H.R. 4970: Orland Project Water Management Act

This bill, known as the Orland Project Water Management Act, aims to amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991. The primary purpose of the bill is to allow the transfer of water from the Orland Project to the Central Valley Project more easily.

Key Provisions of the Bill

• Water Transfer Authorization: The bill permits the Secretary of the Interior to provide water from the Orland Project to the Sacramento Canal Unit of the Central Valley Project at any time. This can happen without consideration of the type of water year, meaning it can be executed regardless of whether it is a wet or dry year.
• Request by Water Users Association: The transfer of water is contingent upon a request from the Orland Unit Water Users Association. This adds a layer of local stakeholder engagement in the process.
• Consistency with Project Purposes: The Secretary must determine that this transfer aligns with the overall goals and purposes of the Central Valley Project, ensuring that the water use is integrated into broader water management objectives.
• Preservation of Rights: The bill includes provisions to clarify that the water transfer will not create any new or additional benefits under the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982. It also explicitly states that it will not affect any existing valid water rights or pending applications for water rights at the time of the section's enactment.
• Protection from Negative Impacts: The legislation ensures that there will not be any redirected negative impacts to the Orland Project as a result of any temporary contracts made for supplying water under this bill.

Overall, the Orland Project Water Management Act seeks to streamline and facilitate the management and transfer of water resources from the Orland Project to benefit the Central Valley Project while also safeguarding existing water rights and ensuring that the needs of all stakeholders are considered.

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