA, October 5, 2009.
     Re Support for Transfer Legislation for the Central Valley 
         Project.

     Senator Dianne Feinstein,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.

       Dear Senator Feinstein: On behalf of the San Joaquin River 
     Exchange Contractors Water Authority (Exchange Contractors), 
     we thank you for introducing transfer legislation for the 
     Central Valley Project (CVP) and we support your efforts and 
     this legislation as a means of providing greater flexibility 
     for management of CVP water supplies.
       The diminished water deliveries to the CVP as a result of 
     various regulatory restrictions, including the most recent 
     delta smelt and salmon Biological Opinions and three years of 
     below average precipitation statewide, have, as you know, 
     created a desperate situation in the San Joaquin Valley.
       While long-term solutions are being sought, numerous short 
     term efforts are needed to help bridge the water supply gap 
     and great flexibility, as provided in your legislation, to 
     move water supplies within the San Joaquin Valley would be a 
     useful tool.
       The Exchange Contractors consist of four member agencies 
     serving over 240,000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley in 
     Fresno, Madera, Merced, and Stanislaus Counties.
       We look forward to engaging in this effort and working 
     closely with you and your staff in advancing this legislation 
     and addressing California water issues.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Steve Chedester,
     Executive Director.
                                  ____



                                 Friant Water Users Authority,

                                     Lindsay, CA, October 1, 2009.
     Subject SUPPORT for Transfer legislation for the Central 
         Valley Project.

     Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Feinstein, On behalf of Friant Water Users 
     Authority (Authority), we thank you for introducing transfer 
     legislation for the Central Valley Project (CVP) and we 
     support your efforts and this legislation as a means of 
     providing greater flexibility for management of CVP water 
     supplies.
       The diminished water deliveries to the CVP as a result of 
     three years of below average precipitation amplified by 
     various regulatory restrictions, including the ESA and the 
     most recent delta smelt and salmon Biological Opinions, have, 
     as you know, created a desperate situation in the San Joaquin 
     Valley.
       While long-term solutions are being sought, numerous short 
     term efforts are needed to help bridge the water supply gap 
     and greater flexibility, as provided in your legislation, to 
     move water supplies across the San Joaquin Valley would be a 
     useful tool: In addition, the legislation would help Friant 
     districts affected by the SJR Settlement improve management 
     of surface and groundwater supplies.
       The Authority consists of nineteen member water, irrigation 
     and public utility districts. The Friant Service area 
     includes approximately one million acres and 15,000 mostly 
     small family farms on the east side of the southern San 
     Joaquin Valley (Madera, Fresno, Tulare and Kern County). 
     Friant Division water supplies are also relied upon by 
     several cities and towns, including the City of Fresno, as a 
     major portion of their municipal and industrial water 
     supplies.
       We look forward to engaging in this effort and working 
     closely with you and your staff in advancing this legislation 
     and addressing California water issues.
           Sincerely,
                                               Ronald D. Jacobsma,
     Consulting General Manager.
                                  ____



                                   Placer County Water Agency,

                                      Auburn, CA, October 6, 2009.
     Re Support for Central Valley Project water transfer 
         legislation.

     Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
     U.S. Senate, Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC

       Dear Senator Feinstein: On behalf of Placer County Water 
     Agency (PCWA), we thank you for introducing legislation 
     authorizing and establishing a programmatic approach to 
     promote and manage water transfers in California. We support 
     your efforts and this legislation as a means of providing 
     greater regulatory certainty for the management of Central 
     Valley Project (CVP) water supplies for water users.

[[Page S10221]]

       As you may be aware, PCWA has participated in water 
     transfers in the past to help meet the needs of water users 
     within the CVP and is intimately aware of the impacts 
     diminished water deliveries cause to farmers and communities. 
     Because of PCWA's experience with previous water transfers, 
     we also would like an opportunity to meet you and your staff 
     to discuss additional regulatory improvements to Reclamation 
     law that would streamline future transfers.
       Because of below average precipitation and regulatory 
     requirements placed upon the CVP and its water users through 
     the requirements established by the recent National Marine 
     Fisheries Service biological opinions for endangered smelt 
     and salmon, the impact to water users is severe. Your 
     legislation will provide much needed relief in the form of a 
     flexible and useful tool that will allow water to be 
     transferred from willing parties to those in need within the 
     State of California.
       We look forward to working with you and your staff in the 
     coming months in this important legislative effort, and 
     appreciate your leadership in advancing this legislation and 
     addressing California water issues so important to our 
     collective future.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Graham L. Allen,
     Chairman, Board of Directors.
                                  ____

                                            The Metropolitan Water


                              District of Southern California,

                                 Los Angeles, CA, October 5, 2009.
     Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: The Metropolitan Water District of 
     Southern California is pleased to support the legislation you 
     are introducing related to water transfers for the Central 
     Valley Project (CVP). This legislation will help provide good 
     water management while providing flexibility for CVP 
     customers.
       As a regional wholesale water provider, Metropolitan 
     provides water for nearly 19 million people throughout our 
     six-county service area in Southern California. As 
     Metropolitan and the entire state continue to address water 
     supply challenges throughout California, the vitality of our 
     economy and environment has been seriously affected. Your 
     proposed legislation will help address these critically 
     important issues.
       Please let me know if we can be helpful in any way.
           Sincerely,
                                              Jeffrey Kightlinger,
     General Manager.
                                  ____

                                               Northern California


                                            Water Association,

                                  Sacramento, CA, October 2, 2009.
     Re support for water transfer legislation.

     Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: On behalf of the Northern 
     California Water Association (NCWA), we thank you for 
     introducing legislation authorizing and establishing a 
     permanent long-term program to promote and manage water 
     transfers in the Central Valley of California. We support 
     your efforts and this legislation as a means of providing 
     greater flexibility in the management of Central Valley 
     Project (CVP) and other water supplies to help meet unmet 
     needs critical to the future of the State of California.
       As you are aware, the devastating impacts of diminished 
     water deliveries to the CVP as a result of three years of 
     below average precipitation have been made even greater by 
     the various regulatory restrictions, including the 
     requirements established by the recent federal biological 
     opinions for endangered fish under the ESA. Your legislation 
     will provide immediate, much needed relief in the form of a 
     flexible and useful tool that will allow water to be 
     transferred from willing parties to those in need within the 
     CVP.
       NCWA was formed in 1992 to present a unified voice working 
     to resolve California's water issues and protect the water 
     rights and supplies of the diverse Northern California 
     region, now and into the future. NCWA represents 54 
     agricultural water districts and agencies, private water 
     companies, and individual water rights holders with rights 
     and entitlements to the surface waters and groundwater 
     resources of the Sacramento Valley. Many of our members can 
     and will actively participate in this water transfer program. 
     The language in your legislation directing the Bureau of 
     Reclamation to work with other federal agencies to implement 
     the necessary long-term environmental processes addressing 
     impacts of a water transfer program on the ESA-listed Giant 
     Garter Snake will be imperative to its usefulness and 
     success.
       We look forward to working with you and your staff in the 
     coming months in this important legislative effort, and 
     appreciate your leadership in advancing this legislation and 
     addressing California water issues so important to our 
     collective future.
           Sincerely,
                                                         Donn Zea,
     President and CEO.
                                  ____



                                     Westlands Water District,

                                      Fresno, CA, October 6, 2009.
     Re Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009.

     Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Feinstein: I am writing on behalf of Westlands 
     Water District to express its support for your bill, the 
     Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009, authorizing certain 
     transfers of water in the Central Valley Project and other 
     purposes. Water transfers are a critical tool for providing 
     water supplies for areas that are faced with chronic water 
     supply shortages. However, the approval process for many 
     transfers often distract from their usefulness. Your 
     legislation will bring important reform to existing transfer 
     authorization thus increasing the efficacy of this essential 
     water management tool.
       As you are keenly aware, the chronic water supply shortages 
     impacting the area of the San Joaquin Valley served by the 
     Central Valley Project demands that water users in the 
     affected area rely on water transfers. Moreover, the need to 
     transfer water is often urgent and in response to climactic 
     conditions that are frequently sporadic and ephemeral. 
     Regrettably, bureaucratic process can unnecessarily thwart 
     successful execution of a transfer. The clarity your 
     legislation brings to existing authorizations will only 
     improve the capability of water managers throughout the State 
     to effectively respond to the ongoing crisis and put our 
     scant water resources to use even more efficiently.
       The westside of the San Joaquin Valley is inarguably the 
     most transfer dependent region of the State. Your efforts to 
     address this important matter are greatly appreciated. If 
     there is anything I can do to be of help in connection with 
     your efforts, please let me know.
           Very truly yours,
                                             Thomas W. Birmingham,
     General Manager General Counsel.
                                  ____

                                        San Luis and Delta Mendota


                                              Water Authority,

                                   Los Banos, CA, October 5, 2009.
     Re Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009.

     Hon. Dianne Feinstein,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Barbara Boxer,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Dennis Cardoza,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Jim Costa,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer, Mr. Cardoza, and Mr. 
     Costa: I am writing on behalf of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota 
     Water Authority to express our enthusiastic support for your 
     bill, the Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009, 
     authorizing certain transfers of water in the Central Valley 
     Project and other purposes. Water transfers are essential to 
     sound water management and often are time sensitive. Your 
     legislation will bring important reform to existing transfer 
     authorization thus increasing the efficacy of this essential 
     water management tool.
       As you are keenly aware, coping with California's water 
     crisis and, in particular, the chronic water supply shortages 
     impacting the Central Valley Project demands utilization of 
     various best management practices including water transfers. 
     Moreover, the need to transfer water is often urgent and in 
     response to climactic conditions that are frequently sporadic 
     and ephemeral. Regrettably, bureaucratic process can 
     unnecessarily thwart successful execution of a transfer and 
     the best management of this all too precious resource. The 
     clarity your legislation brings to existing authorizations 
     will only improve the capability of water managers throughout 
     the State to effectively respond to the ongoing crisis and 
     put our scant water resources to use even more efficiently.
       The Westside of the great San Joaquin Valley is inarguably 
     the most transfer dependent region of the State. Your efforts 
     to address this important matter as well as your vast 
     knowledge of and longstanding commitment to water resource 
     issues vital to the State are most deeply appreciated. If 
     there is anything I can do to be of further service to you in 
     this cause, please do not hesitate to call.
           Very truly yours,
                                                  Daniel G Nelson,
                                               Executive Director.

  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to discuss the Water Transfer 
Facilitation Act of 2009. Senator Feinstein and I have introduced this 
legislation to facilitate voluntary water transfers within the San 
Joaquin Valley.
  Three years of below-average precipitation have restricted water 
supplies for much of California. Drought conditions have particularly 
affected agricultural communities in the San Joaquin Valley.
  As a result of these water shortages, more than 500,000 acres of 
cropland have been fallowed in the San Joaquin Valley, and some cities 
on the west side of the Valley are facing nearly 40 percent 
unemployment.
  Senator Feinstein and I have worked with Representatives Cardoza and 
Costa to identify measures to address these water shortages. We 
included a measure in the Energy and Water appropriations bill allowing 
voluntary

[[Page S10222]]

water transfers between water users on the east and west side of the 
San Joaquin Valley.
  The final provision included in the conference report will allow 
these transfers for a two-year trial period. We are now seeking to 
extend this provision permanently and to enable more water users to 
participate in these transfers.
  In addition, our legislation directs the Department of the Interior 
to use a programmatic approach to environmental review for certain 
types of water transfers, helping to expedite them.
  Finally, it requires the Department of the Interior to prepare a 
report and recommendations on how to facilitate water transfers 
throughout California, including between the State and Federal water 
projects.
  These water transfers are an important tool for improving flexibility 
in managing water supplies, providing a mechanism for getting water to 
those communities who need it most. Preliminary estimates suggest that 
this legislation may enable the transfer of as much as 250,000 to 
300,000 acre-feet of water per year to communities in need. This will 
provide a crucial resource to agricultural communities in California 
that lost 90 percent of their expected water allocations this year.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and in the 
California delegation to advance this important legislation.

                          ____________________