Auburn, Calif.- Federal legislation passed the U.S. Senate transferring ownership of the American River Pump Station from the federal government to the Placer County Water Agency.
The legislation, known as the American River Pump Station Transfer Act of 2007 (HR 482), was passed by the Senate on Apr. 10 after being included as part of a larger bill (S2739). HR 482 is sponsored by U.S. Rep. John T. Doolittle, who has won accolades from water agency officials for his strong support of the pump station effort.
PCWA Chairman Mike Lee thanked Congressman Doolittle for his decade-long support for the Agency on the Project, as well as seeking approval of the transfer legislation. The legislation will now return to the House of Representatives where it was first passed in 2007.
‘We need to make sure the House leadership understands the importance of the bill and to pass it along to the President for his signature,’ Lee said.
The federal Bureau of Reclamation has overseen construction of the pump station and American River restoration project over the past four years. PCWA took over operation and maintenance of the station this spring.
Acquisition of the pump station title will close a final chapter in the agency’s 40-year effort to regain permanent year-round access to American River water that was lost when the river canyon was altered for the former Auburn Dam project.
