May 18, 2010

The Honorable Barbara Boxer          The Honorable James Inhofe
Chairman                                          Ranking Member
Environment and Public Works         Environment and Public Works
United States Senate                       United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510                    Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman and Ranking Member,

As the Committee begins its consideration of a Water Resources Development Act, and to comply with the accountability and transparency requirements of the Committee, I am writing to request support for the items listed on Attachment A.

I certify that neither I nor my immediate family has a pecuniary interest in the items that I have requested, consistent with the requirements of paragraph 9 of Rule XLIV of the Standing Rules of the Senate.  I further certify that I have posted a description of the items requested on my official website, along with the accompanying justification.

Thank you for your consideration of my requests.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

     Sincerely,

     Dianne Feinstein
     United States Senator

Attachment A

Central Valley Flood Protection and Water Resources Program
Location: California Central Valley
Local Sponsor: State of California and others
Authorization Amount Requested: Crediting Language

• The California Department of Water Resources’ legislative proposal would establish the Central Valley Flood Protection and Water Resources Development Program in California (the Program).  The primary purpose of the Program is to adopt a system approach to crediting and reimbursement for federal flood damage reduction, water resources development and ecosystem restoration projects in California’s Central Valley, where hundreds of thousands of people live in deep floodplains protected by a system of fragile federal levees. 

Yuba River Basin Flood Damage Reduction Project
Location: Yuba County, California
Local Sponsor: Yuba County Water Agency
Total Project Cost: $517,000,000

• Reauthorization of the Yuba River Basin flood damage reduction project is necessary to ensure that the State of California and local sponsors, including Yuba County Water Agency, are eligible to utilize financial credits from advanced project construction for the final project element and so the Corps can undertake future maintenance and repairs on project levees.

American River Watershed (Common Features)
Location: Sacramento, California
Local Sponsor: Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency
Total Project Cost: $618,000,000; federal share: $463,500,000

• The Natomas Basin of the City of Sacramento and Sacramento and Sutter Counties has been determined to have inadequate flood protection (less than 100-year).  Due to the urgent need to restore 100-year protection and to comply with the Statewide requirement for 200-year protection, State and local governments have financed and initiated work on the project, referred to locally as the "Natomas Levee Improvement Project."

Delta Levee Modification / Habitat Development
Location: Solano County, California
Local Sponsor: Reclamation District 2068
Total Project Cost: $25,000,000; federal share: $10,500,000

• This levee protection and habitat development project envisions an environmentally friendly approach that benefits the ongoing aquatic species habitat development being proposed for the Yolo Bypass/Cache Slough region as well as federal project levees.

Russian River and Dry Creek Valley Biological Opinion Implementation
Location: Counties of Sonoma and Mendocino, California
Local Sponsor: Sonoma County Water Agency
Total Project Cost: $97,900,000

• Predicated upon the ten year, $35 million Biological Assessment which preceded the Russian River Biological Opinion, conducted pursuant to Section 7 of the ESA and funded with local funds, this authorization would allow the Corps to construct all measures of the Biological Opinion, with the exception of a municipal water pipeline, for which a feasibility study would be authorized.

Seven Oaks Dam
Location: San Bernardino County, California
Local Sponsor: East Valley Water District
Total Project Cost: unknown at this time

• This authorization would allow the Corps to fully implement plans and solutions for remedying the water quality impacts of the Seven Oaks Dam in the Santa Ana River Basin.

Calexico Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades
Location: Calexico, California
Local Sponsor: City of Calexico
Total Project Cost: $30,000,000

• The Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades project is critical to the City of Calexico. The project includes upgrading the existing capacity of the Wastewater Treatment Plant by nearly doubling the daily output to 8 million gallons per day. The project consists of replacing the existing 40-year-old equipment.

SARI Line Relocation Technical Amendments
Location: Orange County, California
Local Sponsor: Orange County Sanitation District
Total Project Cost: $100,000,000 (technical amendment to language requested)

• The Santa Ana River Interceptor Line (SARI) is a multi-county, regional backbone of wastewater transportation, extending 76 miles from San Bernardino and Riverside Counties to OCSD’s treatment plant in Fountain Valley. Improvements to the Prado Dam (a Federal flood control project) have necessitated the need to relocate the SARI Line.

Tijuana River Environmental Restoration
Location: San Diego, California
Local Sponsor: City of San Diego
Total Project Cost: $4,000,000

• This feasibility study would develop project solutions for flood, environmental, and water quality problems in the Tijuana River Valley, including polluted water flows originating from Mexico.

Sacramento River, Glen Colusa
Location: Glen Colusa, California
Local Sponsor: Glen Colusa Irrigation District
Total Project Cost Increase: $12,000,000; federal share increase: $3,000,000

• The purpose of the request is to provide an increase in the authorized costs for the flood control project known as Sacramento River, Glenn-Colusa, California. Recent estimates of total project costs indicate that the project will exceed the currently authorized project cost ceiling, principally due to additional bank stabilization construction work in the vicinity of River Mile 208. 

Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Infrastructure
Location: Contra Costa, Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, and Solano Counties, California
Local Sponsor: Contra Costa, Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, and Solano Counties
Total Program Authorization: $66,000,000

• The proposed Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Water Infrastructure authority would help the Delta Counties address current flood protection, water supply, water quality, and environmental restoration challenges facing the Delta. 

Sutter and Butte Counties Flood Control
Location: Sutter and Butte Counties, California
Local Sponsor: Yuba County Water Agency
Total Project Cost: $250,000,000; requested federal share : $162,500,000

• This Early Implementation Project (EIP) to restore 44 miles of the levees on the west bank of the Feather River that would provide 200-year flood protection from Yuba City north to the Thermalito Afterbay and 100-year protection south of Yuba City.

Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration
Location: Los Angeles, California
Local Sponsor: City of Los Angeles
Total Program Cost: $185,000,000; federal share: $120,000,000

• The LA River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study was initiated with a Project Management Plan signed in 2006 by the Corps and the City of Los Angeles (as local sponsor). This would authorize construction of the project that will be recommended by the completed Study.

Matilija Dam/Desilter
Location: Ventura County, California
Local Sponsor: Ventura County
Requested change to authorization: $4,550,000; total cost of project not affected by this request

• The Matilija Dam, Ventura County, California, project authorization would be amended to: 1) allow the desilting basin defined in the Chief's report to be cost-shared 65 percent federal and 35 percent non-federal and 2) to direct the Secretary to credit toward the non-Federal share of project costs for work related to design and construction carried out by the non-Federal sponsor for recommended plan features prior to and after the date of the Project Partnership Agreement. 

Tijuana River Valley Wetlands Mitigation Project
Location: San Diego County, California
Local Sponsor: San Diego County Water Authority
Total Project Cost: $8,556,000; federal share: $6,000,000

• The Tijuana River Valley Wetlands Mitigation Project would create and protect approximately 40 net acres of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional wetland on property owned by the county of San Diego.  This project would support efforts to implement projects that would mitigate the negative effects of water pollution that have plagued this portion of the river valley for decades, while providing the additional benefits of creating and managing endangered species habitat in perpetuity, increasing groundwater recharge, reducing (localized) flood elevations, and providing integrated recreational trails.

Napa River Salt Marsh Restoration Construction General
Location: Sonoma and Napa Counties, California
Local Sponsor: Sonoma County Water Agency
No additional cost

• This would direct the Corps to utilize funds for construction of a recycled water pipeline and restoration of salt ponds 1, 1A, 2, and 3 under the Napa River Salt Marsh Restoration Project.

Lake Tahoe Restoration
Location: Lake Tahoe Watershed; Nevada and California
Local Sponsor: Lake Tahoe Transportation and Water Quality Coalition
Total Project Cost: $66,700,000; increased authorization: $50,000,000

• Stream zone restoration, treatment of urban storm water, and other vital restoration efforts are identified as critical components of the Lake Tahoe Basin watershed restoration. Increase of the authorized funding limit would support further stream environment zone restoration and other critical efforts identified as priorities in the Environmental Improvement Program (EIP). The EIP is adopted by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, which was established under a bi-state compact authorized by Congress.

North Valley Regional Recycled Water Project
Location: San Joaquin Valley, California
Local Sponsor: City of Modesto
Total Project Cost: $180,000,000; federal share: $33,600,000

• Project is being developed as regional effort in Stanislaus County area between Cities of Modesto, Turlock, and Ceres, and the Del Puerto Water District.  The first phases of the proposed project could produce and deliver up to 31,252 acre-feet per year of tertiary-treated recycled water to the drought-impacted west side of Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Merced Counties (via the Del Puerto Water District).  The recycled water would be available from combined effluents of Cities of Modesto, Turlock, and Ceres, and can be used to irrigate food crops. 

East Bay MUD Regional Seismic Protection Upgrade Program
Location: Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California
Local Sponsor: East Bay Municipal Utilities District
Total Project Cost: $151,000,000; Requested Federal Share: $10,000,000,

• Regional EBMUD Seismic Component Upgrade program (RESCU) would increase the seismic stability of several critical water distribution and raw water storage reservoirs that are part of East Bay Municipal Utility District's water supply system and help protect the proximate densely populated urban communities from flooding during a major earthquake.

Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP)
Location: Los Angeles County, California
Local Sponsor: Water Replenishment District of Southern California
Total Project Cost: $215,000,000; Requested Federal Share: $10,000,000,

• GRIP is multi-agency, multi-regional advanced water treatment facility that would utilize tertiary treated recycled water from the San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant and further treat it to offset imported replenishment water demands in the Central, West Coast, and Main San Gabriel Basins. The highly treated water would then be carried via two conveyance pipelines to spreading basins located along the San Gabriel River and in the Santa Fe Dam vicinity for percolation into the underground aquifers.  Using recycled water as a groundwater replenishment supply, GRIP would increase the local water supply by 18,000 acre-feet per year, nearly 6 billion gallons annually, which is enough water to meet the needs of 144,000 residents. 

Hamilton Bel Marin Keys Wetland Restoration Project
Location: Marin County, California
Local Sponsor: California Coastal Conservancy
Total Project Cost: $228,100,000; Requested Federal Share: $171,000,000,

• This project would provide critical habitat for several threatened and endangered species, as well as shorebirds and waterfowl migrating along the Pacific Flyway.  In addition, the project beneficially uses dredged sediment from the Oakland Harbor Deepening Project to recreate salt marsh, creating a direct link to the Bay Area navigation community and maritime commerce.

Ventura River Levee
Location: County of Ventura, California
Local Sponsor: County of Ventura
Total Project Cost: $14,000,000

• This would authorize improvements to the Ventura River Levee to provide 100-year flood protection to residents within the Ventura River Watershed. 

San Francisquito Creek Comprehensive Flood Protection Project
Location: Cities of East Palo Alto, Palo Alto, and Menlo Park, California
Local Sponsor: San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority
Total Project Cost: $70,000,000; requested federal share: $45,500,000

• This authorization would authorize implementation of a plan to protect 6,000 properties from a 100-year flood and sea level rise.  This plan is based upon the Corps’ own technical analysis of the flooding threat, and environmental and other opportunities, as well as an economic analysis of the benefit-cost ratio.

Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project
Location: Santa Clara County, California
Local Sponsor: City of Morgan Hill
Total Project Cost: $105,000,000; requested federal share: $65,000,000

• The Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project would provide flood protection for 1,100 homes, 500 businesses, and over 1,300 acres of agricultural land in Santa Clara County; protect and improve water quality; and preserve the river’s habitat, fish, and wildlife.

Port of Los Angeles Main Channel Deepening Project
Location: Los Angeles, California
Local Sponsor: Port of Los Angeles
Total Project Cost: $222,000,000; requested federal share: $12,000,000

• The deepened channel would accommodate vessels entering international maritime commerce with drafts that extend beyond the current limit and would improve the efficiency of operations and reduce the costs for transporting containers to the region.

Compton Creek Feasibility Study
Location: Compton, California
Local Sponsor: City of Compton
Total Project Cost: $1,000,000

• This would authorize a feasibility study in conjunction with efforts to convert existing Compton Creek infrastructure to a soft-bottom drainage system.  The proposed study would determine the scope and cost of such a conversion.

South Lake Tahoe Recycled Water Pipeline Replacement Project
Location: El Dorado and Alpine Counties, California
Local Sponsor: South Lake Tahoe Public Utilities District
Total Project Cost: $16,250,000

• This would authorize replacement of aged and deteriorating pipeline needed to convey recycled water from South Tahoe Public Utility District (STPUD)to Harvey Place Reservoir in Alpine County where it is then redistributed to local ranchers as recycled irrigation water.

Syphon Reservoir Recycled Water Storage Project
Location: County of Orange, California
Local Sponsor: Irvine Ranch Water District
Total Project Cost: $60,000,000; requested federal share: $45,000,000

• The Syphon Reservoir Recycled Water Storage Project would have two components; (1) conversion of the Syphon Reservoir (a sixty-year-old facility located in the northern portion of the City of Irvine that is currently being used to store irrigation water supplies) to a seasonal storage facility for IRWD’s recycled water system;and (2) capacity augmentation to increase storage capability from 500 acre feet, currently, to potentially up to 5,000 acre feet. 

Santa Rosa Urban Water Recycling Project
Location: Sonoma County, California
Local Sponsor: City of Santa Rosa
Total Project Cost: $50,000,000; requested federal share: $10,000,000

• This Project would meet growth requirements while decreasing water diversions from the Russian River, which is a vital migratory corridor for three federally protected salmon species.  The Project would provide 1,000 million gallons of highly treated recycled water annually to 1100 of the largest water users in the City including parks, schools, fairgrounds, industrial and commercial facilities.  Diversion from the Russian River or other sources would be reduced by this amount and wetland, and riparian portions of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the ecological centerpiece of Sonoma County, would be restored. 

South Orange Coastal Ocean Desalination Project
Location: Dana Point, County of Orange, California
Local Sponsor: Municipal Water District of Orange County
Total Project Cost: $175,000,000; requested federal share: $1,000,000

• The South Orange Coastal Ocean Desalination Project near Doheny State Beach in Dana Point would provide a new, local water supply for south Orange County, which is about 95% dependent on imported water to meet demand.

Pier J East Navigation Channel
Location: Long Beach, California
Local Sponsor: Port of Long Beach
Total Project Cost: $13,500,000; requested federal share: $6,000,000

• To improve safety for maneuvering, and to better accommodate the current container vessel fleet, deepening of the east approach channel and turning basin for the Pier J container terminal must be undertaken. 

Tulare County Rural Community Water Initiative
Location: Tulare County, California
Local Sponsor: Tulare County
Total Project Cost: $300,000,000; requested federal share: $10,000,000

• This project would provide assistance for up to 29 Tulare County communities to begin meeting their drinking water and wastewater infrastructure needs.

San Gabriel River Pollution Prevention Project
Location: Los Angeles, California
Local Sponsor: Los Angeles Gateway Region Integrated Reional Water Management JPA
Total Project Cost: $4,086,000; requested federal share: $3,060,000

• The San Gabriel River Pollution Prevention Project is an effective, comprehensive, regional approach to stormwater quality protection and pollution prevention, and it would protect river and ocean water quality throughout the lower San Gabriel River Watershed.

Mount Diablo Mercury Mine Clean-up
Location: Contra Costa County, California
Local Sponsor: Contra Costa County
Total planning phase cost: $500,000; Project cost: $10,000,000

• This would authorize the Army Corps to undertake the clean-up of the Mount Diablo Mercury Mine as a demonstration project.

Central Dinuba Flood and Drainage Control Project
Location: Dinuba, California
Local Sponsor: City of Dinuba
Total project cost: $7,200,000; federal share $5,400,000

• This project would alleviate routine annual flooding in about 1/3 of the Dinuba community as well as convey untreated urban and rural storm water to a settling pond and groundwater recharge basin facility that has been constructed to reduce the impacts of urban storm water runoff on a local irrigation district. 

Solana Beach Wastewater Infrastructure Improvement Project
Location: Solana Beach, San Diego, California
Local Sponsor: City of Solana Beach
Total Project Cost: $2,200,000

• This project would authorize reconstruction upgrades to the Solana Beach Pump Station.  Solana Beach’s Water Infrastructure System has been severely deteriorating over the past several years.

City of Clovis Recycled Water Master Plan System- Recycled Water Mains and Pump Station
Location: City of Clovis, California
Local Sponsor: City of Clovis
Total Project Cost: $36,000,000; federal share: $1,829,000

• Authorization of the Recycled Water Master Plan System would ensure the City of Clovis can meet projected water needs, while protecting groundwater resources, reducing historic groundwater overdraft, and enhancing groundwater recharge.

Long Beach Water Infrastructure Improvements
Location: Long Beach, California
Local Sponsor: Long Beach
Total Project Cost: $157,000,000; federal share: $25,000,000

• This would authorize the Army Corp to implement needed water infrastructure projects in Long Beach, including the:Naples Island Seawall Reconstruction and Repair, the Los Angeles RiverLink and Wetlands, and others.

City of Los Angeles Water Recycling Program
Location: Los Angeles, California
Local Sponsor: Los Angeles
Total Project Cost: $1,189,003,500; federal share: $10,000,000

• This would authorize the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's (LADWP) Water Recycling Program expansion of its “purple pipe” network, upgrades to existing treatment plants, and the use of treated wastewater for groundwater replenishment. 

Eastern Municipal Water District Water Infrastructure Improvements
Location: Riverside County, California
Local Sponsor: Eastern Municipal Water District
Total Project Cost: $410,500,000; federal share: $20,000,000

• This would authorize federal participation in water and wastewater infrastructure improvements, water reuse projects, septic system abatement projects, and salinity management projects in the Eastern Municipal Water District.

Cathedral City - South City Improvement District
Location: Cathedral City, California
Local Sponsor: Cathedral City
Total Project Cost: $20,000,000; federal share: $10,000,000

• This authority would assist Cathedral City in addressing septic tank abatement, improving storm drainage concerns, and improving water quality and managing storm runoff.

Pasadena Water System Improvement Program
Location: Pasadena, California
Local Sponsor: Pasadena
Total Project Cost: $3,300,000; federal share: $2,275,000

• This would authorize the Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) Department to upgrade its equipment to provide greater operating reliability by maintaining pressure for the water system, as well as provide energy savings through the use of energy efficient equipment.

Turner Basin Demonstration Project
Location: San Bernardino County, California
Local Sponsor: Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Total Project Cost: $14,000,000; federal share: $4,000,000

• The Turner Basins Demonstration Project would demonstrate the ability to improve and use existing multi-purpose public facilities for flood control, stormwater capture and groundwater infiltration.  Project elements include new stormwater diversion and recycled water turnouts, new storage basins and wetland and facilities, and expanded recharge capacity.  The Turner Basin Demonstration Project would serve as a model for improving stormwater capture and infiltration throughout the region, as well help drought proof the Inland Empire economy, create 300-400 jobs, provide flood control benefits, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help address the long term impacts of climate change on the state’s water resources.