68 



In closing, I would like to express my gratitude for the willingness of Senator 

 Diane Feinstein to approach the possibility of reforming the CVPIA with an open 

 mind. While Senator Feinstein and I differ on many political issues, I know tiiat 

 she shares mv concern about the importance of provimng security for the farmers 

 of Central Valley. Senator Feinstein has patiently Ustened to all sides in the CVPIA 

 debate, and I know that her viltimate decision on this reform legislation will be 

 based upon what she believes is best for the State of California. 



Mr. DooLiTTLE. And Mr. Moss. We introduced you, Mr. Moss, be- 

 fore you sat down, but we are glad to have you here, and you are 

 recognized. 



STATEMENT OF RICHARD M. MOSS, GENERAL MANAGER, 

 FRIANT WATER USERS AUTHORITY 



Mr. Moss. Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and members of the 

 committee. I very much appreciate the opportunity to appear before 

 you today. My name is Richard Moss, and I am the General Man- 

 ager of the Friant Water Users Authority. The Friant Water Users 

 Authority is a joint powers authority comprised of 25 member irri- 

 gation and water districts along the east side of the southern San 

 Joaquin Valley. All of these districts receive at least part of their 

 water supplies from the Friant Division of the Central Valley 

 Project. 



The Friant Division supplies water to a large part of Fresno, 

 Tulare, Kern, and Madera Counties. These counties respectively 

 are the number 1, the number 2, the number 3, and the number 

 7 producing counties in the Nation in terms of agricultural product. 

 The Friant Division is populated with small family farms in excess 

 of 10,000. We grow principally high value crops of citrus, nuts, 

 grapes, and stonefruit. 



This region is truly a unique region. It is unique in its combina- 

 tion of soils, water, climate, and talented people. Because of its 

 unique attributes, this area must be preserved and protected. 

 There has clearly been a Federal role in the development of the re- 

 gion, and there will continue to be a Federal role in assuring the 

 long-term productivity of the region. 



Much of what I describe to you here today especially in terms of 

 the suggested changes to the San Joaquin River provisions of the 

 CVPIA go toward this notion of preserving and protecting this 

 unique region. 



Let me first address the San Joaquin River and Friant Division 

 provisions. Section 6 of the Central Valley Project Reform Act calls 

 for a rewrite of the CVPIA, \^erein the Federal study of the San 

 Joaquin River, known as the San Joaquin Rivec Comprehensive 

 Plan, is replaced with direction to the Secretary t^ assist the State 

 of California in the implementation of a number of specific provi- 

 sions. 



Much of this section of the CVPRA deals with the implementa- 

 tion of the results of the state mandated review on the San Joaquin 

 River recently completed. Many of the specific measures identified 

 by the CVPRA are to enhance the viability of the existing salmon 

 run on the San Joaquin River and were pulled from this recent 

 state review. 



Clearly, the suggestion of the CVPRA to move to begin the imple- 

 mentation of the results of this already completed study will have 

 far greater environmental value than to have the Federal CJovem- 



