Dear Friends, 

    This morning I testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the California Water Drought. I thought it was necessary to point out the federally-imposed pumping restrictions puts a species of fish – the delta smelt – before the water needs of Californians. 

    I stated to the Committee that the current drought is not like other droughts. In addition to suffering from a natural dry spell, California is also suffering from a federally-imposed dry spell. In December 2007, a federal judge ordered restrictions on water project operations in the Bay-Delta to help protect a threatened fish species, the delta smelt. Combined with the dry conditions, the impact of the federally-imposed pumping restrictions is extraordinary. In total, the federally imposed water restrictions have resulted in the loss of nearly a third of the water supply that 25 million Californians depend on from the Delta operations. 

    I told the Members of the Committee that if the federal government is going to continue to give federal agencies the authority to take actions that kill jobs and harm our economy for the benefit of species, then the American people deserve clear and undeniable evidence that those actions are in fact benefiting the species (I don’t believe that such evidence exists). 

    As the former the former Chairman of the House Water and Power Subcommittee, I understand that we must work to maintain and enhance a reliable water supply in California and our nation. In 2004 I was able to pass, H.R. 2828, the Water Supply, Reliability and Environmental Enhancement Act, and it was signed into law. This federal reauthorization of the California-Federal Bay Delta Program (CALFED) plays a critical role in developing new water yield and adequate storage. 

    Since I was first elected to Congress I have spent a considerable amount of my time and energy trying to address the water challenges in California. In my quest for long-term solutions, I have always been willing to reach across the aisle and I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans to tackle California’s water challenges.

Sincerely,

Ken Calvert
MEMBER OF CONGRESS

Calvert water Legislation includes:

City of Corona Water Recycling and Reuse Project, H.R. 567 - Authorizes a reclamation system to enable the City of Corona to provide recycled water to parks, landscape maintenance districts, schools, landscaped freeway frontages and any other project that does not require potable water.

Riverside-Corona Feeder Project, H.R. 38 - Authorizes the planning, design, and construction of the Riverside-Corona Feeder water supply project, which includes 20 groundwater wells, groundwater treatment facilities, water storage and pumping facilities, and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.

South Orange County Recycled Water Enhancement Act, H.R. 637 - Authorizes two water reclamation projects in south Orange County: San Juan Capistrano Recycled Water System which would provide up to 9 million-gallons-per-day (MGD) of reclaimed water per year and the San Clemente Reclaimed Water Project which would expand San Clemente’s reclaimed water infrastructure by doubling its production capacity.