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HR 856 111th Congress House

California Drought Alleviation Act of 2009

Official title: To provide flexibility for the operation of the Bureau of Reclamation C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant and the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant of the State of Cal… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To provide flexibility for the operation of the Bureau of Reclamation C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant and the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant of the State of California in times of drought emergency, to support the establishment of a fish hatchery program to preserve and restore the Delta Smelt in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 4, 2009 See on congress.gov
Water Resources Development AquacultureCaliforniaEndangered and threatened speciesFishes
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Natural disastersWater storageWater use and supplyWildlife conservation and habitat protection
This bill died when the 111th Congress ended
It never became law before the 111th Congress (2009–2010) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 9, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.
Feb 9, 2009
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water and Power.
Feb 4, 2009
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Feb 4, 2009
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 9, 2009

Referred to the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

California Drought Alleviation Act of 2009 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior: (1) upon the declaration of a drought emergency by the governor of California, to determine if such an emergency exists for the service areas of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project; and (2) upon determining that such an emergency exists for all or portions of such areas, to temporarily exempt the operations of the Bureau of Reclamation C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant and the California Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant from the prohibitions under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 against taking endangered or threatened species or adversely modifying critical habitat until the drought emergency conditions are alleviated. Provides that the action of pumping water from these plants is not to be considered discretionary for purposes of such Act.

Authorizes the Secretary to include in a determination that a drought emergency exists reasonable and prudent measures for the protection of an endangered species or its critical habitat. Provides that: (1) such measures or the Secretary's failure to prescribe them shall not impede the ability of the Plants to supply sufficient water for municipal, industrial, and irrigation uses; and (2) the cost of such measures shall be borne by the United States and shall be nonreimbursable.

Prohibits the Secretary, in implementing this Act, from imposing additional prescriptions under such Act or the Federal Power Act on any other water storage or conveyance facility on the San Joaquin River, the Sacramento River, or their tributaries.

Requires the Secretary, if a drought emergency exists for any portion of the Central Valley Project Service Area, to operate the C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant at a capacity consistent with the Coordinated Operation Agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources and otherwise applicable laws and existing water right until the drought emergency conditions are alleviated.

Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with California to support the establishment of a fish hatchery program to preserve and restore the species Hypomesus transpacificus (popularly known as Delta Smelt) in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 856: California Drought Alleviation Act of 2009. 111th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-856/
MLA
"H.R. 856: California Drought Alleviation Act of 2009." 111th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-856/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 856, 111th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-856/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 856: California Drought Alleviation Act of 2009](https://openamerica.io/bill/111-HR-856/)
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