Opinion: Why a Central Valley wildlife protection needs reform
Thirty years ago, President George H.W. Bush signed an ambitious California water reform known as the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, or the CVPIA. The bill responded to a drought, crashing salmon runs, threats to Central Valley wetlands and antiquated water policies. California is again suffering from drought and low fish counts. The CVPIA’s successes and failures provide lessons to help ensure a healthy environment and more reliable water supplies. It is time to take the next steps. … Although the CVPIA funded habitat restoration, it failed to provide the river flows salmon needed. This was partly because the law applied to the federal Central Valley Project, not other diverters.
-Written by U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman and former Democratic U.S. Rep. George Miller, who coauthored the Central Valley Project Improvement Act.