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The Restoration Fund 



To date, an inordinate emphasis has been placed on Restoration Fund collections. The 

 expenditure side, from the perspective of greatest good for and the most critical need of^ the 

 envirooment has been sorely neglected. Through elimiDation of the artificial 34/66 percent 

 spending cap, it is intended that the Secretary will have greater discretion in allocating Restoration 

 funds to programs and activities from which the most benefit may derived. Concurrently, 

 elimination of the $50 million hammer clause will elimioate a purely pimitive aspect of the CVPIA 

 which in most years would likely result in creation of a deficit obligation. 



The San Joaquin River 



In a fashion similar to the changes proposed for the "fish doubling plan", HR 1906 would 

 take advantage of a significant body of ecological study recently completed under state law on the 

 San Joaquin - focusing efforts and resources on timely implementation of real environmental 

 improvements. (Friant E>ivision customers will continue to contribute millions of dollars to San 

 Joaquin River mitigation and restoration efforts.) 



The Trinity River 



Decades of work and tens of millions of dollars spent on study of the Trinity River system 

 have yet to yield a comprehensive analysis of the system's needs. The amendments proposed in 

 HR 1906 are meant to establish the requirement for public participation and input into upcoming 

 decisions regarding changes in the flow regime and other mitigation, protection or restoration 

 activities identified for the Trinity by the environmental studies ongoing and due for completion. 



Refuge Water Supplies 



The CVPIA currently provides for firm water supplies to identified Central Valley wildlife 

 refuges. The proposed legislative changes do not alter these amounts. The proposed changes do 

 however, make provisions of refiige supplies into CVP operations and enviromnental obligations 

 more consistent with mandates on other water uses by requiring the implementation of water 

 management and conservation practices, an analysis of refuge needs, and by linking shortages to 

 refuges to shortages imposed on other users in the same CVP division. 



Transfers 



The federal agencies' interpretation and implementation of the CVPIA transfer provisions 

 has resulted in a hindrance rather than a help to efificient water transfers and management 

 practices. The proposed legislative changes would enhance efficient water management praaices 

 within the CVP service area and transfers to outside of the service area and wotild provide for 

 greater water district oversight over proposed transfers using specific enumerated criteria in the 

 light of potential adverse environmental and economic impacts. (Note: imder these provisions, a 

 district could not deny a proposal for transfer without justification.) 



CVPWA Statement Page 4 - 20 July 1995 



