Irrigation

Testimony of Governor Linda Lingle - Commission on Water Resource Management Public Meeting on East Maui In-Stream Flow Standards

October 15, 2009 -- Members of the Commission Staff and Members of the Community:

I am here tonight to discuss an issue of far-ranging importance to the people of Maui and the people of the State of Hawaii.

It is the fundamental issue of whether we will enable agriculture to survive in our state by ensuring that farmers have access to adequate water to grow their crops.

I am not here tonight to talk about the technical and scientific aspects of in-stream flow levels. There are many able people in this audience who can provide that information.    » read more »

October 15, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, the U.S. Senate gave final approval to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which included an amendment by U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (both D-CA) that will allow for water transfers to help agricultural communities in the Central Valley that have been hard hit by three years of drought. The legislation now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Senator Boxer said, “This measure is a critical first step toward improving water management to help ease the water crisis in the San Joaquin Valley. The legislation will enable water transfers between the east and west sides of the valley, offering some much-needed relief to agricultural communities that are suffering from drought conditions.”    » 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 »

Address California’s Urgent Water Crisis; Interior and Commerce Departments respond to Feinstein’s request to commission review of the two controversial biological opinions that govern water flows in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta

September 30, 2009 -- Washington, DC – At a public forum today to address California’s water crisis, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) welcomed the Administration’s decision to commission an independent review of the biological opinions that govern water flows in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta. The study will be conducted by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), the nation’s most respected independent scientific body.    » read more »

September 17, 2009 -- MONTGOMERY - Alabama Governor Bob Riley’s office today commented on Georgia’s decision to appeal a definitive federal court ruling that water withdrawals from Lake Lanier to provide water supply to the Atlanta area are illegal under federal law.

Governor Riley’s Press Secretary Todd Stacy made the following statement:    » read more »

August 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation has awarded Archer Western Contractors, Ltd. of Phoenix, Arizona, a $13 million contract to construct two pumping plants near Farmington, New Mexico. The pumping plants are key features for continued development of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project. That ongoing project, which Reclamation is developing for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, provides water for the Navajo Agricultural Products Industry farming enterprise of the Navajo Nation.    » 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 »

May 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall on Wednesday introduced legislation aimed at settling a decades old water dispute over water rights claims in the Rio Pojoaque.

The legislation authorizes a settlement of the claims being pursued by the Nambe, Pojoaque, San Ildefonso, and Tesuque Pueblos in the Rio Pojoaque basin north of Santa Fe. It is based on years of extensive negotiations between many parties, including Indian, local, state and federal parties.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer (both D-Calif.) have reintroduced a bill to increase the supply of non-drinking water for California’s Bay Area. Similar legislation was introduced by Senators Feinstein and Boxer in the 110th Congress.

Specifically, the bill would help six Bay Area communities increase their municipal water supplies through innovative and much-needed water recycling projects. It would make six additional Bay Area recycled water projects eligible for a 25 percent federal cost-share, and increase the authorization levels for two more, totaling $38,075,000.    » 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 »

56 Communities Across America Benefit From Improved Water Availability and Quality

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2009 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack marked the 39th anniversary of Earth Day today by announcing 56 communities in 34 states have been selected to receive $144.3 million in loans and grants for infrastructure improvements to improve water availability and quality.

"Earth Day is the perfect time to highlight President Obama's efforts to reinvest in and rebuild America's rural communities," Vilsack said. "Strategic investments such as the ones announced today will help improve the economy and the quality life for rural residents."    » read more »

Law Allows for Administrative Repayments in Southwest Nebraska

April 1, 2008 -- Lincoln, Neb. -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman today signed LB 1094 into law, which allows for administrative repayments to surface water irrigators in the Republican River Basin.

“This is important to the farmers in the Republican River Basin,” Gov. Heineman said.

Crop irrigation close to Fort Calhoun, Nebraska: Photo CC Jan Tik    » read more »