The House of Representatives acted this month in response to California’s crippling drought, approving legislation from Rep. David Valadao (R-Calif.) that offers a host of reforms to Western water policy. H.R. 2898, the “Western Water and American Food Security Act,” passed almost exactly along party lines after overcoming opposition from House Democrats who criticized it for going too far to roll back environmental and endangered species protections.
As approved by the House, H.R. 2898 would make a number of changes to Western water policy, such as:
- Altering scientific considerations used by state and federal agencies that weigh human water needs against those of the environment and protected species. Specifically, the bill would reduce water pumping restrictions by requiring federal agencies to identify alternative actions can promote salmon recovery;
- Streamlining permitting procedures for non-federal water storage facilities by creating a “one-stop-shop” for federal permitting needs. The Bureau of Reclamation would be tasked with coordinating all required reviews and permits;
- Placing a $3 million limit on the cost of future Bureau of Reclamation feasibility studies, and requiring the studies to be completed within three years;
- Giving the Bureau of Reclamation greater authority to carry out dam improvements in conjunction with necessary safety repairs; and
- Preserving all senior water rights currently in place.
A detailed summary of the bill’s provisions and the compete text of the legislation is available on Rep. Valadao’s website.
While H.R. 2898 received broad Republican support, House Democrats were less enthusiastic. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), who has floated his own drought relief plan, said the Valadao bill “micromanages the most complex water system in the world in a way that benefits a select few at the expense of many others across the state of California.”
Despite the House action, H.R. 2898 appears unlikely to become law in the foreseeable future. Senate leaders have announced no plans to bring it to the floor, and on July 14 the White House issued a veto threat against the bill. The White House statement said the bill would add “an unnecessary layer of complexity” to Western water management, threaten Delta fish and other endangered species, and limit the ability to properly review the feasibility of proposed water storage projects.