HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 10191982 - 82/1261THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
October 19, 1982
Adopted this Order on -------------------, by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Tom Powers, Nancy C. Fahden, Tom Torlakson, and Sunne H. McPeak.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: Supervisor Robert I . Schroder.
ABSTAIN: None.
SUBJECT:
Com.rnenda tion for )
Congressman George Miller for his ~
leadership in reducing taxpayer )
subsidies in federal water recla.-)
mation program; requesting the )
Department of the Interior to
vigorously e~force provisions of ~
new Reclamation Act. )
RESOLUTION NO. 82/1261
WHEREAS the Congress has approved "The Reclamation Reform
Act of 1982" which includes the first significant water pricing
reforms in the federal water program in 80 -years; and
WHEREAS the current cost of subsidies to the federal
Central Valley Project is $77 million a year, and the cumulative
subsidies since 1948 are nearly $1 billion; and
WHEREAS water priceis to irrigators are frequently far
below the actual cost of delivering the water, and these excessively
low prices encourage the inappropriate and wasteful use of limited
water resources and contribute to the increase in utility rates, taxes,
and the cost of government; and
WHEREAS the subsidies to irrigators stimulate the demand
for costly and destructive water projects and encourage the demand
for water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta; and
WHEREAS realistic pricing for water will encourage the use
of sprinklers and drip irriga.tion and other techniques to improve
the efficiency of water use, and will reduce the demand for additional
diversions of water from the Delta; and
ltIBEREAS Congressman George Miller of Contra Costa County has
been the most outspoken and effective proponent of water pricing reform
in Congress;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this Board of Supervisors
does hereby com.mend Congressman George Miller for his leadership in
the successful effort to reduce taxpayer subsidies in the federal water
Reclamation program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we call upon the Secretary of
the Department of the Interior to enforce the provisions of the new
Reclamation Act vigorously to assure that the intent of Congress in
reducing the wasteful and costly subsidies is fully carried out by the
Bureau of Reclamation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be
forwarded to the President of the United States, the Secretary of
the Department of the Interior, the Com.missioner of Reclamation, and
the Governor of the State of Cal i fornia.
cc: Congressman George Miller
President Ronald Reagan
Governor Edmund G. Brown
Secretary of the Dept. of the Interior
Commissioner of Reclamation
Water Committee Members
Public Work s Director
County Administrator
County Counsel
RESOLUTION NO. 82/1261
I hereby certify that this la • tn,e and correct copy of
an action taken and entered on the minutes of tht
Board of Supervlsort on the date lhown.
ATTESTED: OCT 19 1982
J.R. OLSSON, COUNTY CLERK
and ex officio Clerk of the Board
By~{4f/«&~ , Deputy