Congress misses deadline to approve west-side water fix, but deal not unraveling yet
A key deadline has passed to solve the irrigation drainage problem that caused massive bird deaths and deformities at Kesterson wildlife refuge.
But a Westlands Water District official said Congress is still on track to pass legislation benefiting both the district, which delivers water to farms over an area the size of Rhode Island, and the federal government.
Jan. 15 was the deadline set last year by officials at the Justice Department and Westlands in which the district said it would take over the drainage headache from the federal government, and in exchange the government would forgive hundreds of millions of dollars owed to Uncle Sam.
Congress had to act by that deadline, but has not passed legislation approving the deal.
