In December, 2016, President Obama signed into law the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (Act) aimed at revitalizing water infrastructure in the country. The main provisions of the legislation call for the initiation of critical water projects including restoring watersheds, enhancing the drinking water supply, and improving waterways. The Act provides important relief to various California regions. For example, Orange County’s Water District will receive aid to protect the limited water supply in the region and to develop viable measures to alleviate the effects of the drought to north and central Orange County.
Portions of the Act relating specifically to drought prevention measures in California have been controversial. The bill authorizes pumping water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for use by farmers and mandates that agencies increase the volume of water to be pumped to farms southward. Specifically, the Act orders the secretaries of Interior and Commerce to provide the “maximum quantity of water” possible to agricultural, municipal and industrial contractors in the region.
Environmentalists have protested this measure of the bill since they claim that pumping more water into the Delta will significantly affect the diminishing population of fish that are under the protection of the Endangered Species Act. In signing the legislation, the President emphasized that the provisions of the Endangered Species Act should continue to be rigorously enforced to ensure the safety of marine wildlife and the commercial salmon industry.
Nevertheless, a recent study has supported the proposition that increased pumping could damage fish and other marine life. The report found that San Francisco Bay is undergoing substantial depletion of its ecosystem because of the scarcity of water flowing out to the ocean from the Sacramento and San Joaquin waterways. Meanwhile, farmers welcome this provision of the Act as they have been the victims of decreased water supply during the winter months when pumping activity was restricted. During that time, more water was permitted to flow out into the ocean, thereby depriving them of a significant portion of the water supply.
Contact Shane Coons at 949-333-0900 or visit his website at www.ShaneCoonsLaw.com to find out more about his practice.