Sacramento River Basin Water Security & Reliability

Current understanding

Legislative activity aimed at addressing water security and reliability in California’s Sacramento River Basin, a major agricultural and municipal water source. The Doug LaMalfa Sacramento River Basin Water Security and Reliability Act of 2026 was introduced and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources; substantive provisions, cost, and permitting implications are not yet characterized at the introduction stage.

Evidence log

• 2026-07-21 — Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 12-Month Finding for the San Francisco Estuary Distinct Population Segment of White Sturgeon: cross-connection with white-sturgeon-sfe-esa-listing: White sturgeon SFE DPS status is tied to Sacramento River / Delta flow and water management decisions that also drive Sacramento Basin water security policy. (novelty: 3)
• 2025-05-05 — Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service relating to “Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Endangered Species Status for the San Francisco Bay-Delta Distinct Population Segment of the Longfin Smelt”.: cross-connection with longfin-smelt-esa-listing: Delta longfin smelt ESA protections directly constrain Bay-Delta water operations and exports; CRA nullification would reduce ESA-based limits on Sacramento Basin water deliveries. (novelty: 2)
• 2025-11-21 — Urban Canal Modernization Act: cross-connection with reclamation-urban-canal-safety: Both concern Reclamation water delivery infrastructure in the West and the federal cost-share arrangements with local water agencies. (novelty: 2)

Open questions

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