[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2496-E2497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WATER TRANSFER FACILITATION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS A. CARDOZA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 8, 2009

  Mr. CARDOZA. Madam Speaker, due to overwhelming response from water 
users in the Central Valley, I am compelled today to introduce 
additional letters of support for the Water Transfer Facilitation Act 
of 2009. The bill would grant authority to the Bureau of Reclamation to 
approve voluntary water transfers between sellers and buyers in the San 
Joaquin Valley and streamline environmental reviews for Central Valley 
water transfers.
  The bill is supported by a great number of water users across the 
Central Valley, including the following: 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; and Reclamation District 2035.
  Thank you.

                                                         PCWA,

                                                  October 6, 2009.
     Hon. Jim Costa,
     1314 Longworth House Office Building, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.

     Re Support of Central Valley Project Water Transfer 
     Legislation.

       Dear Congressman Costa: 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.
       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,

                                   Placer County Water Agency,

                                                  Graham L. Allen,
                                     Chairman, Board of Directors.
                                  ____
                                  


                                   Conaway Preservation Group,

                                       Woodland, CA, Oct. 2, 2009.
     Re Support for water transfer legislation:

     Hon. Jim Costa,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Costa: On behalf of the Conaway 
     Preservation Group, LLC (CPG), 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. Further, the language in your legislation directing the 
     Bureau of Reclamation to work with other federal agencies to 
     develop the necessary long-term environmental documentation 
     addressing impacts of a water transfer program on the ESA-
     listed Giant Garter Snake is a critical and necessary near-
     term next step.
       CPG owns the Conaway Ranch in Yolo County. The Conaway 
     Ranch property covers more than 17,000 acres on the west side 
     of the Sacramento River between the cities of Davis and 
     Woodland. Conaway Ranch has been operated for many years to 
     meet goals of agricultural production and waterfowl/wildlife 
     habitat. Approximately 40 percent of the Ranch is located 
     within the Yolo Bypass and the remainder lies west of the 
     bypass. Conaway Ranch's water rights and Bureau of 
     Reclamation Settlement Contract are held by CPG. CPG's 
     Settlement Contract water is a major contributor to the 
     Conaway Ranch water supply during its annual summer 
     operational term of April 1 through October 31.
       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

[[Page E2497]]

     and addressing California water issues so important to our 
     collective future.
           Sincerely,

                                           Tovey Giezentanner,

                                                President and CEO,
     Conaway Preservation Group, LLC.
                                  ____



                                    Reclamation District 2035,

                                    Woodland, CA, October 6, 2009.
     Re Support for water transfer legislation.

     Hon. Jim Costa,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Costa: On behalf of Reclamation District 
     2035, 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. 
     Reclamation District 2035 (RD 2035) was formed in 1919 to 
     provide flood control and water delivery for approximately 
     22,000 acres in Yolo County, California. While RD2035 does 
     not own water rights, it is responsible for the delivery of 
     CVP water to its agricultural customers whose crops represent 
     the top three agricultural commodities in Yolo County.
       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. Further, the language in your legislation directing the 
     Bureau of Reclamation to work with other federal agencies to 
     develop the necessary long-term environmental documentation 
     addressing impacts of a water transfer program on the ESA-
     listed Giant Garter Snake is a critical and necessary near-
     term next step.
       We look forward to working with you and your staff on this 
     important legislative effort.
           Sincerely,
                                              Regina J. Cherovsky,
     Chairperson.

                          ____________________