Interior Secretary Orders Review of California WaterFix

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has issued a Secretarial Order that directs federal officials to expedite the environmental review of the California WaterFix project as part of larger effort to take “timely actions” to address the effects of drought and climate change on California’s water supply and imperiled wildlife. The order outlines several actions that address critical water issues in California, including expedited actions ranging from fostering Delta smelt resiliency to asking the federal government to work for voluntary flow agreements that align with the Endangered Species Act. The order is specific to California.