We Need to Properly Manage Water

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to bring attention to the failure of California State agencies and Federal agencies to properly manage California's water system as a result of the El Nino storms that we have been receiving.

El Nino years, like this one, are California's hope of digging out of the historical drought conditions that we are facing. There is very high likelihood that most of the State will experience flood conditions, while communities in the San Joaquin Valley that I represent will receive a zero water allocation.

This year we have already missed an opportunity to move significant amounts of water to regions of California that need it most in the San Joaquin Valley.

As a result of the State and Federal agencies' inability to operate in the most flexible range allowable, over 160,000 acre-feet of water has been lost this week alone and over half a million acre-feet has been lost this year. Meanwhile, an estimated total of 2 million acre- feet of water has gone out to the ocean.

State and Federal agencies are failing to take advantage of the water in the system today, and that is unacceptable. It is a disservice to all Californians. It is simply immoral.

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