07/25/2008 GAAS:576:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version | Email / Share
Governor Schwarzenegger Requests Federal Drought Assistance to Help Local Communities Impacted by State's Drought
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger today sent the letter below to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
The request enables the state and federal government to work together to ensure
that local communities impacted by the drought are eligible for federal
assistance and drought funds. The most immediate beneficiary will be the
Orland-Artois Water District in the Northern Sacramento Valley, which needs the authorization to
transfer water to farms hard hit by the drought.
Text of the letter:
July 25, 2008
Mr. Robert Johnson
Commissioner
U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation
Room 7060-MIB
Main Interior Building
1849 C Street
NW
Washington, DC 20240-0001
Dear Mr. Johnson,
Pursuant to Title I of the Reclamation States Emergency
Drought Relief Act of 1991, I am requesting drought assistance for California. As provided
for in Title I, authorities established in the Act become operative only after a
Governor's request for temporary drought assistance and the approval of that
request by the Secretary of the Interior or his
designee.
The Act provides broad authority to the Secretary to
address drought conditions in the Western states. Water year 2007 - a dry year
in California overall, and the driest on record
for parts of Southern California - was followed
by a dry 2008. Last month, I issued an executive order about response to these
drought conditions, followed by a proclamation of emergency covering
drought-affected Central Valley counties.
Drought impacts are felt by agricultural water users, especially those served by
the Central Valley Project. In my executive order, I called for immediate
measures to respond to the current conditions and, importantly, to prepare for a
potentially dry 2009. My emergency proclamation directs the Department of Water
Resources (DWR) and the State Water Resources Control Board to expedite the
processing of water transfer requests. The Bureau's support could be critical
in assisting with water transfers and well
drilling.
I urge you to determine that federal financial and
technical assistance for drought is merited. DWR stands ready to work with
Reclamation in assisting the affected water users, and I look forward to working
with you to solve the problems imposed by drought conditions. Please do not
hesitate to call DWR Director Lester Snow at (916) 653-7007 if you have any
questions about this request or need further
information.
Sincerely,
Arnold
Schwarzenegger
