Proposal gives Melones to local water districts

By Alex Breitler The Stockton Record | Posted: Friday, May 1, 2015 

One of two bills introduced by congressman

U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, wants the federal government to transfer ownership of New Melones Reservoir to local water districts.

That’s the aim of one of two bills introduced by Denham on Wednesday. The other bill would seek to eliminate hungry predators that chomp on endangered fish in the Stanislaus River downstream of the reservoir.

Both bills come amid a dispute over how New Melones should be operated during the drought.

The reservoir is in particularly poor shape, even by California standards. Some farmers and landowners who depend on water stored in New Melones have complained about federal mandates requiring some water to be released for threatened fish. Those water users have accused the feds of mismanaging the system.

“Our local irrigation and power districts are more than qualified to manage our water resources in a way that protects agriculture, families and the environment,” Denham said in a prepared statement.

A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns and operates New Melones, said Wednesday that the bureau had not seen Denham’s proposals. The spokesman said the bureau does not normally take a position on legislation.

Denham’s first bill would require the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to enter into negotiations with local water and power providers for the transfer of ownership, control and operation of New Melones. Those local providers could include South San Joaquin and Oakdale irrigation districts, which have rights to take 450,000 to 600,000 acre feet of water per year from storage in New Melones Reservoir, depending on conditions.

The second bill tackles the issue of predators downstream of New Melones. Water users have long argued that predatory, invasive fish undermine efforts to save native species and cost them additional water.

The new bill aims to “remove” striped bass and other nonnative species from the Stanislaus River. That is controversial in and of itself, because striped bass are a popular sportfishing species. The bill would preempt state law by removing restrictions protecting bass from being overharvested.

Denham’s district includes Stanislaus County and southern San Joaquin County. Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, represents Calaveras and Tuolumne counties. New Melones Reservoir is within those two counties.

McClintock has also been seeking to help water users and irrigation districts in the region. He has introduced a bill that would, during droughts, relax federal requirements that water be released from dams in order to provide the water temperatures needed by fish downstream.