52 



live with changing circumstances and have put our money where 

 our mouth is in the last decade and will continue to do so. 



But we think you ought to stop short of sending a signal that, 

 'Tou might lose your water supply in its entirety in the future." 

 Therefore, assurances of some sort of contract subject to appro- 

 priate changes in terms and conditions is where we would like to 

 see the process come down. 



Mr. Miller. Well, that is my point. And I guess my point is as 

 I read what you say the Urban Coalition position is, that not only 

 includes quantity, but it also states that that provision that you 

 would support is not in this legislation? 



Mr. QuiNN. We' do not believe that the legislation currently ade- 

 quately addresses our principles. 



Mr. Miller. Thank you. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. OK. Mr. Quinn, do you believe that water dis- 

 tricts will be induced to transfer water when the Secretary has dis- 

 cretion not to renew their contract after that one-time, 25-year re- 

 newal as contained in the CVPIA? 



Mr. Quinn. Well, we certainly don't want it to be the case that 

 agreeing to transfer with us would put your long-term water access 

 at risk. You will chase a lot of sellers away that way; again, con- 

 sistent with the answer I tried to give Mr. Miller. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Well, my question is if water districts that have 

 a right to water are thinking about engaging one of these long-term 

 transfers but it turns out they don't really know whether they are 

 going to get renewed, it seems reasonable to suppose they may be 

 inhibited from entering into such transfers. What do you think 

 about that? 



Mr. Quinn. Well, I think that is a concern. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Therefore, one could conclude we need to change 

 that provision within the existing CVPIA. Correct? 



Mr. Quinn. Yes. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. And that is what H.R. 1906 attempts to do. Do 

 you agree with the provision that H.R. 1906 contains; the reference 

 to the change made in the renewability of those contracts? 



Mr. Quinn. In our view, there are two key principles. H.R. 1906 

 accomplishes the first. We are not certain yet that it accomplishes 

 the second. We will likely include suggested language in our re- 

 sponse to Mr. Radanovich and others in terms of what kind of 

 changes we would Uke to see to fulfill our principles adequately. 



Mr. DOOLITTLE. Now, Mr. Beard, you said the CVPIA was en- 

 acted or its first year was in a drought year. But, I mean, we have 

 had a six-year drought. I think the bill was actually enacted in a 

 drought year as reasonably foreseeable — in fact, there are many I 

 think who believe that notwithstanding the huge precipitation of 

 this current year that we are in that actually we are in a period 

 of dry years. 



Should that be the case, I mean, the CVPIA has got to be able 

 to contemplate those kinds of years. We have heard we have got 

 chronic water shortages south of the delta anyway, and we have 

 got to make it work. So I am a little bit concerned that that is 

 being used as the justification for not having made further progress 

 here because I think — I mean, I hope I am wrong, but I am afraid 



