On Wednesday, Byron-Bethany Irrigation District issued the following support letter to Governor Brown, urging him to sign AB 747, historic water rights legislation that restores fairness and due process for California’s water right holders.
BBID Sign AB 747 Support Letter_2Sacramento, CA (August 31, 2018) – In a decisive vote, lawmakers acted late Friday to pass Assembly Bill 747, water rights legislation introduced by Assemblymember Anna Caballero (D-Salinas). The bill crafted by Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) takes steps to restore Constitutional due process and fundamental fairness currently lacking for California’s water right holders. The bill passed the Senate and Assembly with strong bipartisan support on the last night of the legislative session.
“We commend Assemblymember Caballero for taking on this core issue impacting communities across California,” said BBID GM Rick Gilmore. “This good governance legislation is the result of constructive collaboration with the Brown Administration and a collective recognition of the need for greater transparency, accountability, and – above all – fairness in our water rights administration.”
Currently, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) acts as both prosecutor and judge in enforcement actions the Board initiates against water users. AB 747 removes that built-in conflict of interest by creating an Administrative Hearings Office within the SWRCB. Expert attorneys will act as an objective third party to oversee and adjudicate complex, critically important water rights matters.
“Too often, water right holders feel they have no choice but to settle enforcement actions given the current structure,” Gilmore added. “AB 747 levels the playing field and will help restore faith in the process, ensuring water right holders get a fair shake as guaranteed by our Constitution.”
AB 747 is a follow-up to AB 313, which was previously introduced by Assemblymember Adam Gray (D-Merced). AB 313 passed the Legislature with similarly strong support on both sides of the aisle, but was ultimately vetoed by Governor Brown. Since then, all parties have engaged in productive dialogue to reach a compromise that provides important protections for water rights holders.
“We would be remiss if we didn’t recognize Assemblymember Gray’s work on this issue,” Gilmore said. “From the very beginning, he championed this cause. We wouldn’t be where we are tonight without his tireless dedication.”
AB 747 now heads to Governor Brown’s desk for his signature.
Byron, CA (August 20, 2018) – Hundreds packed the steps of the State Capitol on Monday, rallying to stop a State water grab that would devastate the Central Valley. Members of the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) attended the event, which featured a bi-partisan group of lawmakers, farmers, and community leaders.
Members of the United States Congress are vowing to take action if the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopts a plan that calls for increased flows through the San Joaquin River. In a letter sent to the SWRCB, legislators say the proposal “clearly subordinates the beneficial human use of the water in favor of fish and wildlife measures of dubious validity…”
The full letter is below.
Letter to SWRCB Regarding Unimpaired FlowFrom the Tracy Press: “Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that a Tracy area irrigation district supported “to bring fairness and due process to California’s water-rights enforcement.”
From the Turlock Journal: “All seemed to be going well for Assemblyman Adam Gray’s water rights legislation, Assembly Bill 313, which in September received final approval on the last day of the legislative session – the next-to-last step toward becoming law – until Monday, when the bill was vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown…”
From Western Growers: “In the final hours to sign or veto bills sent to him by the California Legislature, Governor Brown vetoed AB 313 by Assemblymember Adam Gray, a Western Growers-supported bill that would have inserted much-needed balance into the state’s water rights enforcement activities…”
Late Sunday night, Governor Jerry Brown issued the following veto message for Assembly Bill 313, water rights fairness legislation that Byron-Bethany Irrigation District strongly supported.
AB_313_Veto_Message_2017Byron-Bethany Irrigation District on Monday issued a letter to the San Jose Mercury News, responding to the newspaper’s critical editorial on Assembly Bill 313, a BBID-backed water bill that restores fairness for the state’s water rights holders.
The Mercury News limits its Letters to the Editor to 150 words, so BBID chose to post its full response here. The original editorial is posted below BBID’s letter.