Orland Project Water Management Act

The Orland Project Water Management Act would amend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act of 1991 to give the Secretary of the Interior authority to transfer water from the Orland Project to the Sacramento Canal Unit of the Central Valley Project (CVP) at any time, upon request by the Orland Unit Water Users Association and provided the transfer is consistent with the purposes of the CVP. The transfer would occur regardless of the current water-year type (e.g., drought or normal year). The bill also adds rules of construction to limit the measure: it does not create new or supplemental benefits under the Reclamation Reform Act; it does not affect existing vested water rights or pending applications; and it cannot cause redirected impacts to the Orland Project from temporary contracts authorized under this section. The Secretary would implement these provisions within the programs and authorities established by the act.