Drought

November 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today confirmed that the counties of Lea, Curry, Quay and Roosevelt have been declared eligible for disaster assistance due to their proximity to Texas counties, which were declared disaster areas due drought and other disasters that occurred earlier this year.

As a result of the declaration, farmers and ranchers in Lea, Curry, Quay and Roosevelt counties are now eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).    » read more »

House Passes Miller’s Bay Area Water Recycling Bill; Legislation will bring new water sources to drought-stricken California

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed his legislation to expand water recycling in six San Francisco Bay Area communities:

“Today’s bill responds to the request for assistance from the state of California and local water managers to expand the supply of water in our drought-stricken state. This bill is good for our economy - it will create thousands of jobs and it will help reduce stress on our oversubscribed fresh water systems.    » read more »

10.15.09 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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.    » read more »

10/11/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following proclamation calling for the legislature to meet in an extraordinary session to address California’s water crisis:

A PROCLAMATION

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

WHEREAS, an extraordinary occasion has arisen and now exists requiring that the Legislature of the State of California be convened in extraordinary session; now therefore,    » read more »

Legislation helps facilitate water transfers

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Representatives Dennis Cardoza (D-Merced) and Jim Costa (D-Fresno) introduced a bill today that would help ease the effects of severe drought in the Central Valley by facilitating the transfers of up to 300,000 acre-feet of irrigation water.

The Water Transfer Facilitation Act of 2009 eases restrictions on the Bureau of Reclamation and would streamline environmental reviews for the giant garter snake. The bill would reduce unnecessary delays in water transfers at a time when Central Valley farmers have been hard hit by a three-year drought.    » read more »

Would authorize voluntary transfers of up to 250,000 to 300,000 acre-feet per year of water between sellers and buyers; streamline environmental reviews

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-Calif.) today introduced a measure that would help ease the effects of severe drought in the Central Valley by allowing new voluntary water transfers of up to 250,000 to 300,000 acre-feet of water, depending on rainfall that year, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.    » read more »

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) wrote to President Obama to request a federal disaster declaration for Fresno County to assist the drought-stricken region in obtaining emergency food, job training, crisis counseling, legal services and unemployment assistance.

The federal assistance would help thousands of Fresno County residents who have lost their jobs and are struggling to feed their families because of severe drought conditions. A disaster declaration would also help ensure the long-term vitality of one of the nation’s leading agricultural areas.

The text of the letter follows:

June 22, 2009

President Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500    » read more »

06/19/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today issued the following statement regarding the Two Gates Fish Protection Demonstration Project, designed to protect Delta smelt and increase the reliability of water exports:

“With mandatory water restrictions and crops lying fallow, it is clear that every Californian is suffering from our water shortage - and this project will provide much-needed relief. While I remain committed to getting a comprehensive water deal done this year, I will aggressively work with local, state and federal officials toward the speedy approval and completion of the Two Gates project so that California’s bread basket can continue to feed the world.”    » read more »

Governor, EPD Ease Outdoor Water Use Schedules

June 10, 2009 -- ATLANTA – Georgia Governor Perdue announced today that due to significant rainfall and improved water supplies the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has issued a non-drought schedule for outdoor water use for the first time since June 2006.

“Georgians have seen the most severe drought on record, and have proven their ability to conserve and manage our state’s most precious resource,” said Governor Perdue “We have become more educated about water conservation, and have taken significant steps towards ensuring a long term solution. I believe Georgians will continue to use our water resources wisely under this new outdoor watering schedule.”    » read more »

Innovative Businesses, Agencies Show How to Save Money with Water Efficiency

SAN FRANCISCO (May 26, 2009) – In the midst of a third consecutive dry year, California’s water supply continues to shrink as the state’s population grows, but according to a new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the state’s commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) sector has the tools to save more than enough water to meet the annual needs of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego combined.

Some leading California businesses and institutions are already catching on – saving water and money at the same time.    » read more »

Byproduct of Oil and Gas Production Could Help Boost Water Supplies for Drought-Stricken Communities; Letter to Salazar urges support from Interior Department to Help Fund Previously Enacted Grant Program

May 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Michael Bennet and Congresswoman Betsy Markey are seeking funding for local efforts to turn "produced water" into a resource that could benefit drought-stricken communities and help ease the demand for water in Colorado and the West.    » read more »

Will Help Stretch Water Resources in Central Valley

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the federal government has cleared the transfer of water among various sources through California’s Drought Water Bank, a vital tool to relieve drought conditions in the state.

“The drought situation in California threatens community water supplies, farms and ranches,” said Secretary Salazar. “The Drought Water Bank and the economic stimulus funds I announced here in California last week represent vital parts of the Obama Administration’s effort to help the people of the Central Valley and other areas in California.”    » read more »

Water-Related Economic Investments Total $1 Billion in the West

April 15, 2009 -- SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, at a press conference with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California congressional leaders, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced the Department of the Interior will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) in America’s water infrastructure to create jobs and get the economy moving again.

Overall, the Department of the Interior will manage $3 billion in investments as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save jobs, and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.    » read more »

Feb. 26, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of a Federal Drought Action Team that will work cooperatively to respond to communities facing significant drought. With California currently facing one of its worst droughts in decades, the Drought Action Team will work with Governor Schwarzenegger’s state drought response team to minimize the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the current drought.    » read more »

Proclaims State of Emergency, Directs Government to Utilize Resources, Help People

02/27/2009 -- To combat California’s third consecutive year of drought, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a state of emergency and ordered immediate action to manage the crisis. In the proclamation, the Governor uses his authority to direct all state government agencies to utilize their resources, implement a state emergency plan and provide assistance for people, communities and businesses impacted by the drought.    » read more »