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<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">For Immediate Release</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">February 10, 2016</span></div>
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<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><b><span style="font-size:20.0pt;">Feinstein Introduces Revised Drought Relief Bill</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Long-term provisions invest in water storage, desalination, recycling</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Short-term provisions adhere to environmental laws, sunset after two years or when drought emergency ends, whichever is later</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;"> </span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Bill does not violate Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, biological opinions</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">
<i>Washington</i>—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced the <i><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DDF800144-2DC532-2D4C53-2D9237-2DEBCE847F6D55&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=Nrq0zFOfYFwTtJE_-Od8ff9msCXqA3uGJl0_Wvreyxg&e=">California
Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act</a></i>, an updated bill to provide both long- and short-term solutions to the historic drought in California.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “The Central Valley Project and the State Water Project are the two key systems that move water from Northern California to Southern
California—both were largely completed by the 1970s, when 16 million people lived in California. Today, the state is home to 40 million people, but we have essentially the same water system we had four decades ago.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “Projects to store additional water in reservoirs and create new water through recycling and desalination have fallen woefully
behind. Investments in these vital projects have lagged, which means communities and businesses throughout the state have felt the water pinch.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “Finally, the biological opinions adopted several years ago to govern when and how much water can be moved through the water systems
don’t reflect the most recent science. More water could safely be pumped during high-rainfall periods like winter storms, while continuing to protect fish if we were to employ regular monitoring of water turbidity and locations of fish.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “Failure to apply this updated science means that extra water from high river flows—as we’re seeing during the current El Niño—is
flowing into the ocean, water that could instead be safely pumped and stored for later use.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “There’s no question that the drought has resulted in significant human suffering, from lost jobs to dried-up wells to families
forced from their homes.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “That’s why we need congressional action, and we need it now. California signaled that it’s ready by enacting a $7.5 billion water
bond. It’s time Washington followed suit.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “Drafting this bill has been difficult, probably the hardest bill I’ve worked on in my 23 years in the Senate. But it’s important,
and that’s why we’ve been working so hard, holding dozens and dozens of meetings and revising the bill over and over again to incorporate feedback from stakeholder groups.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “The revised bill I’m introducing today is the product of two years of work. It includes provisions from Democrats and Republicans
alike. It reflects input from environmental groups, water districts, state agencies, cities, rural communities, fishermen, and the agricultural industry. There was also an extensive consultation process with federal agencies, all of which agree that the bill
remains consistent with the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and the biological opinions. This has been an open process, and I believe this bill is the best we can do.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “This bill won’t be everything for everyone—candidly, that’s not possible with California water policy. But I believe the bill
strikes the right balance. It invests $1.3 billion in defined long-term projects while making targeted, temporary changes to water operations that only last for the length of the drought or two years, whichever is longer, and which do not violate environmental
laws.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “Where we found opposition to the bill, it was most frequently with groups that want no legislation at all. But as a senator who
represents the entire state of California, inaction is simply not an option.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “I recognize that any bill in the Republican-led House will be far more aggressive on the short-term operational provisions and
downplay the long-term provisions. But such a bill would never pass the Senate. What has become clear is that each region of the state and each stakeholder group has its own vested interest, and this makes consensus extraordinarily difficult.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “The lesson is that we need a balanced bill that will help us get through the current drought and make long-term investments to
modernize our water infrastructure and prepare for future droughts. And that’s what this bill does.</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> “I’m hopeful that Chairman Lisa Murkowski and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell will hold a markup on this bill and the Senate will
take it up for debate. The West is counting on us, and it’s time we take real action.”</span></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Consultation process</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Over the last two years, hundreds of meetings and discussions took place to review every part of the bill. Feedback was incorporated into the bill from congressional
Republicans and Democrats, environmental groups, water districts, cities, rural communities, fishermen, and farmers. As a product of these meetings, staff made more than 40 modifications to the bill in the past three weeks alone.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> In addition to those groups, the bill was reviewed extensively by federal and state agencies to ensure it would remain within the bounds of environmental laws
and biological opinions. Every suggestion or recommendation from these agencies was resolved and included in the final bill. The following is a list of agencies consulted during this process:</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Department of the Interior</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Department of Commerce</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Bureau of Reclamation</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">NOAA Fisheries</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">White House Council on Environmental Quality</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">California Natural Resources Agency</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">California Department of Water Resources</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">California Department of Fish and Wildlife</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Office of the Governor Jerry Brown</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Support for bill</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> The following letters of support were received in advance of the bill’s introduction:</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DD0C9A421-2D25B1-2D440C-2DA956-2DF99EEF38F809&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=fP6FWCL9noNc_OV_JF_eUegxj1qDKZ3mb8eXJaa7aZI&e=">Congressman
John Garamendi</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3D2068390B-2DFFBE-2D4E13-2DA76F-2D5FB9C4EBE57A&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=myojH6YwcmjSopeL0CJ42wH8N29PALEfQuQexw2hcZU&e=">Glenn-Colusa
Irrigation District</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DF2D11544-2DBBA4-2D4F10-2DB3EA-2DE12141150168&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=2kwQzkOBUvDeDOkGOP0u3MQ3Sl2rGdyQqNaxc6IOWbs&e=">Monterey
Peninsula Water Management District</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3D352835CB-2DC259-2D4439-2D848F-2D14A0A8DA1396&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=6cd-aGAP6jc5NeT-UusrqGmh5IKT71FFLvJ7dv8omk0&e=">Monterey
Regional Water Pollution Control Agency</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DCE081A37-2DF5B2-2D4BB9-2DA21A-2D360D8745B9E6&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=NBSUIeVz4WkKhbTY_eeqI61BuhCL4YZHiY1G2p5atQo&e=">North
Bay Water Reuse Program</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DFA0F646F-2D3F8F-2D4E85-2DB9A8-2D28F43FF08362&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=Yo4t01q09ioZYynvc5Si5a5XZuEJnTAcDVh2pJLd8e8&e=">Reclamation
District 108</a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DE4276D69-2DBB0C-2D4AF4-2D9E31-2D030BBFE65E51&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=k1k03oVbp4eiXuX6xoUikOLWVpDL6_W7RB560GznRN4&e=">Ducks
Unlimited</a></span></div>
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Valley Water Association</a></span></div>
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Contra Costa Sanitary District</a></span></div>
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Diablo District</a></span></div>
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Water District</a></span></div>
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Ranch Water District</a></span></div>
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Virgenes Municipal Water District</a></span></div>
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California Water Association</a></span></div>
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City</a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3D1FE53C9D-2DEC9F-2D4ABA-2D9243-2D248CB5C9224C&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=nYWbW2r_criKnbCJmKXVSzw51E9nYeuvr_6X8A2avlo&e=">Victor
Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority</a></span></div>
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</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3DB6E60473-2D31C0-2D49F8-2D8B10-2DA9F75CFFB532&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=YHi8-FW3Sl_xMRQq-Q69xtRrGZpxJdmrYtcxrvuiD6U&e=">West
Bay Sanitary District</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3D878E12A8-2D1DC6-2D4860-2D92AC-2DFA8751A4212F&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=tY8cxkQTeiHqugOvfsAPL0Q8Wf9pRkSV5RyUv8yXXK8&e=">Orange
County Water District</a></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><i><span style="font-size:16.0pt;">Summary of legislation</span></i></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> A summary of the bill follows:</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Assistance for drought-stricken communities</span></u></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Many rural and disadvantaged communities throughout California are at risk of running out of clean water. Approximately 2,520 wells
are already dry or will soon run dry, endangering an estimated 12,600 residents. As more wells and other water supplies dry up, the federal government has an obligation to step up and help affected communities and California families.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style="background:white;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Allows rural and disadvantaged communities with fewer than 60,000 residents to apply for grants through the Bureau of Reclamation to help stabilize their water supplies. Funds can be used for both short-term solutions such
as emergency bottled water supplies as well as long-term solutions such as water treatment facilities, wells and connecting homes to centralized water distribution systems.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background:white;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Prioritizes State Revolving Funds for communities most at risk of running out of water. By directing funds to these communities most at risk, the bill provides the State with the tools necessary to provide water for public
health and safety and to increase drought resiliency.</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><u>Desalination</u></b></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> Major desalination projects like the $1 billion Poseidon plant in Carlsbad (which will soon generate enough water to supply 300,000 San Diego County residents) prove that new technology is quickly making
desalination a viable option for many communities. The bill lists 27 desalination projects identified by California capable of producing more than 352,000 acre-feet of water per year. The bill would enable the federal government to help support desalination
projects and research, with the goal of further reducing costs and environmental impacts.</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Reauthorizes the <i>Desalination Act</i> and authorizes $50 million over five years for feasibility and design for both sea and brackish water desalination projects.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Reauthorizes the <i>Desalination Act</i> and authorizes an additional $50 million over five years for desalination research projects, such as improving existing reverse osmosis and membrane technology, reducing the environmental
effects of seawater desalination and developing next-generation technologies to reduce the cost of desalination.
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><u>Storage projects</u></b></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> Given the consensus that droughts will grow more severe and the storms that follow more devastating, storing water during wet years for use in dry years is vital. The severity of this drought has highlighted
the inadequacy of California’s reservoir capacity. The bill takes steps to both promote the building of new reservoirs and increase the capacity of existing reservoirs.</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span>
Establishes deadlines for the Bureau of Reclamation to complete feasibility studies to allow Calfed storage projects to compete for Proposition 1 bond funds.</div>
<div style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span>
Authorizes $600 million for Calfed water storage projects, which may include both federal projects (Shasta) and non-federal projects (Sites, Temperance Flat, Los Vaqueros).</div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Updates Army Corps dam operations to increase water supply while reducing flood risk.
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><u>Water recycling, conservation and efficiency</u></b></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> Major advancements have been made in the field of water recycling. Orange County Water District, for example, recently completed an expansion of its water reuse facility to provide more than 100 million
gallons per day. As communities continue to conserve water, more can be done to support these projects.
</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Surveys conducted by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, the Water Reuse Association, the Association of California Water Agencies, the Western Recycled Water Coalition and the California Association of Sanitation
Agencies led to the identification of 110 potential recycling projects with the ability to produce 1.06 million acre-feet of water annually.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Authorizes $200 million in increased funds for the Bureau of Reclamation’s water recycling and reuse program (Title XVI) to help fund projects to reclaim and reuse wastewaters and naturally impaired ground and surface water.
This provision would also remove the burdensome congressional requirement for the authorization of specific projects.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Authorizes an EPA program to label water-efficient products for consumers, similar to the popular Energy Star program.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Authorizes a Department of the Interior program to establish an open system with data on water quality, climate and weather effects, and erosion, which would be accessible to the public online.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Additional funding programs</span></u></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> By providing funds for the most cost-effective federal programs, Washington can help state and local agencies leverage existing dollars into larger projects.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Loan guarantees:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Authorizes $200 million for the
<i>Reclamation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act</i> (RIFIA). This loan-guarantee program will allow water districts and municipalities to leverage loans and loan guarantees for water projects, reducing loan repayment costs by as much as 25 percent.
This is modeled after TIFIA, a successful federal loan-guarantee program for transportation projects.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">WaterSMART:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Authorizes $150 million in increased funds for the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program to help finance water reclamation and reuse projects as well as water
efficiency initiatives. This provision would also create a new grant program for integrated regional water management, reclamation and recycling, with a maximum federal contribution capped at $20 million or 25 percent of a project’s cost.
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><u>Protecting endangered and threatened fish and wildlife</u></b></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Authorizes $55 million for a number of short-term, low-cost proposals to protect and assist in the protection and recovery of fish
populations, including Delta salmon and smelt. </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Trapping and barging:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Authorizes $4 million to trap and barge fish to reduce mortality rates on migration through the Delta.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Predator species:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Addresses key stressors on fish populations including limiting invasive species like striped bass and removing predator habitat, to be paid for by participating
water districts. </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Spawning habitat:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Authorizes $21 million to assist in protection and recovery of fish, including the addition of improved spawning habitat.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Water system management:</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Authorizes $20 million for federal agencies to manage the water system more precisely using updated science and tools, including smelt distribution studies.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Actions to benefit refuges: </span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Authorizes $2 million annually for five years for improved conveyance of water to refuges to help restore and protect critical wetland habitat for
wildlife, one of the goals of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act. </span>
</div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><b><u>Provisions for emergency operations during the drought</u></b></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> The bill includes short-term operational provisions to take advantage of El Niño storms and provide urgently-needed water supplies during the drought. These
provisions are limited to the duration of the governor’s drought declaration or two years, whichever is longer.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> The operational language was carefully drafted over 18 months of close consultation with the federal agencies that implement the Endangered Species Act. The agencies agree that the bill’s provisions remain
consistent with the ESA and related biological opinions. </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> Some critics say no operational reforms are necessary because water agencies are already pumping as much water as possible. A review of flow levels since the beginning of the year shows that is not the
case. </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> Flows in the Sacramento River reached as high as 50,000 cubic feet per second in January 2016. Yet when flows were at their peak, pumping levels actually
<i>decreased</i> to -2,500 cubic feet per second in the Old and Middle rivers, the low end of what is allowed.</div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> One reason for reduced pumping levels was concern about a “turbidity bridge” forming. This occurs when cloudy waters (which attract smelt) stretch from the
central to the south Delta where pumps are located, increasing the threat to smelt. The cloudy water subsided, but agencies continued to restrict pumping without sufficient evidence of smelt near the pumps.
<b>The water system must be operated based on real-time monitoring information, not intuition, the goal of the bill that was introduced today.</b>
</span></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.feinstein.senate.gov_public_index.cfm-3Fa-3Dfiles.serve-26File-5Fid-3D881F26BE-2D424F-2D4D88-2DA55F-2D75FD2E41011E&d=CwMFAw&c=B73tqXN8Ec0ocRmZHMCntw&r=jotZA5kqPXDR8yg6ZY87yMSWUJ-PwJgDWfpfuVCizSU&m=L7k5gYSZXeT519YSrTYYB_Kwo8-Yc73wgdFbD5eNAno&s=kAhUMUBMF3gwAxi_DUTSXG1QDRLcVEpAWKRFoM1BLXU&e="><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none;"><img border="0" width="611" height="364" id="yiv0368694030_x0000_i1026" src="cid:SVsRrQYn8JIiXHZjB69T" data-id="43d4f253-5672-c1c7-62f5-8bebd9b4beec"></span></a></div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> The bill would increase real-time monitoring of turbidity and the location of threatened and endangered fish. The bill would also require agencies to take into account this improved data in explaining
decisions to reduce pumping. These provisions will help make the water-delivery system more efficient during the drought, and do so
<b>without any mandated pumping levels</b>.</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> The bill includes eight provisions to allow more water to be captured and stored during the drought. These provisions would last for the duration of the governor’s drought declaration or two years, whichever
is longer.</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;"> </div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style=""><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">1.</span></b><b><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span></b><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Improved data to operate pumps at higher levels when no fish are present and reduce pumping levels when fish are nearby.</span></u></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:89.1pt;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Requiring <b>daily boat monitoring to survey for smelt near the pumps</b> when turbidity levels are high, so that pumping reductions are made based on the facts.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:89.1pt;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Authorizing studies to identify smelts’ location in the Delta on a real-time basis.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:89.1pt;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Authorizing a Delta Smelt Distribution Study to
<b>identify how many smelt are in different parts of the Delta</b> in drier and wetter years. This is critical to know what limitations the agencies can impose on pumping.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">2.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Allow agencies to keep the additional water they are able to pump during winter storms.</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:89.1pt;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">The bill authorizes agencies to increase pumping during winter storms, using their best judgment to determine when and by how much.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:89.1pt;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Once the storms end, the agencies would no longer be required to “payback” water already pumped unless there was an environmental reason, such as harm to fish.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:89.1pt;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">This so-called “payback” has led to the loss of tens of thousands of acre-feet. Payback currently requires agencies to reduce subsequent water pumping by an equal amount of water as was captured during the storms, which
means the loss of tens of thousands acre-feet of water that could instead be stored or transferred for use throughout the state.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style=""><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">3.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Agencies must explain reductions in pumping under the Delta Smelt Biological Opinion.</span></u></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.25in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">The bill does not impose any mandated pumping levels, instead leaving those pumping levels up to the discretion of the water agencies. But
<b>the bill does require officials to justify the levels at which they pump under the smelt biological opinion</b>.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">By requiring written justification for the level of pumping, the bill attempts to maximize the amount of water pumped by directing officials to consider whether real-time monitoring justifies lowering pumping levels. The
agencies must explain their decisions based on improved data, not just rely on their intuition.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.25in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">To be clear, the revised text does not include any pumping mandate. A provision was removed that would have mandated pumping at -5000 cubic feet per second in the Old and Middle Rivers, unless pumping at these levels would
cause additional adverse effects on the Delta smelt. </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">4.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span>
<u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Agencies must maximize water supplies consistent with applicable laws and biological opinions.</span></u></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.25in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Federal agencies should be capable of doing more than one thing at once: they should try to both protect species and provide reliable water supplies.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.25in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">The bill makes very clear that the agencies cannot harm the fish in violation of the biological opinions—but
<b>within this environmental protection mandate</b> <b>the agencies should try to increase water supplies</b>.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.25in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">This requirement complements the additional requirement that agencies must explain any harm to fish that results from a reduction in water supplies.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">5.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span>
<u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Open Delta Cross-Channel Gates more often. </span>
</u></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left:1.3in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to take actions to ensure the Delta Cross Channel Gates remain open to the greatest extent possible, consistent with state and federal law.<i> </i></span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.3in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Keeping the gates open for longer helps both Delta farmers and communities and South of Delta communities</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">. Keeping the gates open means that water from the Sacramento River is
used to control salinity instead of releasing water from the Central Valley Project (like Folsom or San Luis) that would otherwise be pumped south.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left:1.3in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">When the gates are closed, water no longer flows directly from the Sacramento River into the interior Delta.
</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left:1.3in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">The gate’s closures means that the agencies must either reduce pumping or use stored water to “flush” salty water back out through the Delta.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> Given that California never has enough water, water transfers are a mechanism to use the voluntary, market process to move water to those who truly need it.
The bill includes three provisions to increase water transfers. </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">6.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span>
<u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">Extending the time period for water transfers by five months.</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> The bill extends by five months the time period when transfers may take place. The current transfer window of July through
September is extended to April through November. This would allow water transfers to be available during the spring planting season. All transfers must remain consistent with the biological opinions and their adaptive management provisions.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:.75in;">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;">7.</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span>
<u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">The 1:1 transfer ratio.</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> The strong El Niño means more water is likely to be available for voluntary transfers from willing sellers with extra water to buyers downstream who need water.
This provision helps facilitate those transfers in April and May by allowing a 1:1 transfer ratio. In past years, agencies have reduced the likelihood of transfers by requiring water users to send more water downstream than can be pumped out (up to a 4:1 ratio).
By allowing for a 1:1 ratio—while adhering to environmental law and biological opinions—more water transfers can be accomplished, providing water to users who truly need it.</span></div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:.75in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1455130925266_75111">
8.<span style="font-size:7.0pt;"> </span><u>Expediting review of transfers and the construction of barriers.</u> Environmental reviews of water transfers and the installation of temporary barriers must be completed within 60 days, unless an environmental
impact statement is required.</div>
<div style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1455130925266_75113"> </div>
<div class="yiv0368694030MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;">###</span></div>
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