Water Ways

Feds Address California Water Crisis

The federal government said it is calling for a coordinated federal effort and review of the science surrounding environmental protections that have severely crimped California's water supply.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in late September at a public meeting in Washington, D.C., that he would seek an independent review by the National Academy of Sciences on the science surrounding recent biological opinions by federal agencies that have reduced pumping to protect the Delta smelt.

Salazar also declared a new "memorandum of understanding" to bind six federal agencies in a coordinated California effort under a new "Bay-Delta Leadership Committee." He called on Gov. Schwarzenegger to convene a special session of the state Legislature to deal with the crisis at the state level. On Oct. 11, the Governor called for that special legislative session.

After three years of drought, the USDA has declared 21 California counties, including major almond growing regions, primary natural disaster areas. While the designation does not address the long-term water situation, it makes growers in those counties eligible for low-cost emergency loans and payments under the Farm Bill's Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program. Click here for more information on this program.

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