News of the Arroyo
Title: | Water Agencies Hail Increased Federal Financing for CALFED |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2005-02-08 |
Summary: | February 8, 2005 - New federal funding is now available for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. |
Author: | News Release |
Publication: | Association of California Water Agencies |
Content: | WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 8, 2005--The Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today praised new federal financing for the CALFED Bay-Delta Program proposed in the President\'s fiscal 2006 budget. The Administration set aside $77 million in new, multi-agency funding for CALFED, including $35 million from the Bureau of Reclamation, with nearly a third of that for water storage studies. The funding comes despite broad cuts for other domestic programs in the Administration\'s budget, and will help re-balance CALFED\'s work on water storage and water quality. \"California now has a unique window of opportunity to improve water quality in the Delta, and help CALFED expand water supplies to \'drought proof\' our state,\" said ACWA President Jerry Gladbach. \"The Administration is renewing a vital partnership with CALFED and with California by committing these resources.\" Created in 1995, the CALFED Program originated with an agreement among local, state and federal agencies to address the water supply and environmental problems confronting the Sacramento/San Joaquin Bay-Delta. The Program is charged with restoring the Delta ecosystem while expanding regional storage reservoirs, improving water quality and strengthening the state\'s levees. Federal participation in the Program was re-authorized last year in HR 2828, signed by the President October 26. CALFED is one of the few water programs increased in the budget proposal. The Program\'s storage studies were funded at $4 million for enlargement of Shasta Reservoir, $2.5 million for Upper San Joaquin River storage studies, $3.2 million for Los Vaqueros Reservoir enlargement and $300,000 for Sites Reservoir. The Environmental Water Account request is $10 million. \"With last year\'s re-authorization, and today\'s figures from the Administration, CALFED is getting back on track to live up to its promises,\" said Gladbach. \"Its implementation will benefit California and the West by improving the flexibility of the state\'s regional water systems, and reducing dependence on surplus water from the Colorado River.\" In the two previous fiscal years, CALFED was funded at $9 million in 2004 and $8 million in 2005 through the Bureau of Reclamation. The President\'s proposal will feature prominently as Congress draws up its own 2006 budget resolution and accompanying appropriations bills in the weeks ahead. ACWA is a statewide non-profit organization whose 447 public agency members are collectively responsible for 90 percent of the water delivered in California. Contacts Association of California Water Agencies David L. Reynolds, 202-434-4760 Jennifer Persike, 916-441-4545 or 916-296-3981 (cell) |
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