Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the June 4, 2009 National Marine Fisheries Service biological opinion on the Central Valley Water Project and California State Water Project, Congressman Cardoza threw his full support behind an amendment to prevent the opinion from taking effect.

Congressman Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill to prohibit funds from being used to implement the recently-released biological opinion.  Cardoza, a member of the influential Rules Committee, persuaded his colleagues to protect the Valley’s interests and ensure that the Nunes amendment would receive a vote on the House floor today.

“The Central Valley is at jeopardy with the flawed biological opinion,” said Congressman Cardoza.  “I totally support the amendment and feel very strongly it should have its day in court as the short-sighted solution of continuing to curtail pumping is only worsening a man-made drought and imperiling the lifeblood of the San Joaquin Valley.”

The opinion stated that the current pumping operations in the Central Valley Water Project and California State Water Project should be changed to increase the long-term survival of winter and spring-run Chinook salmon, steelhead, the North American green sturgeon and Southern Resident killer whales.  The whales rely on Chinook salmon runs for food.

Recommended changes in water operations will impact an estimated 5 to 7 percent of the available annual water moved by the federal and state pumps, or an estimated 330,000 acre feet per year. These changes come on top of water cuts to Valley farmers and cities already this year, which have had major negative impacts on the San Joaquin Valley’s economy.

“I am grateful for the support of so many of my colleagues on this, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.”

The amendment ultimately did not pass, with a margin of 208 to 218.

Congressman Cardoza added, “ESA’s regulations have had crippling effects on the water supply throughout the San Joaquin Valley.  I am extremely disappointed by the outcome of today’s vote, but the highly charged debate proved this is a critical issue worthy of consideration on the floor.  This is far from the end.  I will continue to do everything I can – including working with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner – to ensure that water is flowing throughout the San Joaquin Valley once again.”