This week Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) was joined by fellow Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in introducing the California Emergency Drought Relief Act which includes a number of provisions to address the ongoing drought in California including desalination, storage projects, water recycling, groundwater recharge, research and innovation among other programs and projects.  

Last year, the Senators were split while unsuccessfully trying to negotiate a bill with California House members.  Senator Boxer cosponsored the new bill because it adheres to existing environmental laws and biological opinions for endangered species at specific water delivery projects. 

However, environmental organizations have already expressed concern for provisions in the bill that mimic H.R. 2898, a bill passed by the House last month that allows for more water pumping after monitoring for endangered Delta smelt.  The House bill is opposed by environmental groups and the White House because it would override biological opinions that restrict water flows to benefit endangered species.

Last week, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced that Feinstein's drought measure is slated for a hearing in September.  Chair Murkowski, who has been focused on her comprehensive energy legislation in recent months, intends on drafting a West-wide water package sometime this year.  The California drought bill would likely be incorporated into that legislation.