On 3 March 2014, CSPA and a Coalition of environmental, fishing and tribal groups wrote Mark Cowin, Director of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), asking they he deny proposed changes in the water supply contracts that would shift fish and wildlife mitigation costs incurred by the State Water Project to the state’s General Fund (and taxpayers), thereby eliminating legislative authority and oversight. DWR and State Water Contractors also conducted secret meetings and eliminated the option of individual contractors to “opt-out” of the proposed Bay Delta Conservation Plan. The proposed contract amendments will socialize more of the costs while privatizing the benefits of a project that has already received substantial taxpayer funds.
The Coalition also wrote Senate President Pro Tem, Darrell Steinberg and Speaker of the Assembly, John A. Perez asking for legislative oversight hearings to: assess expenditures that will rely on the General Fund as a result of the contract extension amendments; provide a list of expenditures that necessitate extension of the SWP repayment contract for more than a 100 years and issuance of additional debt; and assess compliance with the Water Code, which requires mitigation for construction, operation and maintenance of any Delta water conveyance facility.