Water

Water

Water

Approximately two-thirds of California's water supply originates north of the Delta, a great portion of which is within the counties I represent. Northern California water users hold longstanding superior water rights, many of which predate the construction of either the Central Valley Project or State Water Project. As such, I will always fight to ensure our area of origin water rights are fully protected and enforced.

In Congress, I have been working hard to build new water storage, such as Sites Reservoir. If this project existed right now, we would be able to store nearly 280 billion gallons of water this year, enough to serve 6.3 million Californians. My legislation authorizing the construction of Sites, as well as language guaranteeing more water for the North State to protect us from water grabs, has been included in every water bill considered in Congress.

For more information concerning my work and views related to Water, please contact me.
 

More on Water

LaMalfa Says He Will Keep Fighting Dam Removal After Announcement

Nov 17, 2020 Press Release
(Siskiyou County, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after California Governor Gavin Newson, Oregon Governor Kate Brown, Karuk and Yurok Tribal Leaders, and PacifiCorp announced that they will be moving forward with the removal of four Klamath River Dams. In their new agreement, California and Oregon will partner with the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) to assume liability for the dam removal project, transferring the license to operate the dams from PacifiCorp. This comes after a July announcement from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that KRRC would not be able to be a sole licensee on the project because it “has limited finances and no experience with hydropower dam operation or dam removal.”

House Passes Bill Supporting Klamath Water Users

Oct 1, 2020 Press Release
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the House passed/he voted in support of S.3758, which would make technical corrections the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to allow the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to use as much as $10 million annually to respond to severe drought conditions in the Klamath Basin. Specifically, this bill gives the Secretary of Interior more precise authority to use these funds and lays out specific examples of appropriate programs the funds can be spent on.

LaMalfa Announces Funding for Dunsmuir Water Infrastructure Improvements

Aug 3, 2020 Press Release

(Dunsmuir, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced a $7,934,000 loan and a $2,285,000 grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for the City of Dunsmuir. These funds will help replace and upgrade the water distribution system, including replacing 25,000 feet of troublesome, even failing, waterlines and 40 new fire hydrants. 

LaMalfa Supports Bipartisan Water Resources Development Act

Jul 29, 2020 Press Release
(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 7575, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), with Congressman LaMalfa’s support. This biennial legislation authorizes water projects across the United States, and reforms programs within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Office. Army Corps projects improve America’s ports and harbors, inland waterway navigation, levees, dams and other water-related infrastructure.

Trump Administration Commits to Updating Science in Klamath Project

Jul 29, 2020 Press Release
(Klamath Falls, OR) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the Bureau of Reclamation announced an initial $1.2 million investment in new science for the Klamath Project. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and Commissioner of Reclamation Brenda Burman visited the Klamath Basin on July 9 to meet with farmers, ranchers, community officials, and other stakeholders at the request of Congressman LaMalfa.

LaMalfa Announces FEMA Grant Funding for Paradise Irrigation District

Jul 28, 2020 Press Release
(Paradise, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $3,440,574 to the Paradise Irrigation District as a result of damage incurred due to the Camp Fire in 2018.

FERC Agrees with LaMalfa: KRRC Can’t Handle Klamath Dams’ License

Jul 16, 2020 Press Release
(Siskiyou County, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa issued the following statement after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) announced that the Klamath River Renewal Corporation (KRRC) lacked the finances and experience to be the sole licensees of the four dams on the Klamath River. At PacifiCorp’s discretion KRRC may be a co-licensee, but PacificCorp would retain liability for the hydropower dams on the Klamath River. PacifiCorp previously announced they would seek to transfer the license to operate these dams to the Klamath River Renewal Corporation, who would assume all liability and then oversee their removal. FERC’s July 16th Order states KRRC is “not equipped to handle” this project, and “has limited finances and no experience with hydropower dam operation or dam removal.”

Interior Secretary Bernhardt and Reclamation Commissioner Burman travel to Klamath Basin at LaMalfa Request

Jul 10, 2020 Press Release
(Klamath Falls, OR) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa attended Klamath Water Users Roundtable with U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman, and other stakeholders in the Klamath Basin to discuss the bureaucracy-created disaster – this year’s last-minute reduction of Basin farmers’ water allocation from 140,000 acre feet in April to 80,000 acre feet in May. After Congressman LaMalfa continuously engaged with the Trump Administration, water allocations were restored to the April commitment, and the tens of thousands of acres of already planted crops would be able to survive the growing season. Congressman LaMalfa and Congressman Greg Walden (OR-02) extended the invitation to Secretary Bernhardt and Commissioner Burman to visit the Basin for today’s events.

LaMalfa Applauds Trump Administration for Restoring Water to Klamath Basin Farmers

Jun 9, 2020 Press Release
(Modoc County, CA) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after today’s announcement from the Bureau of Reclamation that farmers in the Klamath Basin would receive the full 140,000-acre feet of water committed to them in April. In May, after locals spent more than $60 million to prepare for the growing season, their forecasted delivery was cut nearly in half to 80,000-acre feet. LaMalfa participated in the “Shut Down & Fed Up” rally with thousands of participants to spotlight the farmers’ need for their full water allocation, otherwise their already-planted crops would wither under the summer sun.

Klamath Basin Water Crisis

Jun 1, 2020 Page

After the successful "Shut Down & Fed Up" rally and hours of discussions with the Trump Administration, the water has been restored to Klamath Basin Farmers!

Pages