Rep. Matsui Leads Letter Expressing Concern with Assumption of Federal Funding for BDCP

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-06) led a letter to California Governor Jerry Brown expressing deep concerns regarding the assumption that federal funding will be required to construct the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).  Given the deep cuts to the federal budget over the past few years and the parameters of sequestration, the letter expresses concern with the assumption that federal funding for the BDCP will take over other important national infrastructure and conservation priorities.

The letter was also signed by Representatives George Miller (CA-11), Mike Thompson (CA-05), Jerry McNerney (CA-09), John Garamendi (CA-03), Anna Eshoo (CA-18) and Ami Bera (CA-07).

A PDF copy of the signed letter is available here.

The full text of the letter is below:

August 30, 2013

The Honorable Jerry Brown
Governor
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA  95814

Dear Governor Brown:

We are writing to express our deep concerns regarding the assumption that federal funding will be required to construct the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).

On May 29th, the State of California released Chapter 8 of the draft BDCP management plan, which focuses on the “Implementation Costs and Funding Sources.”  Within this chapter, the State assumes that up to $4 billion in federal funding will be set aside for the construction of the BDCP project. We believe this is an unrealistic assumption given historical funding levels of established programs, severe budget cuts, other commitments by federal agencies for this funding, and our overall concern that the BDCP process is not being governed by sound science.  Chapter 8 specifically identifies federal funding accounts that will require appropriations to specifically be designated for the BDCP, including the following:

• CVPIA – Central Valley Project Improvement Act Restoration Fund (USBOR)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USBOR)
• Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (USFWS)
• The Land and Water Conservation Fund (USFWS)
• National Coastal Wetlands conservation grants (USFWS)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USFWS)
• Regional Ecosystem Conservation (NMFS)
• Estuary Restoration Act (NMFS)
• National/Regional Partnership Grants (NMFS)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (NMFS)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USACE)
• San Francisco Bay Area Water Quality Improvement Fund (USEPA)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Fund (USEPA)
• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS)
• Wetlands Reserve Program (NRCS)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (NRCS)
• CA Bay-Delta Restoration Appropriations (USGS)

As you know, due to our nation’s fiscal and political climate, the federal budget has seen deep cuts over the past few years. Moreover, the federal budget is currently operating in ‘sequestration’; which has already significantly reduced the amount of funding available in the programs identified in Chapter 8.  The decline in federal funding has led to many important priorities for our nation to be put on hold. Therefore, we believe, it is extremely unwise to assume that BDCP will take priority for federal funding over other important national infrastructure and conservation priorities around the country.

Despite meetings with senior federal and state officials to discuss our concerns, we continue to believe the current BDCP plan and process are deeply flawed and do not warrant federal funding at this time, especially to the levels called out for in the draft plan.  Additionally, Northern California stakeholders continue to be left out of the process.  The lack of involvement is particularly troubling given that the State plans to release its draft BDCP Plan for public comment on October 1, 2013.

We request that you postpone the release of the BDCP management plan until all stakeholders are at the table, sound science is conducted, and a workable financing plan is developed.  We agree that California’s water problems have to be fixed, but there first must be a plan that reflects the needs of the entire state and addresses the major concerns of all stakeholders.  With that being said, we are ready to work in a constructive manner with both the State and the federal government to find a better solution to solve California’s water problems.