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San Joaquin Rtver 



Urban Coalition Position: 



• A San Joaquin River plan that includes formal stakeholder input as part of a joint State- 

 Federal-Stakeholder process and optimizes benefits to fish and wildlife should be 

 developed. The plan should consider a broad range of alternatives, but focus on only 

 those alternatives that are the most reasonable, efficient, and readily achievable, giving 

 consideration to restoration activities identified in previous San Joaquin River studies 

 The plan should be coordinated with the activities identified in the joint State-federal 

 program to restore anadromous fish. Direct releases fi'om Friant Dam intended to achieve 

 the purposes of the CVPIA should be excluded fi'om the scope of the plan. 



• Unless approved by Congress, releases fi'om Friant Dam for specific CVPIA purposes 

 should not be required. Notwithstanding this provision, a) Friant Division must meet its 

 water release obligations in the San Joaquin Basin (i.e. contribution to downstream flow 

 requirements including Bay-Delta requirements) through alternative means, and b) Friant 

 Division must meet its financial obligation toward habitat restoration of the lower San 

 Joaquin River. 



• No exemptions fi'om State law or federal law should be provided. 



• The Friant Surcharge should not be capped and should be indexed to retain its value over 

 time. The Friant surcharge should be assessed on all water actually delivered other than 

 flood water delivered under Section 215 of the Reclamation Reform Act. 



• Restoration Fund surcharges paid by the Friant Division should be used only for 

 environmental restoration purposes in the San Joaquin River watershed fi'om Friant Dam 

 through the Bay-Delta. Use of such fiinds must result in benefits to fishery and ecosystem 

 resources in the San Joaquin River watershed. 



Comparison with H.R. 1906: 



The proposal in H.R. 1906 to remove the upper San Joaquin River fi'om the 

 purview of State law is a key concern of the Urban Coalition. The proposal in H.R. 1906 to 

 eliminate the San Joaquin River Comprehensive Study is also a concern. The Urban Coalition 

 believes that a San Joaquin River study developed through a joint State-Federal-Stakeholder 

 process is needed. Such a plan should focus on alternatives that do not require releases firom 

 Friant Dam for CVPIA purposes. H.R. 1906 also contains amendments that would reduce the 

 Friant Unit's financial contributions to the Restoration Fund, and the Urban Coalition believes 

 contributions should be maintained at a level consistent with their obligation for environmental 

 restoration. 



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