News

CVJV Partners Visit Capital Hill

May 08, 2013

By Mark Hennelly
Chair, Legislative Committee
Central Valley Joint Venture

In April, several Central Valley Joint Venture (CVJV) partners (along with members of the San Francisco Bay JV and other JVs from around the country) traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with the California Congressional delegation and other congressional representatives regarding funding needs for Joint Ventures and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).

Meetings additionally focused on the importance of fulfilling the Central Valley Project Improvement Act mandate for Level 4 water deliveries for Central Valley Refuges/Wildlife Areas and private wetlands within Merced County.  Other topics of interest included the proposed Duck Stamp price increase, Farm Bill conservation programs (WRP and CRP) and the Bay Delta Conservation Program.

It was clear that good bipartisan support remains in Congress for Joint Ventures and non-regulatory, landowner-friendly habitat conservation initiatives such as NAWCA.  And, despite ongoing federal budget issues (e.g. sequestration), many Central Valley congressional offices voiced strong support for maintaining adequate federal funding for these programs. 

The recently released FY 2014 President’s Request contains $14.143 M and $39.425 M, respectively, for joint ventures and NAWCA.  The CVJV and other JV partners will be working with members of Congress over the coming weeks in an effort to at least maintain those funding levels in the final approved federal budget.