Rep. Calvert and Senator Padilla Reintroduce Legislation to Support the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program
Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) reintroduced legislation to support Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) activities. The bill would establish an interest-bearing account at the Department of Treasury to hold the funds contributed by the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada for the LCR MSCP. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV-1), Susie Lee (D-NV-3), Steven Horsford (D-NV-4), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4) are original cosponsors of the House bill, H.R. 831, introduced by Rep. Calvert.
“Providing additional resources for the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program at no cost to taxpayers will support one of our most important natural resources in the Southwest,” said Rep. Calvert. “This bipartisan bill is a common-sense step that allows excess funds in the LCR MSCP to earn interest and maintain their effectiveness.”
“The Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program is critical to balancing our water needs and hydropower production with the conservation of native species in the Lower Colorado River,” said Senator Padilla. “As ongoing drought threatens the Colorado River’s water resources and increases project costs, allowing the program’s account to accrue interest is a simple, bipartisan solution to ensure that California’s contributions to this program go even further.”
“A healthy Lower Colorado River is critical not only for our water supply but also for the thousands of native fish and migratory birds that depend on the river for their habitat,” said Rep. Titus, a founding member of the bipartisan Congressional Colorado River Caucus. “I am proud to sponsor this smart legislation that will allow the Bureau of Reclamation to earn interest on the investments we have made in long-term funding for habitat restoration. That will give us more funding to improve critical ecosystems for natural life along the river.”
“As one of the most biodiverse places in the country, Nevada helps lead state and federal investments to protect endangered species and keep wildlife off the endangered list. But government red tape is getting in the way of maximizing Nevada taxpayer dollars that invest in wildlife conservation in the Lower Colorado River Basin,” said Rep. Lee. “I’m championing bipartisan legislation to ensure that these funds earn interest and grow before being used for conservation projects. Smart use of Nevadans’ tax dollars should be the norm.”
“The Colorado River is the lifeblood to unique ecosystems throughout the Southwest, including some of the most biodiverse spaces in the country,” said Rep. Horsford. “We have a responsibility to safeguard the vulnerable species that make these places home, and that starts by maximizing our conservation dollars. I’m proud to cosponsor the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act to ensure these taxpayer investments earn the interest they’re due, and that those funds further protect wildlife in need.”
“The Colorado River sustains Arizonans’ way of life in the Valley—and it’s also a critical riparian habitat for thousands of migratory birds, native fish and wildlife,” said Rep. Stanton. “Smart management of our most precious water resource starts with the smart use of taxpayer dollars. I’m proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program Amendment Act to allow state tax dollars invested in the Bureau of Reclamation’s Conservation Program fund to earn interest—growing the reach of conservation efforts in the Lower Colorado River Basin.”
“The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is proud to participate in the Lower Colorado River Multispecies Conservation Program (LCR MSCP), an incredibly successful collaboration between the federal government, states, and other stakeholders to create habitat for 28 native species,” said Deven Upadhyay, General Manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. “This bill will enable the funds provided by the States for LCR MSCP projects to be held in an interest-bearing account. The interest collected on this non-federal funding will be reinvested in MSCP projects. Metropolitan appreciates Representatives Calvert for introducing this legislation and looks forward to its passage.”
“Coachella Valley Water District is grateful for the forward-thinking leadership of Senator Padilla and Congressman Calvert,” said Jim Barrett, General Manager Coachella Valley Water District. “The establishment of an interest-bearing account for States’ contributions to the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) will provide expanded opportunities for investment in LCR MSCP projects. The multi-decade investment to advance species conservation, and future investments by the federal and state partners, will be enhanced by this legislation.”
“The Multi-Species Conservation Program has improved degraded river habitat conditions to create a more resilient Lower Colorado River—a vital part of the ecosystem and essential for birds, other wildlife, and the people that depend upon it,” said Jennifer Pitt, National Audubon Society’s Colorado River Program Director. “Allowing for smarter investment of the program's funding will allow Colorado River partners to better protect water and habitat for threatened and endangered species and prevent new species from needing to be listed. We thank the bill sponsors for moving quickly to introduce this bill to generate additional funding for the MSCP into the future.”
Background:
The Lower Colorado River provides critical water and power supplies across the Southwest. The LCR MSCP was authorized by Congress in 2009 and is supported by agencies within the federal government, as well as State, Tribal, and local water, power, and wildlife agencies. Within the geographic scope of the LCR MSCP from Lake Mead to the Mexican border, the program will establish over 8,000 acres of native riparian and aquatic habitat. It includes additional science-based research and management efforts focused on expanding knowledge of the local wildlife and the quality of the habitat restoration efforts. The program has already achieved success in stocking thousands of native fish and increasing numbers of breeding migratory birds within 5,000 acres of new riparian habitat.
The LCR MSCP has a budget of $626 million for its 50-year term. The funding is shared among the program participants on the basis of 50% Federal, 25% California, and 12.5% each from Arizona and Nevada. Through the LCR MSCP agreements, the Lower Basin States committed to make quarterly payments to cover the program costs based on the initial budget estimates established in 2005. For Fiscal Year 2024, the program budget calls for funding of $38.8 million, with the State participants paying $19.4 million. Over time the pace of funding has exceeded the work expenditures and Reclamation has accumulated over $60 million in contributed funds for future costs. However, the accounts in which the Bureau of Reclamation holds the contributed funds do not earn interest or any investment return. There are multiple examples of funds established by congressional action in the U.S. Treasury that are directed to be invested or to earn interest. This legislation simply allows the LCR MSCP to also earn interest.
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