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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHR 1837June 28, 2011 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADMINISTRATION CENTER 25 COUNTY CENTER DRIVE - OROVILLE, GALIFORNIA 95965 TELEPHONE: (530) 538-7224 The Honorable Tom McClintock, Chair House Subcommittee on Water and Power 1324 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 24515 Re; Opposition to the "San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act" {H.R. 1837) Dear Chairman McClintock; BILL CONNELLY First D15trlCt LARRY WAHL Second District MAUREEN KIRK Third District STEVE LAMBERT, Chair FOUrth DIStrICt KIM K. YAMAGUCHI Fifth District The Butte County Board of Supervisors opposes the proposed San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act (H.R. 1837}. If passed, the legislation will unnecessarily preempt state law and undermine the delicate progress made to salve California's water challenges. Most importantly, the ramifications could be dire for Butte County's communities, economy and environment. Butte County lies in the northern Sacramento Valley region and is the Area of Origin for much of the water that flows through the San Francisco Bay Delta. Our region is a major source for California's overall water supply and an integral component of a healthy Delta watershed. Our surface water resources include the crown jewel of the State Water Project (SWF} located at Lake Oroville and the headwaters of the Central Valley Project (CVP} located at Lake Shasta. Our region's water resources are more than the water supply for the Delta and the state. They provide the life blood for our agricultural-based communities, help stimulate our local economy and protect our pristine environment. Much of our local water supply comes from the various groundwater basins throughout the region that are recharged through a network of creeks and rivers that are tributary to the great Sacramento River which feeds into the Delta.. Butte County has a vested interest in viable solutions to the challenges facing the Delta ecosystem and a reliable water supply for California. Understanding the unique and diverse challenges that face the California water system, local, state and federal water leaders worked collaboratively to establish coequal goals of restoring the Delta ecosystem and improving statewide water reliability. The pursuit of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan and the enactment of the 2009 Delta Reform Act provide the foundation to achieve these coequal goals. H.R, ~,s ~. 3 ~,;~~~ - 1837 attempts to address a singular regional concern~in complete disregard to other considerations. The approach taken in H.R. 1837 will ultimately create a myriad of unintended consequences and potentially cause irreparable harm to our region's communities, economy and ecosystem. H.R. 1837 will undermine the delicate progress made over the past three years and extinguish any hope for the fiiture. Lessons from the past have demonstrated that California cannot resolve its water challenges by advancing the interests of a select few. Butte County opposes H.R.1837 and any attempt to undermine the carefully crafted path to salving California's water challenges. We recomrriend that efforts be better placed to support the collaborative approach under which we have all been working. Sincenrely~, _ ..J ~ Steve Lambe hair Butte County Board of Supervisors Cc: The Honorable Wally Herger Member of Congress 242 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC, 20515 The Honorable Doc Hastings, Chair House Committee on Natural Resources 1324 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Edward J'. Markey, Ranking Member House Committee on Natural Resources 1329 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Grace F. Napolitano, Ranking Member House Subcommittee on Water and Power 1329 Longwarth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Dianne Feinstein United States Senate 331 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Barbara Boxer United States Senate 112 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510