9/19/07 from Dan Keppen, Family Farm Alliance Executive Director

Attached is the testimony delivered to the House Water & Power Subcommittee earlier this week in opposition to the Trinity River restoration bill proposed by Rep. Thompson.

Ara Azhderian represented the Central Valley Project Water Association, a key member of the Family Farm Alliance. The CVP folks oppose the bill for the following, overarching reasons:

      The legislation imperils numerous, existing environmental restoration efforts, from the Suisan Marsh to the tributaries of the Sacramento River, as well as important potential future actions such as the Bay Delta Conservation Plan, by dedicating enormous, annually fixed levels of funding to an effort that has historically been adequately funded;

      The manner in which funds are guaranteed in perpetuity and deposited into the proposed Trinity restoration fund will disrupt Reclamation’s planning and budgeting processes, thereby affecting their ability to effectively and efficiently meet the multitude of other obligations they bear, including operations and maintenance. 

      H.R. 2733 inadequately protects Reclamation’s rate payers from increased costs and rate volatility.

The CVP water users recognize the value of creating a stable funding mechanism for the Trinity River Restoration Program and have stated their willingness to stand available and work with members of your committee to amend the Trinity River Restoration Fund Act of 2007 so that it may avoid unwanted impacts and achieve its broad objective. 

Dan Keppen
Executive Director
Family Farm Alliance