H.R. 2383

To redesignate the facility of the Bureau of Reclamation located at 19550 Kelso Road in Byron, California, as the "C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant"

Statement of William E. Rinne

Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation

U.S. Department of the Interior

Before the

Subcommittee on Water and Power,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

United States Senate

HR 2383

June 28, 2006 

Madam Chairwoman, and members of the Subcommittee, my name is Bill Rinne, Acting Commissioner for the Bureau of Reclamation.  I appreciate the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss the proposed name change for the Tracy Pumping Plant in Byron, California, to the “C.W. “Bill” Jones Pumping Plant.”

As you know, Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region operates the Central Valley Project (CVP) – the Nation’s largest water delivery project.  The CVP is a system of 20 dams and reservoirs, 500 miles of major canals, power plants, and other facilities located mainly in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys of California. The CVP develops or manages about 9 million acre-feet of water and delivers about 7 million acre-feet for urban, industrial, agricultural, and environmental uses annually; produces electrical power; and provides flood protection, water for navigation, fish and wildlife, recreation and water quality benefits.

A major facility of the CVP is the Tracy Pumping Plant in the southern portion of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.  The function of the pumping plant is to move water into the Delta-Mendota Canal.  Up to approximately 2.5 million acre-feet of water is delivered to highly productive agricultural lands in the Central Valley annually.

The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority has had responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the Tracy Pumping Plant since 1993 through various agreements with Reclamation. 

Mr. Jones served as the Chairman of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority.  He had a career that spanned more than 40 years in the water industry, and was instrumental in promoting the need for a reliable water supply to keep Central Valley agriculture economically viable for the state of California.

While Reclamation remains neutral on the proposal to change the name of the Tracy Pumping Plant to the “C.W. “Bill” Jones” Pumping Plant,” Mr. Jones’ contribution to the Central Valley’s agricultural viability through his leadership of the Water Authority and his numerous other contributions to the water industry in the Central Valley are recognized by the Department and are well known. In addition, Mr. Jones contributed greatly to the building of common understanding between Reclamation and its customers.

That concludes my testimony and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

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