The San Joaquin
Valley needs water to survive. Our Valley’s jobs and way of life are at
stake, and it is my top priority to ensure that our farmers, workers,
and communities
receive the water we need to get our economy going again.
We are making
progress, and each day is a new opportunity to secure more water and
take on
the critics of our Valley. This page will provide you with background on
the
water crisis, along with news and updates on my ongoing efforts to
increase the
flow of water to our Valley.
About the Water
Crisis
Flawed
policies and court-ordered water limitations, coupled with three years of below
average rain fall, have taken their toll on our Valley. While drought
conditions have made things worse, the water supply challenges we must confront
are man-made.
A
series of policies and regulations aimed at protecting fish and restoring the
health of the Delta have severely limited our water supply. These one-sided
regulations, which are backed by extreme members of the environmental community
and Valley outsiders, have failed to restore fish populations or the health of
the Delta. Instead, they have wreaked havoc on our economy and threatened the
livelihoods of future generations of Valley residents.
On
top of these misguided regulations, California’s water infrastructure simply
cannot support our state’s growing population. Our water system was originally
designed for 20 million people. By 2030, we could have as many as 50 million
people residing in the state. Along with doing everything we can to fight for
immediate increases to our water supply, we must also focus on solutions to our
long-term water needs.
Simply
put, we need water now, and our children and grandchildren will need water in
the future.
Water
Equals Jobs
Water
translates into jobs and economic security for our region. The water
limitations and years of drought have forced over half a million acres of farmland
out of production and have had a ripple effect throughout our entire economy.
From the producers, transporters, and sellers all the way to local businesses,
countless Valley jobs are tied to the success of our $36 billion agricultural
sector.
The
catastrophic impact of the water supply crisis on Valley job losses is clearly
illustrated by respected economists with the University of California, Davis,
who estimate that because of reduced water supplies in 2009, the San Joaquin
Valley lost more than 21,500 jobs, and calculate that the current restrictions
are reducing regional economic output by $8 million a day.
Agricultural
development is economic development in the Valley. Securing an increased supply
of water is critical to putting people back to work and making a full economic
recovery.
Taking
On Our Critics
Ideologically
driven lawmakers and critics of our valley are more than willing to play the
blame game. They justify the water limitations by falsely blaming Valley
agriculture for the decline in the Delta’s health.
For
years, we've operated under flawed policies and bad science aimed at restoring
the Delta’s health and protecting fish. However, the current biological
opinions in place have neither restored fish populations, nor strengthened the
health of the Delta.
So,
as critics continue to point fingers at the Valley, other regions far to our
North continue to dump nitrates, ammonia and other pollutants into the Delta.
In fact, nearly 14 million pounds of nitrates have been dumped in the Delta
since 2000.
Placing
the blame on the Valley for degrading the Delta is both disingenuous and a
full-scale attack on the people who call the Valley home. Our critics would be
well served to remember where their food comes from and the critical role our
region plays in our nation’s economy.
Producing
Results
Water is the
lifeblood of our Valley. Without water there are no jobs and no economic
opportunity. Fighting to increase our water supply is my top priority and we
are making progress.
Last year, farmers on
the Westside received a mere 10% water allocation. After my repeated efforts to
press the Administration to do more, we have increased the allocation this year
to 30%, with an additional 8-10% more of supplemental water being made available
at contract rates. This possible 40% water allocation means that more farmers
will be able to plant crops and put people back to work.
I have also secured
funding for projects that will bring additional water to our region. For
instance, I secured $10 million dollars in the last year’s Energy and Water
Appropriations bill that will facilitate water transfers totaling up to 150,000
acre-feet of water in the Valley. I also pushed the Administration to allocate
$32 million in funds for drought relief in the Valley, along with an additional
$20.7 million that was recently re-allocated for the Intertie project.
Our work is far from
over, but we are winning this fight and more water is flowing to the Valley.
We will continue to
fight against the flawed biological opinions and regulations that are dumping
our water into the Pacific Ocean in the name of misguided environmentalism. We
will continue to press the Administration and support a legal strategy to get
the pumps flowing at maximum capacity. We will also continue to take on our
critics and keep working towards long-term solutions to protect our Valley and
state’s water supply for generations to come.
To stay up to date on
the progress we are making, check this page for regular updates and
announcements.
The following are links that will be helpful in following the current drought situation and learning about government actions and programs to respond to the situation and its consequences.
10.14.10 Rep. Costa Breaks Ground on Major Water Project
The Intertie
will bring more water to the Valley, increase water reliability
Congressman Jim Costa’s fight for the Valley’s economy took another step
forward today at a groundbreaking for a major Valley water project that he
fought to fund. The Intertie pipeline and pumping station will link the Delta
Mendota Canal to the California Aqueduct. Once completed, the project will
increase the flow of water to Valley communities and improve the reliability of
water supplies. The Intertie will be fully operational in 2012.To learn more, please go here .
9.23.10 Today, Rep. Costa responded to opponents of our
Valley who are trying to tie the hands of federal and state water
agencies in moving forward with the Bay Delta Conservation Plan
(BDCP). Our Valley needs long-term solutions such the Peripheral
Canal, additional water storage, and Delta repairs that only the BDCP
can offer, and will not stand for these attacks on something so
critical to our region and our State. Costa will continue to fight to
increase our Valley’s water supply and for important investments in
our water storage and infrastructure.The text of the letter sent to
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary Lester Snow of
California’s Natural Resources Agency is avaliable here.
9.20.10 Today, Rep. Costa joined Rep. Cardoza in strong
support of the continuation of Grassland Bypass Project-San Joaquin
River Salinity Managment Program, which is a successful agriculture
drainage control program in the San Joaquin Valley. To read the full
letters to Rep. Napolitano and Garamendi and to the California State
Water Resources Control Board, please go here and here.
9.8.10 State Board Joins Costa's Calls for Sacremento Officials to Clean Up the Delta
The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board is the latest
voice to join Congressman Jim Costa’s calls for Sacramento sanitation
officials to step up their treatment of sewage being dumped into the
Bay Delta. To learn more, please go here.
8.27.10 Rep. Costa Blasts Sacramento Sanitation Officials Over Inaction to Treat Ammonia Discharges
Today, Congressman Jim Costa blasted Sacramento sanitation officials,
stating that their disregard for the facts and inaction to remove
ammonia from treated sewage being dumped into the Delta is costing the
Valley jobs and a fair share of water. To learn more, please go here.
7.29.10 Rep. Costa Announces Funding to Begin Construction on Key Valley Water Project
Congressman Jim Costa today announced that the Bureau of Reclamation
has awarded a $14.6 million contract for construction of the Intertie
project that will link the Delta Mendota Canal to the California
Aqueduct. To learn more, please go here.
7.1.10- Rep. Costa Statement on Possible Delay to Water Bond
Congressman Jim Costa released the following statement today regarding
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s intention to delay a vote on the $11.14
billion water bond until the November 2012 ballot:
“Postponing this critical bond measure is frustrating to most of us who
support the water package. However, the possibility of delay is better
than outright defeat in November. To learn more, please go here
6.24.10 Today, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board of the Central Valley Region responded to a letter regarding my concerns about ammonia discharges affecting the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. To read the full letter, please go here .
6.23.10 Rep. Costa Statement on Delta Smelt Agreement to Keep Pumps On
Following Judge Oliver Wanger’s May decision that federal regulations restricting Valley water are flawed, Valley water users and environmental groups reached an agreement regarding the Delta smelt that will keep the pumps moving water south of the Delta turned on through June. All pumping restrictions required under the smelt biological opinion will cease as of July 1st, allowing water to flow freely to the Valley through the end of the year. To learn more, please go here .
06.14.10 Today, Rep. Costa Announced New Water Increase for the Valley.
Rep. Costa announced that the Interior Department will
be increasing water allocations from the federal Central Valley Project
to 45 percent for agricultural service contractors south of the Delta.
Interior’s latest announcement is another increase from the Department’s
initial announcement of 5 percent on February 26. To learn more, please go here.
06.10.10 Today, Reps.
Costa and Cardoza requested that California water regulators
immediately examine the implications of wastewater discharges flowing
from Sacramento into the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. To learn
more, please click here.
05.28.10 Today, Rep. Costa responded to resignations from the National Academy of Sciences Panel.
Rep. Costa and Rep. Dennis Cardoza
demanded answers from the National Academy of Sciences to explain why a
scientist whose findings question the validity of federal water policy
was removed from the panel examining the factors degrading the health of
the Bay-Delta and solutions to the region’s water challenges. To learn more, please go here.
05.28.10 Today, Rep. Costa responded to the Wanger Smelt Decision
Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) responded today to Judge Oliver
Wanger’s decision on threatened Delta smelt, calling the ruling a win
for Valley farmers and the economy. Wanger ruled that the scientific
opinions regarding smelt were flawed and that water regulations must
consider human factors along with fish concerns.To learn more, please go here .
05.26.10 Today, Rep. Costa issued the following statement after
Judge Oliver Wanger ordered that limits on pumping water from the Bay
Delta can be lifted to allow more water to flow to the Valley. Wanger’s
ruling follows his earlier decision that regulations limiting water for
the Valley are flawed.
"Judge Wanger's ruling is more welcome news for our farmers and
economy. It is also good news for those of us fighting to change unfair
federal water regulations. Our job now is to make sure nothing stands
in the way of getting the water Judge Wanger’s ruling promises. To learn more, please go here
05.20.10 Today, Rep. Costa Pressed the Administration to Revise Water Regulations after Wanger Decision
Today, Rep. Costa and Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced)
sent a letter to Interior Secretary Salazar and Commerce Secretary
Locke, urging the Departments to incorporate new science into revising
the current water regulations restricting the flow of water to the
Valley. To learn more, please go here .
05.17.10 New Study Confirms Costa Contention: Water Regulations Biased Against Valley Must Be Changed
Today, Rep. Costa said he will use a new study to further
his fight to change water regulations that punish the Valley for
fish-killing pollutants dumped into the water system far to the north.
Costa has long contended that flawed water regulations are devastating
the local economy by diverting water from the Valley in the name of
saving fish while all but ignoring the effects of pollutants entering
the Bay Delta from as far north as the Bay Area and Sacramento.To learn more, please go here .
05.04.10 Rep. Costa Statement on Plan to Revise Regulations Limiting Water for the Valley
Rep. Costa responded today to Interior Secretary
Ken Salazar and Commerce Secretary Gary Locke’s announcement of an
interagency plan to revise and integrate two biological opinions issued
under the Endangered Species Act. Integrating the biological opinions
opens the door to modifying the one-sided scientific rulings limiting
the flow of water to the Valley. To learn more, please go here .
05.04.10 Rep. Costa Announced New Water Increase for Valley
Today, Rep. Costa announced that the
Interior
Department will be increasing water allocations from the federal Central
Valley
Project to 40 percent for agricultural service contractors south of the
Delta.
Interior’s latest announcement is another increase from the Department’s
initial announcement of 5 percent on February 26. To learn more, please go here .
04.27.10 Today, Reps. Costa and Cardoza (D-Merced) took aim at the NMFS Biological Opinion and
sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Locke, calling on the Department to
exercise greater flexibility in implementing the National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) biological opinion that is diverting water that
could be flowing to the Valley into the Pacific Ocean. To learn more, please go here .
04.15.10 - Today, Rep. Costa took the Valley's Fight to the House Floor and blasted flawed policies and close-minded thinking restricting water the Valley's farmers, farmworkers, and farm communities. To learn more, please go here .
04.15.10- Today, Rep. Costa issued the following statement regarding Secretary Salazar’s
announcement that the Interior Department will be increasing water
allocations from the federal Central Valley Project to 30 percent for
agricultural service contractors south of the Delta. Combined with the
additional 8 to 10 percent of supplemental water the Department said it
will obtain through various actions, today’s announcement represents a
possible 40 percent water allocation for Westside Valley farmers and
farm communities at normal contracted water rates. To learn more, please go here .
04.13.10- Today, Reps. Costa and Cardoza (D-Merced) announced funding to deliver more water to the Valley. This include $20.7 million in Recovery Act funds for the Delta Mendota Canal/California Aqueduct Interie Project. To learn more, please go here .
04.05.10- Today, Rep. Costa said today that if Bay Area Congressman George Miller (D-Richmond) wants a war over water allocations, then Costa and his Congressional District will give him one in response to Miller's promise to push for tougher restricitons on water diversions to farms and cities in the San Joaquin Valley. To learn more, please go here .
03.31.10 - Today, Rep. Costa joined in a bipartisan letter demanding that U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke explain why sport fishermen will be allowed to take an undetermined number of salmon under new California Department of Fish and Game regulations while pumping will be reduced at the federal and state pumps for agriculture beginning on March 31st in order to protect the same fish. To learn more and to read the letter, please go here
03.18.10 - Today, Rep. Costa pressed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Governor Schwarzenegger about the effect of predation by non-native species on the Delta. To learn more, please go here and here .
03.12.10 - Today, Rep. Costa pressed President Obama to increase water and support to the Valley. To learn more, please go here .
03.11.10 - Today, at House Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing, Rep. Costa took on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for not funding drought relief. To learn more, please go here .
03.02.10- Today, Congressman Jim Costa and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter to Interior
Secretary Ken Salazar demanding that the Department increase the flow of water
to the Valley. In addition, Costa and Cardoza stressed the need for timeliness
and affordability regarding the Valley’s water supply deliveries. Costa and
Cardoza’s letter follows the Interior Department’s announcement
last week on agricultural water allocations from the federal Central Valley
Project. To read the full letter to Sec. Salazar, please go here .
01.24.10 - Today, Rep. Costa and Rep. Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter to the Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, demanding that he maximize water supply allocations for the 2010 irrigation season. To read the full letter to Sec. Salazar, please go here .
02.19.10 – Today, Rep. Costa and Rep. Cardoza (D-Merced) called on Secretary of
Interior Ken Salazar to release water supply allocation information for the 2010
irrigation season as soon as possible. To read the full letter to Secretary
Salazar, please go here .
02.19.10 – Today, Rep. Costa stepped up support for proposed Emergency Water
Supply legislation and sent a letter to Chairwoman of the House Water and Power
Subcommittee, Rep. Grace Napolitano, urging her to support the legislation. To learn more, please go here and to read the full letter to Rep. Napolitano, please go here .
02.18.10- Today, Rep. Costa expressed concern about the pace of progress on the Success Dam Seismic Remediation project. To read the full letter from Reps. Costa, Cardoza, Nunes and Senators Fienstein and Boxer to Assistant Secretary fo the Army for Civil Work regarding this project, please go here .
12.01.09 - Rep. Costa Statement on State Water Project Allocation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Department of Water Resource’s initial announcement of a 5 percent water allocation for San Joaquin Valley Farmers, Congressman Costa made the following statement.
“This is the worst news our farmers, farm workers and farm communities could have been told today. The water crisis has devastated our local economy and put thousands of Valley residents out of work. For the past 18 months, Congressman Cardoza and I have worked tirelessly to bring relief to our Valley. We have been able to secure funding for twenty-five water projects, pass legislation to ease water transfers, and continue to press for short, mid and long-term solutions to this crisis. Today’s news is unacceptable. We need immediate action from both Governor Schwarzenegger and President Obama to ensure a stable water supply for Valley farms and cities this growing season.
12.11.09- Today, Rep. Costa raised concerns about the potential impact of legislation updating the Clean Water Act the Clean on Valley agriculture. To read the full letter to Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Oberstar, please go here .
11.16.00- Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar acknowledged the key role of Reps. Costa and Cardoza in bringing the Administration's attention to the California water crisis. To read Sec. Salazar's full letter, please go here .
11.09.09 - Obama Administration to assist with Valley Water Projects
Over the last several months, Congressmen Costa and Cardoza have met
with top officials from the White House and the Department of the
Interior regarding California’s water crisis. As part of ongoing
discussions, the Congressmen have expressed the need for the Obama Administration to take action
to address California’s Central Valley water crisis. In conjunction
with their recent legislative efforts, the Congressmen have provided
the Administrationwith a list of water-improvement projects and actions that would provide significant relief to San Joaquin Valley farmers, farm workers, and farm communities. To learn more, please go here.
11.05.09 - Rep. Costa submitted testimony to a Senate Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing in support of the Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009 which Reps. Costa and Cardoza have concurrently introduced in the House. To learn more, please go here .
11.03.09 - Rep. Costa Co-Sponsors Bill To Demand Accounting Of All Factors Affecting Delta Smelt
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) joined Congressmen Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) to introduce bipartisan legislation that calls for a review of the federal biological opinions that have significantly reduced the amount of water flowing to San Joaquin Valley farmers. To learn more, please go here .
10.29.09 - Costa Asks State Legislature to Craft and Pass Vital Water Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) sent a letter to the California State Senate and Assembly urging both chambers take the lead and craft a robust water package to improve California’s broken water system. To learn more, please go here .
10.26.09 - Costa Letter Regarding Two-Gates Project
Congressman Jim Costa submitted comments to the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Two-Gates project. The Bureau of Reclamation released a Draft Environmental Assessment/Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) for the proposed Two-Gates project for public review. A public meeting was held in Fresno on October 26, 2009 at 6:30pm. To learn more, please go here .
10.16.09 - Rep. Costa wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to raise concerns regarding the Department’s intentions to contract the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an independent scientific review on the two Bay Delta Biological Opinions. To view this document, please click here.
10.16.09 - Costa Opposes Bay Area Water Recycling Bill
Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) voted against the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program Expansion Act of 2009 today because it offered no assistance to the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. However, bill passed the House by a vote of 241 to 173. Costa spoke on the House Floor today opposing the process which brought the bill to the floor. The speech can be viewed by clicking here.
10.15.09- Rep. Costa urged Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to immediately begin moving forward to address numerous administrative issues so that water transfers can be approved and completed expeditiously in preparation for the coming water year. To learn more, please go here.
10.5.09 - Rep. Costa wrote to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to inform him of new possible projects that could blunt the impact of the California water supply crisis. To view this document, please click here.
09.15.09- Letter from the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the State Water Contractors to Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes regarding status of Two Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project. To learn more, please go here.
09.09.09 - Rep. Costa called upon United States Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to take immediate action to address the ongoing water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. These comments came on the heels of a joint letter from Secretaries Locke and Salazar responding to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s letter calling on them to act on California’s behalf and re-consult the flawed biological opinions. To learn more, please go here and here .
09.04.09 - Rep. Costa sent a letter to Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hayes regarding the review of science underlying Biological Opinions. To read Rep. Costa's full letter, please go here .
08.20.09 - Rep. Costa Announces Approximately $15 Million in Federal Grants for Water Infrastructure Improvements
Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that approximately $15,364,192 million has been awarded to water districts in the Valley. The Bureau of Reclamation made Challenge Grant awards throughout California and around the nation. Funding for the Challenge Grant program was made available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). To learn more, please go here .
07.31.09 - Rep. Costa Announces Approximately $32.9 Million In Water Infrastructure Funding For Valley
Today, Congressman Jim Costa(D-Fresno) announced that approximately $32,957,000 million has been awarded towater districts and cities south of the Delta. The Bureau of Reclamationidentified drought-relief projects throughout California, many in Costa’sdistrict, that will share in $40 million under the American Recovery andReinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Water districts and cities south of theDelta received over 80% of the allocated funding.To learn more, please go here .
07.17.09 - House Passes Two Costa Amendments To The Energy And Water Appropriations Bill
Earlier in the week, the House ofRepresentatives passed two amendments authored by Congressman Jim Costa(D-Fresno) and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) by voice vote. These amendments will fund critical California water projects and ease regulations to transfer water around the State. To learn more, please go here .
07.14.09 - House Rules Committee Accepts Two Costa Amendments to the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill
If passed by the full House, Amendment will fund critical water projects and ease regulations to transfer water around the state. To learn more, please go here .
07.08.09 - House Appropriations Committee Does Not Pass Amendment to Bring More Water to the San Joaquin Valley
Last night, the House Appropriations Committee unfortunately did not pass an amendment which would have maintained maximum pumping operation in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno), working with Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare), urged fellow Democrats on the Committee to support the amendment. Ultimately, the amendment failed in a vote before the full committee by a tally of 25 to 33. To read more, please go here .
06.25.09 - Today, Rep. Costa sent a letter to President Obama urging support for Governor Schwarzenegger's request for a declaration of major disaster for the State of California in the County of Fresno. To read the full letter to the President, please go here.
06.24.09 - Reps. Costa And Cardoza Announce Secretary Salazar Will Visit Valley This Sunday
Today, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) announced that Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will arrive in the San Joaquin Valley on Sunday, June 28th, 2009. Salazar will be joined by Deputy Secretary David Hayes and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor. To learn more, please go here.
06.24.09 - Today, Rep. Costa urged President Obama to issue an executive order focusing federal agency efforts on economic development in the San Joaquin Valley and urged the President to visit the Central Valley to see the impact of the economy and drought on our residents. To read Rep. Costa's letter to the President, please go here .
06.18.09 - House Does Not Pass Amendment To Cut All Funding To Erroneous Biological Opinion On The Delta.
Today, the House of Representatives failed to pass a bipartisan amendment to the Commerce -Justice-Science Appropriations Act which would have cut all funding to the misguided National Marine Fisheries Service biological opinion on the Delta by a narrow vote of 208 to 218. Congressman Jim Costa ( D-Fresno) voted in favor of the amendment. If passes later this afternoon, the Act would move onto the Senate for consideration. To learn more, please go here .
06.16.09 - Today, Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley representatives, sent a letter to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag to express their concern about the implementation of the Information Quality Act in regards to the Bureau of Reclamation's Plan Biological Assessment. To read the full letter to the Director, please go here .
06.11.09 - Today, Rep. Costa and Rep. Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar to express appreciation for the formation of the Drought Task Force and to invite the Secretary to visit the Central Valley to see the effect of the drought. To read the full letter, please go here .
06.05.09 - Today, Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley Representative Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), requested a meeting with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Marine Fisheries Service to discuss the effects of NOAA's Biological Opinion on Central Valley agriculture. To read the full letter sent to Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, please go here .
06.04.09 - Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley Representatives, sent a letter to U.S. Fish and WildlifeService to express disappointment in Service's reply to the Family FarmAlliance's Information Quality Act Request. To read the full letter, please go here .
06.04.09 - Rep. Costa Slams Biological Opinion on The Central Valley Water Project and State Water Project
Today, the National Marine Fisheries Service finalized a biological opinion on the Central Valley Water Project and State Water Project. The opinion stated fish populations are in jeopardy without swift modifications to the Central Valley and State Water Projects. Following this release, Congressmen Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement .
04.15.09 - Rep. Costa Statement Following Secretary Salazar’s Announcement
Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a $260 million investment in California’s water infrastructure. Following that announcement, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) released the following statement here .
03.31.09 - Rep. Costa Statement At Today’s Hearing On California’s Drought
Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) made the following statement at full committee oversight hearing in the House Committee on Natural Resources. The hearing was titled, “The California Drought: Actions By Federal And State Agencies To Address Impacts On Lands, Fisheries And Water Users.” To read the statement, please go here .
03.30.09 - Today, Rep. Costa and fellow Representatives urged Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, to reinstate the consultation provision in the Endangered Species Act. To read the full letter, please go here .
03.12.09 - Today, Rep. Costa requested the Water and Power Subcommittee hold a hearing on H.R. 856, the California Drought Alleviation Act (CDAA). To read the full request to Chairwoman Napolitano, please go here .
03.12.09 - Today, Rep. Costa and fellow Valley Representatives sent a letter to President Obama expressing disappointment in the lack of a presidential visit to the Central Valley during the President's trip to California and urged the President to visit the region. To read the full letter, please go here .
03.06.09 - Rep. Costa sent a letter to President Obama requesting a federal disaster declaration and to declare California's Central Valley its first designee. To read Rep. Costa's full letter to the President, please go here .
02.13.09 - Rep.Costa requested that the the State Water Resources Control Board grant the joint petition by the USBR and the DWR to seek temporary urgency relief to modify water quality standards to address drought conditions.
02.06.09 - Today, Rep. Costa, along with fellow Valley Representatives, sent a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to request clarification and expiation of Executive Order declaring drought and the State of Emergency Proclamation for the San Joaquin Valley. To read the letter, please go here .
02.02.09 - Rep.Costa Requests Immediate Attention of Secretary Ken Salazar
Today, Rep. Costa and Rep. Cardoza (D-Merced) sent a letter requesting Secretary Salazar's immediate attention to California's water supply crisis, to protest regulatory measures preventing water conveyance, transfers and storage, and to request a meeting with the Secretary and extend an invitation for him to visit the Valley. To read the full letter, please go here .
7.21.08 - Subcommittee Hears From Valley Residents and Experts on Water Emergency
Today, the House Subcommittee on Water and Power held a field hearing in Fresno, CA on the federal government's response to the California drought. Members heard from local officials, farmers, residents, and water experts on how the drought is impacting the Valley's cities and the economy. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno), a member of the Subcommittee, was in attendance. To learn more, please go here .
7.15.08 - Water and Power Subcommittee to Hold Drought Hearing in Fresno
Next week, the House Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold a field hearing on the federal government's response to the California drought. Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) and Valley Representatives Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced), George Radanovich (R-Mariposa), Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) and Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) requested this hearing last month to ensure the federal government is informed about the drought and its impact on the people who live and work in the Valley. Costa is a member of the Subcommittee and will attend the field hearing. To learn more, please go here .
7.8.2008 - The Water & Power Subcommittee has announced that it will hold a hearing on the federal response to the drought emergency on Monday, July 21, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in the Fresno City Council Chambers, Fresno, California. To see the Subcommittee's announcement, please go here.
6.26.2008- Congressman Costa and other Valley representatives haveurged the Natural Resources Committee's Water and Power Subcommittee tohold a hearing in the San Joaquin Valley on the drought emergency. Toread the letter, please go here.
6.12.08 - The Governor has declared a state of emergency in nine Central Valley counties. Last week, Congressman Costa and other Valley congressmen urged the Governor to take this action. The Governor's proclamation directs the Department of Water Resources to work with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to deliver more water to the affected areas and to expedite the processing of water transfer requests. The proclamation also orders the Department of Water Resources to transfer groundwater through the California Aqueduct to benefit Central Valley farmers. To read the Governor's press release and proclamation, please go here.
About Jim 
