Matsui Submits Public Comments on MOA for Bay Delta Conservation Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

CONTACT: ALANA JUTEAU
(202) 225-7163

Matsui Submits Public Comments on MOA for Bay Delta Conservation Plan
Calls for Consideration of Sacramento's Flood Protection Priorities

CA Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-05) submitted her own comments in response to the public comment period for the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan.

Congresswoman Matsui has been part of a group of Northern California Members of Congress who have continued to call on the Department of Interior to reevaluate the MOA. In particular, she has expressed a great deal of concern for how the BDCP would impact flood protection priorities in the region. Congresswoman Matsui has also been critical about how the plans for the BDCP's five water intakes, all of which would be constructed in Sacramento County, would affect the landscape and river flow.

There are currently several flaws in the MOA that could be very detrimental to Sacramento and the Northern California region, said Congresswoman Matsui. Every potential consequence of the plan needs to be carefully examined. In Sacramento, our biggest concern is our flood protection, and I believe it must be the top priority.

Below are Congresswoman Matsui's comments, as submitted:

November 16, 2011

John Laird, SecretaryDavid Hayes, Deputy Secretary
Dr. Gerald Meral, Deputy Secretary United States Department of the Interior
California Natural Resources Agency Michael Connor, Commissioner
1416 Ninth StreetUnited States Bureau of Reclamation
Sacramento, CA 95814 1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240

Re: Comment on Bay Delta Conservation Plan Memorandum of Agreement

Dear Secretary Laird, Dr. Meral, Deputy Secretary Hayes and Commissioner Connor:

I submit to you today my comments on the Bay Delta Conservation Plan's Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by the state and federal agencies and the south of Delta water export contractors.

As I have expressed before, both in person to all of you and in writing I feel the current MOA has several serious flaws that create great disadvantages for Northern California in the BDCP process. Until an even playing field is established I will continue to be disappointed in this most important effort.

Schedule for completion. The aggressive timeline the BDCP is currently on does not provide northern California stakeholders adequate time for input. The MOA specifically commits the signators to completing all tasks by February 15, 2013. Given the tremendous changes proposed in the BDCP adequate time must be given to those most affected.

Independent analysis of BDCP's five water intake impacts. Sacramento County alone is slated to have 5 enormous water intakes constructed within its jurisdiction and to date there is no specific analysis as to how drastically this will change the county's landscape and adjacent river flow. With a range of possible intakes being between 3,000 15,000 cubic feet per second their intake of water could dwarf the entire flow of the American River. We must give county officials early and accurate analysis on how these intakes could change their county.

Independent analysis of BDCP impacts to flood protection. As you are aware, when completed the Sacramento region will have spent upwards of $2 billion on its flood control system. This system includes the Joint Federal Project at Folsom Dam, the Natomas Levee Improvement Project, the South Sacramento Streams Group Project and the American River Common Features and General Reevaluation Report. This flood control system will work as designed only if the Yolo Bypass is maintained and current conditions either persist or are improved for flood water passage. Any changes in the Yolo Bypass will affect Sacramento's flood protection. To this point, an independent analysis of the BDCP's effects on Sacramento and Yolo Counties flood control has been jointly requested by the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency and Yolo County. This analysis must be completed in order for potential impacts to be identified. The location and management of floodplain habitat for fish will change the nature of the Bypass and this must be understood before final Environmental Impact Statements or Environmental Impact Reports are certified.

Additionally, while the U.S. Army Corps Engineers and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board will be reviewing the EIR/EIS, this review frankly comes too late in the process. Sacramento and Yolo Counties will be in the position of having to undo plans already studied and largely in place. While the BDCP plans to use adaptive management a sound starting point from which to adapt is critical.

I know that you have received comment from many other stakeholders in northern California. I implore you to heed our call to not only follow the letter of the law for habitat conservation planning, but to go beyond that requirement. The water exporters will continue to represent themselves most adequately given their resources, it is the State of California's job to represent the rest of the State in the BDCP negotiations. We are counting on you to provide a truly equitable process. A process that understands the magnitude of the changes being proposed in the BDCP and creates a level playing field for all Californians. A 50 year process deserves no less.

Sincerely,

Doris O. Matsui
Member of Congress

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