Seeking to spur action on long-awaited legislation addressing California’s historic drought, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) late last month circulated a discussion draft of a new compromise bill.
Titled the “California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act,” the bill would provide for additional water storage in the short term while promoting water desalination, recycling and infrastructure funding in the long term. One portion of the bill mimics EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program by authorizing a similar loan guarantee program to help communities in Reclamation states develop water supplies.
In a statement, Sen. Feinstein said her latest draft bill “offers real help to California while adhering to the laws and biological opinions that protect fish and wildlife.” Congressional Republicans have yet to react to the proposal.