Below is Congressman McCarthy’s statement on the Executive Director’s recent decision and the congressional letter to the State Board regarding the TUCP.
California’s historic drought is hurting our entire state. And as our communities continue to face the drought’s dire consequences, it is imperative that all constituencies work together to do what is humanly possible to ease the pain. That is why water and fishery officials at the state and federal level submitted a petition to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) that would allow increased pumping in the delta to provide some relief to our communities. In a stunning rebuke of common sense, the Executive Director of the SWRCB derailed the diligent work done by the state and federal government and denied the petition, citing vague and unjustified concerns about protections for fish in the delta. The rejection of this petition is outrageous given federal and state agencies tasked solely with protecting fish in the delta approved and supported the petition to increase pumping. This is an abdication of the SWRCB’s mission to responsibly balance California’s water resources for environmental and human uses, and is a crushing blow to all Californians seeking water. This bipartisan and bicameral letter to the Board of Directors is a call for sanity to accept the scientific opinion of federal and state officials and answer the calls of our drought-stricken neighbors.” – Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA-23)