Appropriations Panel Provides $135 Million for California Water, Including $40 Million for CALFED Related Projects

Appropriations Panel Provides $135 Million for California Water, Including $40 Million for CALFED Related Projects
July 12, 2001

Washington, DC - The Senate Appropriations Committee today approved a $135 million spending plan for California water resources, including $40 million for projects related to CALFED, a joint State-Federal partnership to provide for California's future water needs and the environmental restoration of the Bay-Delta,

"I believe the energy crisis in California is a forerunner of what could happen with water if we fail to plan ahead. The $135 million within this appropriations bill, including $40 million for CALFED-related projects, is an important step forward in meeting our needs, but much more needs to be done. For this reason, I have sponsored a new CALFED authorization bill to provide for ecosystem restoration and increased water storage in a balanced and concurrent way," Senator Feinstein said.

"I especially want to thank Senator Byrd, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and Senator Harry Reid, chairman of the Energy and Water Subcommittee for providing some funding to help California meet its water needs with separate earmarks for water storage, water conveyance, water quality, water efficiency and ecosystem restoration. Solving California's water problems will certainly help its neighbors by reducing California's dependence on the Colorado River," Senator Feinstein said.

"While there is no direct funding for CALFED, the Committee has acknowledged that I am working with my colleagues on a bipartisan authorization bill and has left open the possibility of providing an appropriation for CALFED if we can work out an authorization agreement."

In approving the FY2002 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, the Committee also provided $435 million for renewable energy research and development, which is $160 million above the President's request, which is of additional importance to Californians coping with the energy crisis.

Funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects in California included $22.13 million for Oakland Harbor renovation and dredging and $22.5 million for Sacramento Flood Control. The Sacramento funding was based on the President's request, but Senator Feinstein plans to work with House members to increase the funding during a Senate-House Conference Committee to the level approved by the House.

The bill also provides $2 million in funding for Lake Tahoe Wetlands development in South Lake Tahoe and $800,000 for Salton Sea and the All-American Canal.

Although President Bush's original spending plan included $20 million specifically targeted for CALFED, the Appropriations Committee chose to leave funding for CALFED open pending approval of Senator Feinstein's legislation. However, the Committee agreed to provide $40 million for CALFED related specific projects.

$14.25 million on the Environmental Water Account
$7.5 million for administration, coordination and science activities associated with CALFED implementation
$1 million for the preconstruction activities of Los Vaqueros Reservoir
$5.25 million for the preconstruction activities associated with Shasta Dam
$250,000 for the study of the Delta Islands
$2.5 million for storage at Friant (in the Upper San Joaquin)
$500,000 for Sites Reservoir
$250,000 for the intertie between the State Water Project and the Central Valley project in the Delta and
$250,000 for the operation of the Delta Cross Channel
$1 million for water efficiency studies
$500,000 for water transfer (NEPA) analyses
$6 million for the Tracy fish screen (This allows for increased pumping by providing improved screens and protections for the fish).
$500,000 Engineering and design at Red Bluff for Fish Passage (on the Sacramento River)
$250,000 for Santa Clara to do technical assistance on the San Felipe Division

In addition to the $40 million in earmarked funds, $95 million was provided for California water projects within the Bureau of Reclamation's budget, Senator Feinstein noted.