<p>This Thursday, the Senate <b>unanimously passed the Emergency Drought Relief Act</b>, which could provide federal and state water agencies with additional flexibility to deliver water where it is most needed during California’s historic drought. Next up, the act must <b>now be reconciled with a separate bill passed by the House</b> of Representatives. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Following the passage of the Feinstein/Boxer Drought Relief Act in the Senate, <b>Western Growers</b> released a statement in which <b>Dennis Nuxoll, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs</b> for Western Growers, noted, “We are pleased that the drought bill has moved out of the Senate. The effort by Senators Feinstein and Boxer to convince their Republican and Democratic colleagues of California’s pressing need for action has been commendable, and we applaud that significant effort. We are also aware of Members of the California Republican House delegation to reach out to Senate Republicans to lend help and sincerely appreciate it.”</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><img src="https://cdn.andnowuknow.com/legacyWriterImages/dennis-wg-body-image-edit.jpg" alt="cropped_image_052214" /><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The statement noted that members of the Western Growers Board of Directors spent this week in Washington where every conversation concerning water translated the urgency and weight of the issue. “Our board members, some of whom are suffering already from the effects of the drought, are all convinced that the leaders who are going to be part of the conference negotiations are all resolved to accomplish something for the greater good,” Nuxoll noted.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>In a statement after the passage, Senator Feinstein said, “The next step is working with the House to determine what measures we can agree on to improve water supplies. My hope is that this process can proceed quickly and bypass many of the controversial issues that have been raised in the past. While we do need long-term solutions to the state’s water problems, the bill the Senate passed today authorizes immediate actions to help California, and I think that’s what we must focus on and reach agreement quickly.”<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The Emergency Drought Relief Act is a narrowly-focused bill to address the most dire effects of drought in California. The bill leaves federal laws and regulations untouched—including the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act and all biological opinions. Its goal is to cut red tape and increase operational flexibility for federal agencies.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>The bill includes <b>five key provisions for California to maximize water supplies</b> during the drought while operating within environmental laws and regulations:<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• Federal agencies must open the Delta Cross Channel Gates for as long as possible</b> while salmon are not migrating, which will allow additional water to be pumped without harming fish or water quality.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• The Bureau of Reclamation is required to monitor turbid (cloudy or opaque) water,</b> which will allow water pumping operations to be adjusted when endangered fish that are attracted to turbid waters swim close to pumps.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• Movement of voluntary water transfers must remain at a one-to-one ratio for the months of April and May</b> while the governor’s drought declaration remains in effect. This means any water transfers sent down the San Joaquin River are allowed to be pumped out of the Delta at an equal amount. This provision only applies to voluntary water transfers, not the river’s regular flow, and must adhere to current law.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• Federal agencies must provide maximum water supplies possible from Delta pumping</b> while remaining consistent with the Endangered Species Act and biological opinions for both smelt and salmon.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• The review process for installing temporary barriers and operable gates in the Delta must be expedited,</b> which will help manage salinity and improve the quantity and quality of water.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">Among the bill’s other provisions:<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• The bill puts in place a 30-day timeline for federal agencies to approve California water contractors’ requests to voluntarily fallow non-permanent crops</b> such as rice. This would reduce delays to potential water transfers to other users.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• WaterSMART grants in California are prioritized to help communities with emergency water needs,</b> to prevent loss of permanent crops and to minimize economic loss from the drought.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• Rescheduled water supplies that are banked in wet years as a hedge against dry years must be reserved for water contractors who stored them</b> and made available unless there is not enough storage space in the San Luis and Millerton Reservoirs to keep both new and rescheduled water.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• The Bureau of Reclamation is allowed to meet California wildlife refuge water requirements</b> in a number of ways as long as the actions do not violate water quality standards or cause land subsidence. This action could make additional surface water available for water contractors.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• Federal agencies are directed to use every scientific tool at their disposal</b> to make more accurate and real-time adjustments to the operations of water projects to increase water supply.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• A pilot project is created to increase reservoir water levels</b> to avoid triggering shortage provisions that could affect California’s water supplies.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• The National Academy of Sciences is directed to study the effectiveness and environmental effects of saltcedar biological control efforts,</b> including the potential to increase water supplies and improve riparian habitats in California.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><b>• Environmental projects are authorized to facilitate emergency water supply projects</b> by offsetting any environmental effects.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Effects of the drought:<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• The California Farm Water Coalition estimates that 800,000 acres of farm land will be fallowed, removing them from production. The coalition also estimates that California’s economy could lose as much as $7.5 billion and 15,000 jobs.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">• A recent report from the University of California, Davis estimates the Central Valley’s agriculture industry will lose $1.7 billion in economic activity and will see a 32 percent (6.5 million acre foot) reduction in surface water supplies as a direct result of the drought.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we follow the Emergency Drought Relief Act as it makes its way to the House. Keep your fingers crossed.</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.wga.com" target="_new"> Western Growers </a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
