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three-year Accord was achieved through a consensus process that brought together urban, 

 agricultural, and environmental interests, as well as state and federal government 

 representatives. Both the Accord and the consensus process which created it provide a 

 foundation upon which to build long-term resolution of Bay-Delta environmental and water 

 supply issues The Bay-Delta Urban Coalition is committed to preserving the institutional and 

 political stability necessary to maintain the Accord, in order to allow the consensus process to 

 move forward toward long-term goals. 



A key factor in the stability of the Bay-Delta Accord is the CVPIA, which 

 requires the federal government to dedicate annually over 1.3 million acre-feet (AF) of CVP 

 water, to collect annually over $30 million from water and power contractors, and to carry 

 out numerous programs and projects, all aimed at environmental mitigation, enhancement and 

 restoration. The Bay -Delta Urban Coalition strongly supports the environmental purposes 

 and goals of the CVPIA. In addressing administrative, regulatory or legislative proposals 

 related to the CVPIA, the Urban Coalition's paramount objective is to maintain the 

 environmental integrity of the CVPIA. The Urban Coalition also strongly supports the 

 CVPIA' s fundamental approach to the use of the CVP system, which includes (1) restoring 

 balance among environmental, water supply and other project purposes, and (2) providing 

 flexibility to meet urban as well as agricultural water supply needs more effectively 



In considering H.R. 1906, the Bay-Delta Urban Coalition first took a hard look 

 at how the CVPIA has been implemented so far by the responsible federal agencies. Progress 

 has been made on many of the programs and projects mandated by the CVPIA. However, it is 

 evident that, despite good intentions, implementation has been hampered by inefficient 

 coordination between state and federal agencies, lack of appropriate stakeholder involvement 

 in decision-making, and disagreements over interpretation of specific legislative language and 

 intent. These factors have led to reduced environmental benefits, and to substantial 

 uncertainty for all CVP water users, particularly urban water agencies trying to assess the 

 reliability of CVP water supplies and urban water agencies hoping to engage in a CVP water 

 transfer market. The Urban Coalition believes that, if allowed to continue along its current 

 path, CVPIA implementation will continue to deteriorate and eventually polarize Bay-Delta 

 interests to such an extent that comprehensive resolution of long-term Bay-Delta problems 

 will slip from our grasp. 



Many, perhaps even most, of the implementation problems related to the 

 CVPIA might be solved through improved administration. The burden is certainly on the 

 federal agencies and policy makers to provide stronger guidance and more definitive 

 administration in a timely manner. Some issues, however, might best be solved through 

 amendments to the CVPIA. We also recognize that some administrative remedies benefit 

 from statutory support, and because amendments now are being considered, these 

 administrative remedies might also be usefijUy addressed in H.R. 1906. 



The important thing is to continue to move forward to make the CVPIA, and 

 the Bay-Delta Accord, a success. The Bay-Delta Urban Coalition intends to focus its efforts 



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