The following news release was originally posted here on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation website:
FRESNO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation announced today ongoing congressionally mandated contract conversions pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act).
Today’s release includes draft repayment contracts from the Central Valley Project south-of-delta contractors for a 60-day public comment period. These are 15 of over 80 repayment contract conversions requested by federal Central Valley Project contractors.
The contractors include Banta-Carbona Irrigation District, Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, Contra Costa Water District, Del Puerto Water District, Eagle Field Water District, Mercy Springs Water District, The West Side Irrigation District, West Stanislaus Irrigation District, Westlands Water District – Assignment from Oro Loma Water District, Fresno Slough Water District, James Irrigation District, Patterson Irrigation District, Reclamation District No. 1606, Tranquility Irrigation District, and Tranquility Public Utility District.
Reclamation plans to release additional draft repayment contracts with south-of-delta contractors, as applicable for public review in 2020. Reclamation will continue to release more draft repayment contracts throughout the year. Section 4011 of the WIIN Act directs Reclamation to convert water service contracts to repayment contracts upon a contractor’s request and authorizes prepayment of outstanding CVP construction costs.
Under Section 4011, full repayment is due within three years of the contract conversion. Both the prepayment and accelerated repayment of the contracts will result in the federal government being repaid well in advance of the original repayment deadline. These dollars will be placed in an account to fund much-needed storage projects. Increasing storage capacity will allow Reclamation’s projects to capture additional water in wet years to help meet the water needs for project purposes in dry years.
Written comments on this contract must be received by close of business on August 31, 2020 and sent to Erma Leal, South Central California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 1243 N Street, Fresno CA 93721 or faxed to 559-262-0371 or emailed to eleal@usbr.gov.
Check the following links to learn more about WIIN Act CVP contract conversions: All negotiated contracts are available at: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/negotiated-conversion-contracts.html.
The entire list of contract conversion requests can be viewed here: https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/docs/the-wiin-act-9d-conversion-tracker.xlsx. View contract and WIIN Act information at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/. Contact Erma Leal for more information at 559-262-0350 or eleal@usbr.gov or (TTY 800-877-8339).
