Senators Feinstein, Boxer Introduce Bill to Restore California's Endangered Water Ecosystem and Enhance Water Supply
December 5, 2001

Washington, DC - California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer today introduced legislation to help restore California's endangered water ecosystem and enhance California's water supply, reliability and quality to ensure adequate resources for the future.

The following is a statement by Senator Feinstein:

"I am pleased that Senator Boxer has agreed to cosponsor this bill with me. The bill is also supported by Senator Bingaman, Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, who has committed to helping move this bill through his committee and the Senate.

The most important thing about this new bill is that it fully authorizes the CALFED Record of Decision and all the projects associated with it with federal costs of less than $10 million. Any projects with a federal share of more than $10 million, which are ready to be constructed, will be reported to the authorizing Committees in a package every two years.

Overall, this bill authorizes $2.4 billion to cover the federal share of the CALFED program from fiscal year 2003 through 2008. The state and water users will be responsible for another third each.

California's population is 35 million today and could reach 50 million within the next 20 years. There simply is not enough water in the system to meet the future demands. CALFED is the best hope we have to increase our water supply, preserve the environment and protect against a water emergency. I don't believe we can wait any longer."