Fate of this year's delta flows and pumping rests on Monday State Water Board hearing, CSPA's Jackson and Jennings, C-WIN, Butte Environmental Council, and South and Central Water Agencies opposing

April 23, 2009 -- The US. Bureau of Reclamation and California Department of Water Resources have petitioned to consolidate their respective places-of-use in their water rights permits for water transfers pursuant to the Emergency Drought Water Bank. 

The hearing is scheduled to begin on Monday 27 April 2009, and continue the next day.  Mike Jackson will serve as CSPA's attorney.  Lynn Barris from Butte Environmental Council is also providing CSPA testimony.  The California Water Impact Network (C-WIN) (Tim Stroshane and Tom Stokely testifying), South and Central Delta Water Agencies and the County of San Joaquin are also opposing the petition.  Bob Baiocchi has submitted brief testimony but will not cross-examine and Defenders of Wildlife and Public Trust Alliance will submit policy statements.  Against us are DWR, the Bureau, Westlands, San Luis and Delta Mendota Water Authority, Santa Clara Valley Water District. 

If the petition is approved, it would allow expedited water transfers over the next two years.  The DWR/Bureau petition was submitted after the Governor issued an emergency drought proclamation that waived compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and various water quality control plans including the Bay-Delta Plan.  In effect, the Governor's proclamation effectively allows boards and agencies to waive or ignore all flow and water quality standards protecting the Delta (except federal requirements) - and requirements to evaluate the environmental effects of the expedited transfers.  Only a few of the eventual transfers have been identified and no information as to the quantities of water, sources of water or timing of the transfers has been revealed.

This is an important hearing - approval would establish a dangerous precedent that any standards or guarantees protecting Central Valley waterways could be waived and ignored whenever convenient. 

Further hearing information can be found at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrghts/water_
issues/programs/hearings/usbr_dwr/

Testimony of Bill Jennings, CSPA Executive Director