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Congressman Panetta Urges Appropriations Committee Leadership to Prioritize San Justo Reservoir Zebra Mussel Eradication Project in Final FY2021 Spending Package

SALINAS, CA – On Monday, October 26 Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) sent a letter urging leadership on the House Committee on Appropriations to advocate for the inclusion of the San Justo Reservoir Zebra Mussel Eradication Project in the final FY2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. Although Congressman Panetta previously secured language for project funding in the House-passed version of that bill, the legislation currently is being negotiated with the Senate. “The closure of the San Justo Reservoir has had a dramatic, detrimental effect on the community, economy, and environment in San Benito County,” said Congressman Panetta. “A healthy water supply and good water quality are essential to economic growth, environmental sustainability, and quality of life for residents in the region and the state of California. I am proud to push for this funding and will continue my work to advance this critical project with federal support.” The San Justo Reservoir closed in 2008 due to an infestation of the invasive zebra mussel. A popular recreation area, the reservoir was closed as part of eradication efforts. The full text of the letter can be found below or read here: Dear Chairwoman Kaptur and Ranking Member Simpson: Thank you for your support to secure my top priorities in the House-passed Fiscal Year 2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, including report language elevating the importance of the San Justo Reservoir Zebra Mussel Eradication Project in San Benito County, California. I respectfully request your assistance to protect that report language as you work with the Senate to negotiate the final Fiscal Year 2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill. That exact language in that bill will greatly benefit the project as it competes for funding through the Water Conservation and Delivery account in the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) Fiscal Year 2021 Spend Plan. The San Justo Reservoir and adjacent picnic facilities were used by many residents of San Benito and surrounding counties for outdoor recreational purposes and as an important water resource. The San Benito Water District also utilized the Reservoir as part of a diverse portfolio of resources to provide water and balance and benefit the sustainability of the Hollister-San Juan groundwater basin. Unfortunately, due to the discovery of the invasive exotic zebra mussel, which can quickly spread and easily clog water delivery systems, the Reservoir and its public facilities have been closed since 2008. The closure has had a dramatic and detrimental effect on the community, economy, and environment in San Benito County, where residents continue to request that the Reservoir be reopened. In June 2019, the BOR took an important and long overdue step toward reopening the Reservoir when it completed its Final Eradication Plan for the San Justo Reservoir Zebra Mussel Eradication Project. That report details how the BOR can fully eradicate the zebra mussel and eventually reopen the Reservoir. The report also demonstrates that the eradication project presents an innovative and feasible opportunity to effectively eradicate the zebra mussel population since the San Justo Reservoir is separated from other bodies of water. Thus, this type of project will not only benefit San Benito County, but also provide the BOR with a better understanding of how to combat the spread of other larger and different types of infestations in our nation’s water systems. By protecting report language that elevates the importance of the San Justo Reservoir Zebra Mussel Eradication Project in the Fiscal Year 2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill, we can ensure the BOR has a stronger chance of directing federal funding to the project through its Water Conservation and Delivery account. If the BOR directs federal funding to this project, it will not only allow for the eradication of the zebra mussel, but also for the San Justo Reservoir to be reopened and California’s water systems to be protected. In light of recent and prolonged drought conditions in California, the state’s residents, including agricultural producers who rely on the state’s water resources for their livelihoods, simply cannot afford the price of inaction on this project. A healthy water supply and good water quality are essential to economic growth, environmental sustainability, and quality of life for residents in San Benito County and the State of California. For these reasons, I appreciate your attention to this request and look forward to working with you to advance this important report language as part of the final Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations package. Sincerely, Jimmy Panetta Member of Congress

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