News Release Archive

Reclamation releases draft congressionally mandated repayment contracts for Central Valley Project contractors from the Shasta, Trinity and Sacramento River Divisions

Media Contact: Shane Hunt, 916-978-5100, mppublicaffairs@usbr.gov

For Release: March 03, 2020

REDDING, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation announced today ongoing congressionally mandated contract conversions pursuant to the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN Act). Today’s release includes 13 draft repayment contract assignments from the Shasta, Trinity and Sacramento River Divisions for a 60-day public comment period. These are 13 of over 86 repayment contract conversions requested by federal Central Valley Project contractors.

Reclamation plans to release an additional 15 draft repayment contracts with north-of-delta contractors for public review in 2020. Reclamation will continue to release more draft repayment contracts throughout the year. Section 4011 of the WIIN Act directs Reclamation to convert water service contracts to repayment contracts upon a contractor’s request and authorizes prepayment of outstanding CVP construction costs. Under Section 4011, full repayment is due within three years of the contract conversion.

Both the prepayment and accelerated repayment of the contracts will result in the federal government being repaid well in advance of the original repayment deadline. These dollars will be placed in a congressionally created storage account to fund much-needed storage projects. Increasing storage capacity will allow Reclamation’s projects to capture additional water in wet years to help meet the water needs for all project purposes in dry years.

Written comments on this set of contracts must be received by close of business on Monday, May 4, 2020, and sent to Jacob Berens, Northern California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 1140 W. Wood Street, Willows, California 95988; or faxed to 530-934-7679; or emailed to jberens@usbr.gov.  

Check the following links to learn more about WIIN Act CVP contract conversions:

All negotiated contracts are available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/negotiated-conversion-contracts.html.

The entire list of contract conversion requests can be viewed here https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/docs/the-wiin-act-9d-conversion-tracker.xlsx.

View contract and WIIN Act information at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/wiin-act/.

For more information or assistance, contact Jacob Berens at jberens@usbr.gov or 530-892-6203 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.