The Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley Emergency Water Delivery Act would allow more water to be pumped out of the Delta and sent to farms. Critics say it favors farms over fish and environmental concerns.
The bill was co-sponsored by every California House Republican, including Tom McClintock whose fourth district includes El Dorado, Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties.
"Well, it simply restores the Bay-Delta Accord which was a bipartisan agreement back in the 1990s that promised allocations to various groups," said McClintock on Insight with Beth Ruyak. "The water diversions for the Delta smelt absolutely shattered that promise. This bill simply redeems it and restores the Bay Delta Accord."
But Democrats are staunchly opposed; including John Garamendi whose third district includes parts of Sacramento, Yolo and Solano counties.
"It's not fish versus people, it's really the federal government taking over and telling California what it's going to do with its law," says Garamendi. "It is unprecedented. It really sets off a major water war, unnecessary at a time of great crisis in California.
The bill heads next to the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate where it's expected to die.
More Federal Drought Aid On The Way
On Wednesday, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor announced up to $14 million for growers and water districts to conserve water and improve water management.
“We have an all hands on deck approach in recognition of the many impacts that are happening in California, and this is probably the start of a whole series of announcements and actions,” Connor said at a multi-agency news conference in Sacramento.
Also Wednesday, the California Fish and Wildlife Commission approved fishing bans on the American and Russian rivers. They’re intended to protect threatened salmon and steelhead trout. Bans are already in place for dozens of streams and rivers on California’s central coast.
Last week, the State Water Project announced contractors would not receive any water this year unless conditions significantly improve. Connor says the federal Central Valley Project will announce its allocation in a couple of weeks.
![In 2021, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio; Associated Press, file](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12262257/012622climatewhiplash-p.png)
January 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.
![Snow geese fly over the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge complex in Willows on Oct. 6, 2021. Photo by Nina Riggio for CalMatters](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12261318/110221-birds-drought-nr-cm-517-p.jpg)
November 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.
![In this Sept. 23, 2013 file photo, water flows through fish diversion louvres at the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility from the Clifton Court Forebay on its way to the Harvey O. Banks pumping plant, near Tracy, Calif. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12257099/021221_california-water-drought-p.jpg)
June 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.
![Boaters fish on the Sacramento River outside of Isleton. Water supplies from the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta are insufficient, so the state has warned thousands of users to halt pumping. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12259071/061521_sanjoaquinsacramentoriverdelta_aw_sized_01_061721-p.jpg)
June 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
![Kayakers make a long trek to the water's edge at a drought-stricken Lake Mendocino, currently at 29% of normal capacity, in Ukiah, Calif., Sunday, May 23, 2021. California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for most of the state. Josh Edelson / AP Photo](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12258863/060521_droughtkayakersweb-p.jpg)
June 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.
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