H.R. 2554 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2554 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 27, 2013 Mr. Denham introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To increase water storage availability at the New Melones Reservoir to provide additional water for areas served below the reservoir, and for other purposes. 1. Warren Act contract (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Interior shall develop and offer to the Oakdale Irrigation District and the South San Joaquin Irrigation District (hereafter in this section referred to as the districts) a contract enabling the districts to collectively impound and store up to 100,000 acre-feet of their superior Stanislaus River water rights in the New Melones Reservoir in accordance with the terms and conditions of sections 1 through 3 of the Act of February 21, 1911 (43 U.S.C. 523–525; commonly known as the Warren Act). (b) Terms and conditions The terms and conditions of any contract entered into under subsection (a) shall— (1) be for a term of not less than 10 years; and (2) expressly provide that— (A) the districts may use any water impounded and stored in the New Melones Reservoir for any legal purpose under California law, including use within the boundaries of either district, transfer to and reasonable and beneficial use by a person or entity not located within the boundaries of either district, and for instream use in the Stanislaus River, the San Joaquin River, or the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta; and (B) any water impounded and stored by either district shall not be released or withdrawn if the storage level of the New Melones Reservoir is below 1,000,000 acre-feet, but in such event the impounded and stored water shall be retained in the New Melones Reservoir for use by the districts in the following year, subject to the same 1,000,000 acre-foot minimum storage requirement, and without additional payment being required. (c) Conservation account Any water impounded and stored in the New Melones Reservoir by either district under the contract shall not be considered or accounted as water placed in the districts’ conservation account, as that account is defined and explained in the August 30, 1988 Stipulation and Agreement entered into by and between the Bureau of Reclamation and the districts.