,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #aibg ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #i1 #bjac ,mr4 ,costa introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to provide congressional direction for implementation of the ,endangered ,species ,act as it relates to operation of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project and for water relief in the ,state of ,california4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,more ,water and ,security for ,californians ,act4 4 ,compliance with ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7a7 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the economy of the ,san ,joaquin ,valley in ,california is predominantly based on irrigated agriculture served water to the ,westside and southern end of the ,san ,joaquin ,valley by-- 7,a7 the ,central ,valley ,project2 and 7,b7 the ,california ,state ,water ,project4 7#b7 ,the quantity of water available for irrigated agriculture in these areas of the ,san ,joaquin ,valley served by the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project has been reduced significantly as a result of restrictions placed on the operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq474 7#c7 ,california's ,san ,joaquin ,valley is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world1 and produces more than #bej different crops with an estimated value of #ag1jjj1jjj1jjj per year1 supplying about #h percent of ,united ,states agricultural production and approximately #dj percent of the ,nation's fruits and vegetables on less than #a percent of ,united ,states farmland4 ,crops grown in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley are exported to #ajj countries around the world4 ,the ,san ,joaquin ,valley is an essential source of food supplies for the ,united ,states and the world4 7#d7 ,water supply shortages resulting from regulatory restrictions on the operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project have greatly exacerbated the economic recession and contributed to an economic crisis in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley4 7#e7 7,a7 ,more than #djj1jjj acres of highly productive farmland in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley were fallowed in #bjji4 7,b7 ,unemployment rates in small rural communities in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley remain over #be percent4 7,c7 ,food banks throughout the ,san ,joaquin ,valley face unprecedented demand from unemployed residents4 7#f7 ,any water not captured and stored by the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project is water that could have been used to sustain irrigated agriculture and the many businesses and communities that rely on it throughout the ,central ,valley of ,california4 7#g7 ,deliveries to water agencies that rely on exports from the ,sacramento-,san ,joaquin ,delta 7,california ,bay-,delta7 are expected to remain at reduced levels this year due to pumping restrictions imposed on operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project under the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 in the early part of #bjac4 7#h7 ,due to reduced surface water supplies1 reliance on groundwater has increased1 and the withdrawals from the aquifers are unsustainable and put significant infrastructure at risk of collapse1 including the ,state ,water ,project's ,california ,aqueduct1 due to permanent subsidence of land over the over-drafted aquifers4 7#i7 ,significant habitat for a number of native fish species in the ,california ,bay-,delta 7including tidal marsh and wetlands71 and access to spawning grounds1 have been significantly reduced during the last century4 7#aj7 ,discharge of pollutants and invasive species have dramatically impaired the ecosystem of the ,california ,bay-,delta4 7#aa7 ,large-scale and sustained habitat restoration and fish passage improvements are essential-- 7,a7 to restore the unique ecosystem of the ,california ,bay-,delta2 and 7,b7 to recover native species in the ,california ,bay-,delta4 7#ab7 ,as of the date of enactment of this ,act1 ,federal and ,state agencies1 and a number of interested parties1 continue to develop the ,bay ,delta ,conservation ,plan to establish a habitat conservation plan-- 7,a7 to provide ecosystem restoration2 7,b7 to contribute to native species recovery2 and 7,c7 to allow for projects to proceed that restore and protect water supplies for-- 7i7 the ,central ,valley ,project2 and 7ii7 the ,california ,state ,water ,project4 7b7 ,compliance 7#a7 ,in general ,all requirements of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aeca et seq47 relating to operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project 7,projects7 shall be deemed satisfied with regard to the species and their critical habitat covered by the biological opinions for the operations of the ,central ,valley ,project and the ,california ,state ,water ,project issued by the ,united ,states ,fish and ,wildlife ,service and dated ,december #ae1 #bjjh1 and the ,national ,marine ,fisheries ,service and dated ,june #d1 #bjji 7the biological opinions71 if-- 7,a7 the alternatives described in that portion of the biological opinions entitled ,reasonable and ,prudent ,alternatives are implemented2 and 7,b7 the actions described in paragraph 7#b7 are carried out4 7#b7 ,mandates ,the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,commerce shall ensure the following3 7,a7 ,flows ,for each calendar year1 during the period beginning on ,december #a and ending on ,june #cj1 neither biological opinion described in paragraph 7#a7 shall restrict flow in ,old and ,middle ,rivers to a #ad-;day average of the mean daily flow to achieve flow less negative than #e1jjj cubic feet per second4 7,b7 ,control of pumping operations ,for each calendar year1 during the period beginning on ,april #a and ending on ,may #ca1 rates of pumping at the ,c4,w4 ,bill ,jones ,pumping ,plant and ,harvey ,o4 ,banks ,pumping ,plant shall not be reduced pursuant to the biological opinion of the ,national ,marine ,fisheries ,service described in paragraph 7#a71 except as required to implement ,california ,state ,water ,resources ,control ,board ,water ,rights ,decision #afda or a superseding water rights decision4 7,c7 ,fall ,x#b ,for each calendar year1 during the period beginning ,september #a and ending ,november #cj1 monthly average x#b no greater 7more eastward7 than #gd km 7from the ,golden ,gate7 shall be maintained only to the extent that such action does not diminish the capability of either the ,central ,valley ,project or the ,california ,state ,water ,project to make water available for other authorized project purposes4 7#c7 ,modification ,the ,secretary of the ,interior may modify the flow and pumping operation mandates established in paragraph 7#b7 upon recommendations of the ,national ,research ,council ,committee on ,sustainable ,water and ,environmental ,management in the ,california ,bay-,delta1 if such modifications-- 7,a7 would provide greater benefits to the species covered by the biological opinions described in paragraph 7#a72 and 7,b7 would not reduce the water delivery capability of the ,central ,valley ,project or ,california ,state ,water ,project more than their delivery capability allowed under paragraph 7#b74 7c7 ,implementation of action plan ,as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of the ,interior and the ,secretary of ,commerce shall-- 7#a7 establish a fish hatchery program or refuge to preserve and restore the delta smelt in collaboration with the ,governor of the ,state of ,california2 and 7#b7 implement a habitat program under which each ,secretary shall identify1 prioritize1 and implement key ecosystem restoration and fish passage projects in the ecosystem of1 and on tributaries to1 the ,california ,bay-,delta to help ensure the viability of-- 7,a7 at-risk species2 and 7,b7 species listed as threatened species or endangered species on the list of threatened species or the list of endangered species published under section #d7;c77#a7 of the ,endangered ,species ,act of #aigc 7#af ,u4,s4,c4 #aecc7;c77#a772 and 7#c7 install the ,head of ,old ,river ,barrier during the ,april-,may pulse flow1 as set forth in ,california ,state ,water ,resources ,control ,board ,water ,rights ,decision #afda4 7d7 ,savings clause ,nothing in this section shall-- 7#a7 diminish or result in a reduction of the water supply deliveries of the ,california ,state ,water ,project to its contractors2 nor 7#b7 shift an existing obligation of the ,central ,valley ,project to the ,california ,state ,water ,project or any other legal user of water4 7e7 ,san ,joaquin ,river ,restoration ,settlement ,act ,nothing in this ,act shall limit or otherwise affect the implementation of the ,san ,joaquin ,river ,restoration ,settlement of the ,san ,joaquin ,river ,restoration ,settlement ,act 7,public ,law #aaa-aa71 including the ,water ,management ,goal4 7f7 ,no further restriction ,no ,state or any political subdivision thereof shall adopt or attempt to enforce any requirements relating to the impact of the operation of the ,projects on the species and critical habitat covered by the biological opinions that is more restrictive than the requirements of this section4 ,any ,state law that authorizes the imposition of restrictions on the operation of the ,projects in a manner that is more restrictive than this section is expressly preempted4 7g7 ,termination ,this section and each authority and mandate under this section shall terminate upon ,march #a1 #bjbj4