By a 3-to-1 margin, the Senate passed and sent to President Obama a water infrastructure bill that changes how much water is shipped to Southern California and San Joaquin Valley farmers from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The bill was criticized by environmentalists and the fishing industry, reports the Los Angeles Times, and a court challenge is likely if Obama signs the bill into law.
“Described as drought relief, the proposal focuses on environmental restrictions that have at times limited water flow from the delta to its dry southern neighbors,” said the Times. The bill allows state and federal water management agencies to capture more water, particularly during storms, than the limits set by law to protect endangered species. Water agencies have lamented water “lost to the sea” during heavy rainfall.
“Federal biologists have said certain levels of water flowing through the delta are vital for native fish, which have suffered devastating losses during the prolonged drought, and help maintain the quality of the delta’s freshwater supplies,” said the newspaper. The bill states more than 30 times that it does not override environmental laws. Holly Doremus, a law-school professor, said the bill was so prescriptive, “it probably is going to override” them.