Rep. Calvert Calls on Interior Secretary to Be More Active In Combating California Drought

Press Release

REP. CALVERT CALLS ON INTERIOR SECRETARY TO BE MORE ACTIVE IN COMBATING CALIFORNIA DROUGHT

Sec. Salazar Traveling to California Later This Week

Yesterday Congressman Calvert (R-CA), the former Chairman of the Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power, sent a letter to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, asking him to take a more active role in the California water drought.

"I am pleased Secretary Salazar is visiting our great state and I look forward to working with him to provide strong federal leadership in helping California overcome serious water supply challenges," stated Rep. Calvert.

During his upcoming trip, Secretary Salazar is expected to tour the Bay-Delta as well as attend a press conference in San Francisco regarding the Outer Continental Shelf. In December 2007, a federal judge ordered restrictions on water project operations in the Bay-Delta to help protect a threatened fish species, the delta smelt. The restrictions have significantly reduced the amount of water available to Californians and the order has been a point of contention. In part the letter to Secretary Salazar states:

"It is worth noting that our current drought is not like other droughts. In addition to suffering from a natural dry spell, California is also suffering from a federally-imposed dry spell… The consequences of inaction and allowing the status quo to continue are far too great and damaging to California's economic outlook. I am confident that aggressive and engaged action by the state and federal water and resource management agencies can have a positive impact."

Source