Reclamation and key stakeholders are working in a collaborative resolution effort to provide drainage service to the San Luis Unit area in a matter generally consistent with Reclamation’s Record of Decision.
In 1995, the U.S. District Court issued a partial judgment finding that
the San Luis Act (Act of June 3, 1960, 74 Stat. 156) established a mandatory
duty by the Department of the Interior (Interior) to provide drainage
service within the Central Valley Project (CVP) San Luis Unit. In 2000,
the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that Interior must provide
drainage service without delay but had the discretion to develop and
implement a plan other than the original interceptor drain solution.
In response to the District Court injunction, Reclamation developed a Plan of Action outlining the steps it would follow to develop and implement a drainage solution for the San Luis Unit. Reclamation has now completed the following planning documents in accordance with that Plan of Action:
• The Final Environmental Impact Statement for the San Luis Drainage Feature Re-evaluation was completed in March 2006.
• The Record of Decision (ROD) was signed in March 2007. The selected alternative involves purchase and subsequent retirement by Reclamation of 194,000 acres acquired from willing sellers in Westlands Water District (Westlands); and construction of drainage systems and facilities in four separate subareas. The selected alternative is estimated to cost approximately $2.7 billion and requires new authorizing legislation to increase the appropriations ceiling beyond that authorized by the San Luis Act.
• The San Luis Drainage Feature Re-evaluation Feasibility Report was completed in March 2008 and submitted to Congress in July 2008. The Feasibility Report concluded that the alternative selected in the ROD was technically and environmentally feasible but financially and economically infeasible according to the Principles and Guidelines largely because the $2.7 billion cost was beyond the capability of San Luis Unit Contractors (Contractors) to repay.
Concurrent with the planning process, Reclamation initiated a collaborative process with interested stakeholders. The current proposal offers an effective drainage resolution by providing a timely solution to drainage problems; eliminates drainage liability to the United States; provides benefits to the environment; minimizes need for appropriations; sustains San Joaquin Valley agriculture; avoids redirected impacts to third parties and comports with State Water Project operations. Under this proposal, the United States would be relieved of the current obligation to provide drainage to the SLU and each SLU water service contractor, Firebaugh Canal Water District, and the Central California Irrigation District would assume responsibility to provide drainage through implementation of an in-valley solution that is generally consistent with Reclamation’s Record of Decision (ROD).
The Proposal developed through the collaborative process has evolved over time in response to key stakeholder interests. The proposal is comprised of the following key components:
- Drainage Implementation Plan
- Development of Repayment Contracts
- New Environmental Water
- Enabling Legislation
San Luis Drainage Feature Re-evaluation
website
courtesy link
For additional information or assistance, please contact:
Federico
Barajas, Special Assistant
San Luis Drainage Collaborative Resolution Program
Bureau of Reclamation - MP Region
(916) 978-5113
August 8, 2008
2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento CA 95825-1898
Main (916) 978-5100 | FAX (916) 978-5114 | TDD (916) 978-5608
Reclamation Officials' Telephone Numbers
