California needs water to survive.  The urgency of addressing our water supply crisis can’t be understated.  The San Joaquin Valley is facing a drought crisis, and it is among my highest priorities to do all that I can to help fix our broken water system.  Every day, I am working to bring relief to farmers, farmworkers, and farm communities throughout the Valley.  

About the Drought

As you are well aware, due to regulatory restrictions, three years of below-average rainfall, very low snowmelt runoff, and court-ordered restrictions on operations of federal and state water projects, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered immediate drought action on February 27, 2009.  The Governor's statewide drought designation in 2008 came after the driest spring on record and an announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) that they would be further reducing Central Valley Project (CVP) water deliveries to agricultural users south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  A federal court decision earlier that year had already reduced CVP supplies by approximately 30% by limiting the amount of water that could be pumped from the Delta and then stored in the San Luis Reservoir.  At the start of this year, a time when farmers would normally make decisions on what crops to plant, CVP water supply deliveries were set to zero for service contractors south of the Delta. Water deliveries through the State Water Project (SWP) were set at 15%. 

Although spring storms in central and eastern California have helped to improve the situation, it has come too little too late to blunt the impact of the drought and economic crisis.  In fact, estimates show that approximately 300,000 acres of land have been fallowed with thousands of jobs lost throughout the San Joaquin Valley in 2009. 

Results of a Continuing Effort

The approximate sum total of all water made available to the Westside in 2009 as a result of Congressmen Costa and Cardoza working with the Westside Water Districts and related state and federal agencies thus far total approximately 560,000 acre-feet of water, in addition to the 193,000 allocation through the CVP.  This is greater than the size of Millerton Lake.  Congressman Costa and Cardoza were also successful at securing language in H.R. 3138, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that will facilitate water transfers totaling up to 150,000 acre-feet of water in the Valley. 

These are important steps, but we still have a long way to go.  All of California must work together as we look for solutions to our water supply crisis.  I will continue to work with federal, state, and local agencies and officials on strategies and other ways to combat the drought and ensure our agriculture economy does not see catastrophic financial losses this fall.

Links

The following are links that will be helpful in following the current drought situation and learning about government actions and programs to respond to the situation and its consequences.

    * Bureau of Reclamation Mid-Pacific Region: www.usbr.gov/mp

    * California Department of Water Resources: http://www.water.ca.gov/

    * USDA Disaster Assistance: http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=fsahome&subject=landing&topic=landing

Please check back to this site for regular updates on the water crisis and Congressman Costa's efforts to bring more water to the Valley.

**EDITORIALS**

04.17.09 - The Fresno Bee " Rebalancing Our State's Water System "

**UPDATES** 

11.16.00- Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar acknowledged the key role of Reps. Costa and Cardoza in bringing the Administration's attention to the California water crisis. To read Sec. Salazar's full letter, please go here . 

11.09.09 - Obama Administration to assist with Valley Water Projects 

Over the last several months, Congressmen Costa and Cardoza have met with top officials from the White House and the Department of the Interior regarding California’s water crisis. As part of ongoing discussions, the Congressmen have expressed the need for the Obama Administration to take action to address California’s Central Valley water crisis. In conjunction with their recent legislative efforts, the Congressmen have provided the Administration with a list of water-improvement projects and actions that would provide significant relief to San Joaquin Valley farmers, farm workers, and farm communities. To learn more, please go here.

11.05.09 - Rep. Costa submitted testimony to a Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing in support of the Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009 which Reps. Costa and Cardoza have concurrently introduced in the House. To learn more, please go here .

11.03.09 - Rep. Costa Co-Sponsors Bill To Demand Accounting Of All Factors Affecting Delta Smelt

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) joined Congressmen Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and  George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) to introduce bipartisan legislation that calls for a review of the federal biological opinions that have significantly reduced the amount of water flowing to San Joaquin Valley farmers. To learn more, please go here . 

10.29.09 - Costa Asks State Legislature to Craft and Pass Vital Water Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) sent a letter to the California State Senate and Assembly urging both chambers take the lead and craft a robust water package to improve California’s broken water system. To learn more, please go here . 

10.26.09 - Costa Letter Regarding Two-Gates Project

Congressman Jim Costa submitted comments to the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Two-Gates project.  The Bureau of Reclamation released a Draft Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) for the proposed Two-Gates project for public review.  A public meeting was held in Fresno on October 26, 2009 at 6:30pm.  To learn more, please go here . 

10.16.09 - Rep. Costa wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to raise concerns regarding the Department’s intentions to contract the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an independent scientific review on the two Bay Delta Biological Opinions. To view this document, please click here. 

Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) voted against the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009 today because it offered no assistance to the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley.  However, bill passed the House by a vote of 241 to 173.  Costa spoke on the House Floor today opposing the process which brought the bill to the floor.  The speech can be viewed by clicking here. 

10.15.09- Rep. Costa urged Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to immediately begin moving forward to address numerous administrative issues so that water transfers can be approved and completed expeditiously in preparation for the coming water year. To learn more, please go here.

10.5.09 - Rep. Costa wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to inform him of new possible projects that could blunt the impact of the California water supply crisis. To view this document, please click here.

09.15.09  - Letter from the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the State Water Contractors to Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes regarding status of Two Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project. To learn more, please go here . 

09.09.09 - Rep. Costa called upon United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to take immediate action to address the ongoing water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley.  These comments came on the heels of a joint letter from Secretaries Locke and Salazar responding to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s letter calling on them to act on California’s behalf and re-consult the flawed biological opinions. To learn more, please go here and here . 

09.04.09 - Rep. Costa sent a letter to Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes regarding the review of science underlying Biological Opinions. To read Rep. Costa's full letter, please go here .  

08.20.09 - Rep. Costa Announces Approximately $15 Million in Federal Grants for Water Infrastructure Improvements

Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that approximately $15,364,192 million has been awarded to water districts in the Valley.  The Bureau of Reclamation made Challenge Grant awards throughout California and around the nation.  Funding for the Challenge Grant program was made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). To learn more, please go here . 

07.31.09 - Rep. Costa Announces Approximately $32.9 Million In Water Infrastructure Funding For Valley

07.17.09 - House Passes Two Costa Amendments To The Energy And Water Appropriations Bill

07.14.09 - House Rules Committee Accepts Two Costa Amendments to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill

If passed by the full House, Amendment will fund critical water projects and ease regulations to transfer water around the state. To learn more, please go here .

07.08.09 - House Appropriations Committee Does Not Pass Amendment to Bring More Water to the San Joaquin Valley

Last night, the House Appropriations Committee unfortunately did not pass an amendment which would have maintained maximum pumping operation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.  Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno), working with Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), urged fellow Democrats on the Committee to support the amendment.  Ultimately, the amendment failed in a vote before the full committee by a tally of 25 to 33. To read more, please go here .

06.25.09 - Today, Rep. Costa sent a letter to President Obama urging support for Governor Schwarzenegger's request for a declaration of major disaster for the State of California in the County of Fresno. To read the full letter to the President, please go here. 

06.24.09 - Reps. Costa And Cardoza Announce Secretary Salazar Will Visit Valley This Sunday

Today, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) announced that Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will arrive in the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday, June 28th, 2009.  Salazar will be joined by Deputy Secretary David Hayes and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor. To learn more, please go here. 

06.24.09 - Today, Rep. Costa urged President Obama to issue an executive order focusing federal agency efforts on economic development in the San Joaquin Valley and urged the President to visit the Central Valley to see the impact of the economy and drought on our residents. To read Rep. Costa's letter to the President, please go here . 

06.18.09 - House Does Not Pass Amendment To Cut All Funding To Erroneous Biological Opinion On The Delta.

Today, the House of Representatives failed to pass a bipartisan amendment to the Commerce -Justice-Science Appropriations Act which would have cut all funding to the misguided National Marine Fisheries Service biological opinion on the Delta by a narrow vote of 208 to 218. Congressman Jim Costa ( D-Fresno) voted in favor of the amendment. If passes later this afternoon, the Act would move onto the Senate for consideration. To learn more, please go here .

06.16.09 - Today, Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley representatives, sent a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag to express their concern about the implementation of the Information Quality Act in regards to the Bureau of Reclamation's Plan Biological Assessment. To read the full letter to the Director, please go here . 

06.11.09 - Today, Rep. Costa and Rep. Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar to express appreciation for the formation of the Drought Task Force and to invite the Secretary to visit the Central Valley to see the effect of the drought. To read the full letter, please go here . 

06.05.09 - Today, Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley Representative Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), requested a meeting with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service to discuss the effects of NOAA's Biological Opinion on Central Valley agriculture. To read the full letter sent to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, please go here . 

06.04.09 - Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley Representatives, sent a letter to U.S. Fish and WildlifeService to express disappointment in Service's reply to the Family FarmAlliance's Information Quality Act Request. To read the full letter, please go here . 

06.04.09 - Rep. Costa Slams Biological Opinion on The Central Valley Water Project and State Water Project

Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service finalized a biological opinion on the Central Valley Water Project and State Water Project.  The opinion stated fish populations are in jeopardy without swift modifications to the Central Valley and State Water Projects.  Following this release, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement .

04.15.09 - Rep. Costa Statement Following Secretary Salazar’s Announcement

Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a $260 million investment in California’s water infrastructure.  Following that announcement, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement here .

03.31.09 - Rep. Costa Statement At Today’s Hearing On California’s Drought

Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) made the following statement at full committee oversight hearing in the House Committee on Natural Resources.  The hearing was titled, “The California Drought: Actions By Federal And State Agencies To Address Impacts On Lands, Fisheries And Water Users.” To read the statement, please go here .  

03.30.09 - Today, Rep. Costa and fellow Representatives urged Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, to reinstate the consultation provision in the Endangered Species Act. To read the full letter, please go here . 

03.12.09 - Today, Rep. Costa requested the Water and Power Subcommittee hold a hearing on H.R. 856, the California Drought Alleviation Act (CDAA). To read the full request to Chairwoman Napolitano, please go here . 

03.12.09 - Today, Rep. Costa and fellow Valley Representatives sent a letter to President Obama expressing disappointment in the lack of a presidential visit to the Central Valley during the President's trip to California and urged the President to visit the region. To read the full letter, please go here .

03.06.09 - Rep. Costa sent a letter to President Obama requesting a federal disaster declaration and to declare California's Central Valley its first designee. To read Rep. Costa's full letter to the President, please go here . 

02.13.09 - Rep.Costa requested that the the State Water Resources Control Board grant the joint petition by the USBR and the DWR to seek temporary urgency relief to modify water quality standards to address drought conditions. 

02.06.09 - Today, Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley Representatives, sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to request clarification and expiation of Executive Order declaring drought and the State of Emergency Proclamation for the San Joaquin Valley. To read the letter, please go here . 

02.02.09 - Rep.Costa Requests Immediate Attention of Secretary Ken Salazar

Today, Rep. Costa and Rep. Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter requesting Secretary Salazar's immediate attention to California's water supply crisis, to protest regulatory measures preventing water conveyance, transfers and storage, and to request a meeting with the Secretary and extend an invitation for him to visit the Valley. To read the full letter, please go here .

7.21.08 - Subcommittee Hears From Valley Residents and Experts on Water Emergency

Today, the House Subcommittee on Water and Power held a field hearing in Fresno, CA on the federal government's response to the California drought.  Members heard from local officials, farmers, residents, and water experts on how the drought is impacting the Valley's cities and the economy.  Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno), a member of the Subcommittee, was in attendance. To learn more, please go here .

7.15.08 - Water and Power Subcommittee to Hold Drought Hearing in Fresno

Next week, the House Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a field hearing on the federal government's response to the California drought.  Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Valley Representatives Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), George Radanovich (R-Mariposa), Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) requested this hearing last month to ensure the federal government is informed about the drought and its impact on the people who live and work in the Valley.  Costa is a member of the Subcommittee and will attend the field hearing. To learn more, please go here .

7.8.2008 - The Water & Power Subcommittee has announced that it will hold a hearing on the federal response to the drought emergency on Monday, July 21, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in the Fresno City Council Chambers, Fresno, California.  To see the Subcommittee's announcement, please go here.

6.26.2008 - Congressman Costa and other Valley representatives haveurged the Natural Resources Committee's Water and Power Subcommittee tohold a hearing in the San Joaquin Valley on the drought emergency.  Toread the letter, please go here.

6.12.08 - The Governor has declared a state of emergency in nine Central Valley counties.  Last week, Congressman Costa and other Valley congressmen urged the Governor to take this action.  The Governor's proclamation directs the Department of Water Resources to work with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to deliver more water to the affected areas and to expedite the processing of water transfer requests.  The proclamation also orders the Department of Water Resources to transfer groundwater through the California Aqueduct to benefit Central Valley farmers. To read the Governor's press release and proclamation, please go here.