Protect Our Water Rights Act This bill requires the Bureau of Reclamation to modify the operation of water service contracts for the Central Valley Project (CVP) in California and the Klamath River Basin Reclamation Project in California and Oregon. Reclamation owns and operates the CVP, a federal water project consisting of a network of dams, reservoirs, and other facilities. CVP water is delivered to users that have contracts with Reclamation, but dry conditions have resulted in Reclamation reducing the water allocations for contracted water supplies. This bill requires Reclamation to allocate to existing agricultural water service contractors within the CVP's Sacramento River Watershed (1) 100% of the contracted amount of water in a wet or above normal year, (2) not less than 75% of the contracted amount in a below normal year, and (3) not less than 50% of the contracted amount in a dry or critically dry year. Reclamation must hold at least one in-person field hearing in each county where a CVP water service contractor is located in the period between the project's initial water allocation and final water allocation announcement. The bill modifies the share of operation and maintenance costs paid by CVP water service contractors. Reclamation must also operate the Klamath River Basin Reclamation Project, a similar federal water project, so that all of the water in Upper Klamath Lake above a certain elevation is solely for agricultural and refuge purposes. Reclamation must conduct these operations in a manner that maximizes water storage in the lake, to the extent practicable.
This bill is anticipated to significantly impact water management laws in California by establishing clearer guidelines for water allocations during different hydrological conditions. The requirement for the Bureau of Reclamation to hold in-person field hearings in each county where water service contractors are located is a notable addition intended to improve transparency and communication between the federal agency and local stakeholders. Overall, the changes could enhance water security for farmers reliant on the Central Valley Project, as dry conditions in previous years have resulted in reductions in allocations, threatening agricultural outputs.
House Bill 289, also known as the 'Protect Our Water Rights Act', proposes updates to the operational requirements of the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Central Valley Project and the Klamath River Basin Reclamation Project. The bill aims to ensure that agricultural water service contractors within the Sacramento River Watershed receive a specified allocation of water based on varying annual conditions, which is particularly important in maintaining agricultural practices in the region. Under this legislation, contractors would receive guaranteed allocations of water, ensuring 100% in wet or above normal years and 50% during dry or critically dry years.
Some contentious points regarding HB 289 involve the balance of water rights across different stakeholders, including those with senior water rights in other parts of California. While the bill's proponents argue that it provides necessary protections for agricultural users during times of drought, critics might raise concerns about potential ramifications for municipal and environmental water supplies. The legislation also modifies the operational cost allocations between contractors and the Bureau, which involves financial implications that could lead to debates regarding equity among water users. These dynamics could provoke discussions about water equity and the future of agricultural policy in California.