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on resolving as many CVPIA implementation problems as possible through administrative 

 remedies. At the same time, with H.R. 1906 being introduced and the need for legislation 

 likely, the Urban Coalition has worked hard to define a position on amendments to the current 

 law which focus on preserving the environmental integrity of the original Act, establishing a 

 more effective implementation process, and resolving the most flindamental problem areas. 



The Bay-Delta Urban Coalition cannot support H.R. 1906 as introduced 

 because it is not consistent with the urban position in a number of areas. Key concerns of the 

 Urban Coalition vwth H.R. 1906 include; 



• Unclear direction regarding the primary purpose, crediting, and reuse of water 

 dedicated or reserved for environmental purposes. 



• Weakening of federal involvement in anadromous fish restoration 



• Reductions in Restoration Fund revenues. 



• No provision to establish a more efifective implementation process. 



• No definition of reliability for CVP urban water supplies. 



• Establishing federal pre-eminence over water management on the upper San 

 Joaquin River. 



Despite these concerns, we believe that there is substantial potential to amend 

 H.R 1906 into a bill that the Bay-Delta Urban Coalition can support. The Urban Coalition 

 has already met a number of times with agricultural, environmental and federal resource 

 agency representatives to discuss appropriate administrative and legislative remedies to 

 CVPIA implementation problems. The Bay-Delta Urban Coalition is committed to continuing 

 these discussions with the goals of improving CVPIA implementation and, if possible, 

 developing H.R. 1906 into legislation that can be more broadly supported by all affected 

 interests. 



The remainder of this testimony sets out the principal substantive elements of 

 the Urban Coalition's position, along with summaries comparing H.R. 1906 and the urban 

 position, including brief descriptions of major differences 



