Legislation introduced on July 29 by California’s two Democratic senators aims to provide a range of short- and long-term options to help communities across the state maintain access to water supplies. Sponsored by Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, the “California Emergency Drought Relief Act” (S. 1894) represents Congress’ latest attempt to respond to the state’s crippling drought.
According to a summary of the bill released by Sen. Feinstein, S. 1894 would authorize new assistance for desalination projects, authorize funding for Calfed water storage projects, expedite the Bureau of Reclamation’s review of storage project feasibility studies, and provide increased funding for the Bureau’s Title XVI water recycling and reuse program. The bill would also take steps to promote water conservation efforts in communities across California.
Another section of the bill would establish a new “RIFIA” program to help communities in Reclamation states leverage loans and loan guarantees to pay for water supply and infrastructure projects – a concept based on the nationwide WIFIA pilot program championed by Sen. Boxer. The bill would also authorize additional funding for the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART program and to aid the management of water-dependent endangered species.
S. 1894 may be viewed as a counterproposal to H.R. 2898, a Republican-sponsored drought relief bill approved in July by the House of Representatives. While winning wide Republican support, Democrats criticized the bill for going to far in rolling back environmental regulations and Endangered Species Act protections in the name of water supply development.
S. 1894 is not expected to advance to the Senate floor as a stand-alone bill. Instead, its supporters hope to incorporate its elements into a larger Western water policy bill that Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee leaders plan to develop later this year.