R. O. Draft 04/29-2003 

Contract No. 

14-06-200-878A-R-1 

UNITED STATES 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 

Central Valley Project, California 

CONTRACT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND

RIVER GARDEN FARMS COMPANY,

DIVERTER OF WATER FROM SACRAMENTO RIVER SOURCES,

SETTLING WATER RIGHTS DISPUTES AND

PROVIDING FOR PROJECT WATER 

Table of Contents

Article No. Title Page No.

Preamble ......................................................................................................1 

Explanatory Recitals ................................................................................ 2-3 

1 Definitions................................................................................................ 3-6 

2 Term of Settlement Contract........................................................................7 

3 Water to be Furnished to Contractor...................................................... 7-11 

4 Return Flow ......................................................................................... 11-12 

5 Constraints on the Availability of Water ...................................................12 

6 Integrated Water Management and Partnerships .......................................12 

7 Use of Water Furnished to Contractor.......................................................13 

8 Rate and Method of Payment for Water .............................................. 13-19 

9 Agreement on Water Quantities........................................................... 19-21 

10 Measurement of Water......................................................................... 21-23 

11 Rules and Regulations................................................................................23 

12 General Obligation--Benefits Conditioned 

 Upon Payment.........................................................................................23 

13 Charges for Delinquent Payments .............................................................24 

14 Quality of Water ........................................................................................24 

15 Water and Air Pollution Control................................................................24 

16 Equal Opportunity................................................................................ 25-26 

17 Compliance With Civil Rights Laws 

 and Regulations.......................................................................................26 

18 Mingling of Contractor’s Project and 

 Non-Project Water ............................................................................ 26-27 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

Table of Contents - continued

Article No. Title Page No. 

19 Books, Records, and Reports.....................................................................27 

20 Change of Place of Use or Organization....................................................28 

21 Consolidation of Contracting Entities........................................................28 

22 Notices .......................................................................................................28 

23 Assignment Limited--Successors and 

 Assigns Obligated ...................................................................................28 

24 Officials Not to Benefit..............................................................................29 

25 Contingent Upon Appropriation or 

 Allotment of Funds .................................................................................29 

26 Confirmation of Settlement Contract.........................................................29 

27 Unavoidable Groundwater Percolation......................................................29 

28 Privacy Act Compliance ...................................................................... 29-30 

29 Water Conservation ............................................................................. 30-32 

30 Opinions and Determinations .............................................................. 32-33 

31 Contractor to Pay Certain Miscellaneous Costs................................... 33-34 

32 Waiver of Default ......................................................................................34 

33 Contract Assignment or Termination Upon Transfer of Land............. 34-35 

34 Termination................................................................................................35 

Signature Page ...........................................................................................36 

Exhibit A Schedule of Monthly Diversions of Water 

Exhibit B Map of Contractor’s Ownership 

Exhibit C Unit Duty 

Exhibit D Water Rates and Charges 
1 R. O. Draft 04/29-2003 

2 Contract No. 

3 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

4 UNITED STATES 

5 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

6 BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 

7 Central Valley Project, California 

8 CONTRACT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND

9 RIVER GARDEN FARMS COMPANY,

10 DIVERTER OF WATER FROM SACRAMENTO RIVER SOURCES,

11 SETTLING WATER RIGHTS DISPUTES AND

12 PROVIDING FOR PROJECT WATER 

 

13 THIS CONTRACT, hereinafter referred to as “Settlement Contract,” is entered into 

14 by THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, hereinafter referred to as the United States, made 

15 this _____ day of ____________________, 2004, pursuant to the applicable authority granted to 

16 it generally in the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and acts amendatory or supplementary 

17 thereto, including, but not limited to, the Acts of August 26, 1937 (50 Stat. 844), as amended and 

18 supplemented, August 4, 1939 (53 Stat. 1187), as amended and supplemented, including, but not 

19 limited to, Sections 9 and 14 thereto, July 2, 1956 (70 Stat. 483), June 21, 1963 (77 Stat. 68), 

20 October 12, 1982 (96 Stat. 1262), October 27, 1986 (100 Stat. 3050), as amended, and Title 

21 XXXIV of the Act of October 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 4706), all collectively hereinafter referred to 

22 as Federal Reclamation law, and RIVER GARDEN FARMS COMPANY, hereinafter referred to 

23 as the Contractor, a partnership, acting pursuant to Sections 12003 and 12004 of the California 

24 Water Code, with its principal place of business in California; 

25 WITNESSETH, that: 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 EXPLANATORY RECITALS

[1st] 2 WHEREAS, the United States has constructed and is operating the Central Valley 

3 Project, California, for multiple purposes pursuant to its statutory authority; and 

[2nd] 4 WHEREAS, the Contractor has rights to divert, is diverting, and will continue to 

5 divert for reasonable beneficial use, water from the natural flow of the Sacramento River and 

6 tributaries thereto, that would have been flowing therein if the Central Valley Project were not in 

7 existence; and 

[3rd] 8 WHEREAS, the construction and operation of the integrated and coordinated 

9 Central Valley Project has changed and will further change the regimen of the Sacramento, 

10 American, San Joaquin, and Trinity Rivers and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from 

11 unregulated flow to regulated flow; and 

[4th] 12 WHEREAS, the United States has rights to divert, is diverting, and will continue 

13 to divert waters from said Rivers and said Delta in connection with the operation of said Central 

14 Valley Project; and 

[5th] 15 WHEREAS, the Contractor and the United States had a dispute over the 

16 respective rights of the parties to divert and use water from the regulated flow of the Sacramento 

17 River which threatened to result in litigation, and as a means to settle that dispute entered into 

18 Contract No. 14-06-200-878A, as amended, hereinafter referred to as the Existing Contract, 

19 which established terms for the delivery to the Contractor of Central Valley Project Water, and 

20 the quantities of Base Supply the United States and the Contractor agreed may be diverted by the 

21 Contractor from the Sacramento River pursuant to such contract; and 

[6th] 22 WHEREAS, the United States and the Contractor disagree with respect to the 

23 authority of the United States to change the quantities of Base Supply and/or Project Water 
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1 specified as available for diversion in this Settlement Contract from the quantities specified in 

2 the Existing Contract, and other issues related thereto. That dispute was the subject of litigation 

3 in a lawsuit entitled Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, et al. v. United States, et al. [Civ. No. S4 01-1816 GEB/JFM (E.D. Cal.)], but that litigation was dismissed, without prejudice, pursuant to 

5 a stipulation of dismissal filed by the parties thereto on August 29, 2002. Notwithstanding that 

6 dismissal, the Contractor and the United States enter into this Settlement Contract to renew the 

7 Existing Contract, pursuant to the terms of the Existing Contract, Federal Reclamation law, and 

8 the laws of the State of California; and

[7th] 9 WHEREAS, to assure the Contractor of the enjoyment and use of the regulated 

10 flow of the said Rivers and the Delta, and to provide for the economical operation of the Central 

11 Valley Project by, and the reimbursement to, the United States for expenditures made for said 

12 Project. 

13 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the performance of the herein contained 

14 provisions, conditions, and covenants, it is agreed as follows:

15 DEFINITIONS

16 1. When used herein, unless otherwise expressed or incompatible with the intent 

17 hereof, the term: 

18 (a) “Base Supply” shall mean the quantity of Surface Water established in 

19 Articles 3 and 5 which may be diverted by the Contractor from the Sacramento River each month 

20 during the period April through October of each Year without payment to the United States for 

21 such quantities diverted; 

22 (b) “Basin-Wide Water Management Plan” shall mean the mutually agreeable 

23 Sacramento River Basinwide Water Management Plan, dated _______, developed by 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 Glenn-Colusa Irrigation District, Maxwell Irrigation District, Natomas Central Mutual Water 

2 Company, Pelger Mutual Water Company, Princeton-Codora-Glenn Irrigation District, Provident 

3 Irrigation District, Reclamation District 108, Sutter Mutual Water Company, Anderson4 Cottonwood Irrigation District, Meridian Farms Water Company, Reclamation District 1004, and 

5 the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; 

6 (c) “Charges” shall mean the payments for Project Water that the Contractor 

7 is required to pay to the United States in addition to the “Rates” specified in this Settlement 

8 Contract. The Contracting Officer will, on an annual basis, determine the extent of these 

9 Charges. The type and amount of each Charge shall be specified in Exhibit D; 

10 (d) “Contract Total” shall mean the sum of the Base Supply and Project Water 

11 available for diversion by the Contractor for the period April 1 through October 31; 

12 (e) “Critical Year” shall mean any Year in which either of the following 

13 eventualities exists: 

14 (1) The forecasted full natural inflow to Shasta Lake for the current 

15 Water Year, as such forecast is made by the United States on or before February 15 and reviewed 

16 as frequently thereafter as conditions and information warrant, is equal to or less than 3.2 million 

17 acre-feet; or 

18 (2) The total accumulated actual deficiencies below 4 million acre-feet 

19 in the immediately prior Water Year or series of successive prior Water Years each of which had 

20 inflows of less than 4 million acre-feet, together with the forecasted deficiency for the current 

21 Water Year, exceed 800,000 acre-feet. 

22 For the purpose of determining a Critical Year, the computation of inflow to 

23 Shasta Lake shall be performed in a manner that considers the extent of upstream development 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 above Shasta Lake during the year in question, and shall be used as the full natural flow to 

2 Shasta Lake. In the event that major construction has occurred or occurs above Shasta Lake after 

3 September 1, 1963, and which has materially altered or alters the regimen of the stream systems 

4 contributing to Shasta Lake, the computed inflow to Shasta Lake used to define a Critical Year 

5 will be adjusted to eliminate the effect of such material alterations. After consultation with the 

6 State of California, the National Weather Service, and other recognized forecasting agencies, the 

7 Contracting Officer will select the forecast to be used and will make the details of it available to 

8 the Contractor. The same forecasts used by the United States for the operation of the Project 

9 shall be used to make the forecasts hereunder; 

10 (f) “CVPIA” shall mean the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Title 

11 XXXIV of the Act of October 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 4706); 

12 (g) “Eligible Lands” shall mean all lands to which Project Water may be 

13 delivered in accordance with Section 204 of the Reclamation Reform Act of October 12, 1982 

14 (96 Stat. 1263), as amended, hereinafter referred to as RRA;

15 (h) “Excess Lands” shall mean all lands in excess of the limitations contained 

16 in Section 204 of the RRA, other than those lands exempt from acreage limitation under Federal 

17 Reclamation law; 

18 (i) “Full Cost Rate” shall mean that water rate described in Sections 205(a)(3) 

19 or 202(3) of the RRA, whichever is applicable; 

20 (j) “Ineligible Lands” shall mean all lands to which Project Water may not be 

21 delivered in accordance with Section 204 of the RRA; 

22 (k) “Landholder” shall mean a party that directly or indirectly owns or leases 

23 nonexempt land, as provided in 43 CFR 426.2; 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 (l) “Project” shall mean the Central Valley Project owned by the United 

2 States and managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation; 

3 (m) “Project Water” shall mean all Surface Water diverted or scheduled to be 

4 diverted each month during the period April through October of each Year by the Contractor 

5 from the Sacramento River which is in excess of the Base Supply. The United States recognizes 

6 the right of the Contractor to make arrangements for acquisition of water from projects of others 

7 than the United States for delivery through the Sacramento River and tributaries subject to 

8 written agreement between Contractor and the United States as to identification of such water 

9 which water when so identified shall not be deemed Project Water under this Settlement 

10 Contract; 

11 (n) “Rates” shall mean the payments for Project Water determined annually 

12 by the Contracting Officer in accordance with the then current applicable water ratesetting 

13 policies for the Project, as described in subdivision (a) of Article 8 of this Settlement Contract; 

14 (o) “Secretary” or “Contracting Officer” shall mean the Secretary of the 

15 Interior, a duly appointed successor, or an authorized representative acting pursuant to any 

16 authority of the Secretary and through any agency of the Department of the Interior; 

17 (p) “Surface Water” shall mean only those waters that are considered as 

18 surface water under California law; 

19 (q) “Water Year” shall mean the period commencing with October 1 of 1 year 

20 and extending through September 30 of the next; and 

21 (r) “Year” shall mean a calendar year. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 TERM OF SETTLEMENT CONTRACT

2 2. (a) This Settlement Contract shall become effective April 1, 2004, and shall 

3 remain in effect until and including March 31, 2044: Provided, that under terms and conditions 

4 mutually agreeable to the parties hereto, renewals may be made for successive periods not to 

5 exceed 40 years each. The terms and conditions of each renewal shall be agreed upon not later 

6 than 1 year prior to the expiration of the then existing Settlement Contract. 

7 (b) With respect to Project Water and the portions of this Settlement Contract 

8 pertaining thereto, upon written request by the Contractor of the Secretary made not later than 

9 1 year prior to the expiration of this Settlement Contract, whenever, account being taken of the 

10 amount then credited to the costs of construction of water supply works, the remaining amount of 

11 construction costs of water supply work which is properly assignable for ultimate return by the 

12 Contractor as established by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to (3) of Section 1 of Public 

13 Law 643 (70 Stat. 483), probably can be repaid to the United States within the term of a contract 

14 under subsection 9(d) of the 1939 Reclamation Project Act (53 Stat. 1187), the relevant portions 

15 of this Settlement Contract may be converted to a contract under said subsection 9(d) upon terms 

16 and conditions mutually agreeable to the United States and the Contractor. The Secretary shall 

17 make a determination 10 years after the date of execution of this Settlement Contract, and every 

18 5 years thereafter, of whether a conversion to a contract under said subsection 9(d) can be 

19 accomplished pursuant to Public Law 643. Notwithstanding any provision of this Settlement 

20 Contract, the Contractor reserves and shall have all rights and benefits under Public Law 643. 

21 WATER TO BE FURNISHED TO CONTRACTOR

22 3. (a) Subject to the conditions, limitations, and provisions hereinafter 

23 expressed, the Contractor is hereby entitled and authorized to divert from the Sacramento River 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 at the locations shown in Exhibit A, for beneficial use within the area delineated on Exhibit B, 

2 (both Exhibits are attached hereto and made a part hereof), the Contract Total designated in 

3 Exhibit A, or any revision thereof, in accordance with the monthly operating schedule required 

4 by Article 3(c) of this Settlement Contract, Provided, however, that the Contractor reserves the 

5 right to, and may at its option, divert water from the Colusa Basin Drain to the extent permitted 

6 under License No. 4636 for beneficial use within the area delineated on Exhibit B. The 

7 lawfulness of the Contractor’s diversion for said area from the Colusa Basin Drain will not be 

8 challenged by, or on behalf of, the Bureau of Reclamation except in the case of a general 

9 adjudication as provided in subdivision (b) of Article 9. The quantity of any water diverted 

10 under this Settlement Contract from the Sacramento River, during the period April through 

11 October, for use on any lands delineated on Exhibit B, by the owner of such lands or otherwise 

12 shall constitute a part of the Contract Total as shown on Exhibit A and shall be subject to all the 

13 provisions of this Settlement Contract relating to such Contract Total as if such diversion were 

14 made by the Contractor. 

15 (b) The Contractor may have acquired rights to divert water from the 

16 Sacramento River during the period April through October, that were obtained after the date of 

17 execution of the Existing Contract, or the Contractor may acquire such rights in the future. All 

18 diversions made from the Sacramento River, pursuant to such rights, during the period April 

19 through October, shall not be considered a part of the quantity of Base Supply and Project Water 

20 specified in Exhibit A; Provided, that the quantities diverted pursuant to the above rights shall be 

21 identified on the schedule submitted pursuant to Article 3(c) below, and shall not be substituted 

22 for any Base Supply or Project Water; Provided, further, that any such identified quantities of 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 other acquired rights may be diverted by the Contractor before incurring any fee pursuant to 

2 Article 3(c)(1), below. 

3 (c) Before April 1 and before the first day of each month thereafter when a 

4 revision is needed, the Contractor shall submit a written schedule to the Contracting Officer 

5 indicating the Contract Total to be diverted by the Contractor during each month under this 

6 Settlement Contract. The United States shall furnish water to the Contractor in accordance with 

7 the monthly operating schedule or any revisions thereof. However, the United States recognizes 

8 the need of the Contractor to change from time to time its monthly diversions of water from the 

9 quantities shown in Exhibit A; the Contractor may make such changes, provided: 

10 (1) that for the quantity of Base Supply diverted in excess of the 

11 monthly quantity shown in Exhibit A, and as may be reduced in accordance with Article 5(a), 

12 during June, July, August, September, or October of any Water Year, the Contractor shall be 

13 charged a rescheduling fee equal to 50 percent of the sum of the storage operations and 

14 maintenance rate and the storage capital rate components of the Project ratesetting policy. 

15 (2) that in no event shall the total quantity scheduled for diversion by 

16 the Contractor from the Sacramento River: 

17 (i) During the period April through October exceed the 

18 aggregate of the Contract Total for that period shown in Exhibit A or any revision 

19 thereof; 

20 (ii) During the period July through September exceed the 

21 aggregate of the Contract Total for that period shown in Exhibit A or any revision 

22 thereof. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 (d) In the event conditions warrant, the Contracting Officer reserves the right 

2 to require the Contractor to submit, at least 72 hours prior to the beginning of each weekly 

3 period, its estimate of daily diversion requirements for each such period from the Sacramento 

4 River: Provided, however, that changes during any such period may be made upon the giving of 

5 72 hours’ notice thereof to the Contracting Officer. 

6 (e) No sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposal of any of the Contract Total 

7 designated in Exhibit A or the right to the use thereof for use on land other than that shown on 

8 Exhibit B shall be made by the Contractor without first obtaining the written consent of the 

9 Contracting Officer. Such consent will not be unreasonably withheld and a decision will be 

10 rendered in a timely manner. For short-term actions that will occur within 1 year or less, the 

11 decision will be rendered within 30 days after receipt of a complete written proposal. For long12 term actions that will occur in a period longer than 1 year, the decision will be rendered within 

13 90 days after receipt of a complete written proposal. For a proposal to be deemed complete by 

14 the Contracting Officer, it must comply with all provisions required by State and Federal law, 

15 including information sufficient to enable the Contracting Officer to comply with the National 

16 Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and applicable rules or regulations then 

17 in effect; Provided that, such consent does not authorize the use of Federal facilities to facilitate 

18 or effectuate the sale, transfer, exchange, or other disposal of Base Supply. Such use of Federal 

19 facilities will be the subject of a separate agreement to be entered into between the Contractor 

20 and Reclamation. 

21 (f) For the purpose of determining whether Section 3405(a)(1)(M) of the 

22 CVPIA applies to the Contractor as a transferor or transferee of Project Water, the Contracting 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 Officer acknowledges that the Contractor is within a county, watershed, or other area of origin, 

2 as those terms are utilized under California law. 

3 (g) Nothing herein contained shall prevent the Contractor from diverting 

4 water during the months of November through March for beneficial use on the land shown on 

5 Exhibit B or elsewhere to the extent authorized under the laws of the State of California. 

6 (h) The United States assumes no responsibility for and neither it nor its 

7 officers, agents, or employees shall have any liability for or on account of: 

8 (1) The quality of water to be diverted by the Contractor; 

9 (2) The control, carriage, handling, use, disposal, or distribution of 

10 water diverted by the Contractor outside the facilities constructed and then being operated and 

11 maintained by or on behalf of the United States; 

12 (3) Claims of damage of any nature whatsoever, including but not 

13 limited to, property loss or damage, personal injury, or death arising out of or connected with the 

14 control, carriage, handling, use, disposal, or distribution of said water outside of the hereinabove 

15 referred to facilities; and 

16 (4) Any damage whether direct or indirect arising out of or in any 

17 manner caused by a shortage of water whether such shortage be on account of errors in 

18 operation, drought, or unavoidable causes. 

19 RETURN FLOW

20 4. Nothing herein shall be construed as an abandonment or a relinquishment by the 

21 United States of any right it may have to the use of waste, seepage, and return flow water derived 

22 from water diverted by the Contractor hereunder and which escapes or is discharged beyond the 

23 boundaries of the lands shown on Exhibit B; Provided, that this shall not be construed as 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 claiming for the United States any right to such water which is recovered by the Contractor 

2 pursuant to California law from within the boundaries of the lands shown on Exhibit B, and 

3 which is being used pursuant to this Settlement Contract for surface irrigation or underground 

4 storage for the benefit of the lands shown on Exhibit B by the Contractor. 

5 CONSTRAINTS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER

6 5. (a) In a Critical Year, the Contractor’s Base Supply and Project Water agreed 

7 to be diverted during the period April through October of the Year in which the principal portion 

8 of the Critical Year occurs and, each monthly quantity of said period shall be reduced by 

9 25 percent.

10 (b) The amount of any overpayment by the Contractor shall, at its option, be 

11 refunded or credited upon amounts to become due to the United States from the Contractor under 

12 the provisions hereof in the ensuing Year. To the extent of such deficiency such adjustment of 

13 overpayment shall constitute the sole remedy of the Contractor. 

14 INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT AND PARTNERSHIPS

15 6. The Contractor and United States desire to work together to maximize the 

16 reasonable beneficial use of water for their mutual benefit. As a consequence, the United States 

17 and the Contractor will work in partnership and with others within the Sacramento Valley, 

18 including other Contractors, to facilitate the better integration within the Sacramento Valley of 

19 all water supplies including, but not limited to, the better management and integration of surface 

20 water and groundwater, the development and better utilization of surface water storage, the 

21 effective utilization of waste, seepage and return flow water, and other operational and 

22 management options that may be identified in the future. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 USE OF WATER FURNISHED TO CONTRACTOR

2 7. (a) Project Water furnished to the Contractor pursuant to this Settlement 

3 Contract shall not be delivered or furnished by the Contractor for any purposes other than 

4 agricultural purposes without the written consent of the Contracting Officer. For purposes of this 

5 Settlement Contract, “agricultural purposes” includes, but is not restricted to, the irrigation of 

6 crops, the watering of livestock, incidental domestic use including related landscape irrigation, or 

7 underground water replenishment. 

8 (b) The Contractor shall comply with requirements applicable to the 

9 Contractor in biological opinion(s) prepared as a result of a consultation regarding the execution 

10 of this Settlement Contract undertaken pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 

11 1973, as amended, that are within the Contractor’s legal authority to implement. The Contractor 

12 shall comply with the limitations or requirements imposed by environmental documentation 

13 applicable to the Contractor and within its legal authority to implement. The Existing Contract, 

14 which evidences in excess of 40 years of diversions, for agricultural uses, of the quantities of 

15 water provided for in Article 3, and the underlying water rights of the Contractor will be 

16 considered in developing an appropriate base-line for the Biological Assessment prepared 

17 pursuant to the Endangered Species Act, and in any other needed environmental review. 

18 Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Contractor from challenging or seeking judicial 

19 relief in a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to any biological opinion or other 

20 environmental documentation referred to in this Article. 

21 RATE AND METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR WATER

22 8. (a) The Contractor shall make payments to the United States as provided in 

23 this Article for all Project Water shown in Exhibit A as follows: 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 (1) 75 percent of the amount shown as Project Water shall be paid for 

2 by the Contractor in each Year; and in addition 

3 (2) the Contractor shall pay for Project Water actually diverted in 

4 excess of 75 percent of the amount shown as Project Water. 

5 Such payments shall be at Rates and Charges established in accordance with: (i) the 

6 Secretary’s then-current ratesetting policies for the Project; and (ii) applicable Reclamation law 

7 and associated rules and regulations, or policies: Provided, that if the Contractor desires to use 

8 Project Water for other than agricultural use the Rates and Charges set forth above will be 

9 adjusted by the Contracting Officer to the applicable Rates and Charges for such use. The Rates 

10 and Charges applicable to the Contractor upon execution of this Settlement Contract are set forth 

11 in Exhibit D, as may be revised annually. The Secretary’s ratesetting policies for the Project 

12 shall be amended, modified, or superseded only through a public notice and comment procedure. 

13 The Contracting Officer shall adjust the amount of Project Water for which payment is required 

14 to the extent of any reduction in diversions of Project Water made in accordance with the water 

15 conservation provisions of Article 29 (e). 

16 (b) The Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor of the Rates and 

17 Charges as follows: 

18 (1) Prior to July 1 of each Year, the Contracting Officer shall provide 

19 the Contractor an estimate of the Charges for Project Water that will be applied to the period 

20 October 1, of the current Year, through September 30, of the following Year, and the basis for 

21 such estimate. The Contractor shall be allowed not less than 2 months to review and comment 

22 on such estimates. On or before September 15 of each Year, the Contracting Officer shall notify 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 the Contractor in writing of the Charges to be in effect during the period October 1 of the current 

2 Year, through September 30, of the following Year, and such notification shall revise Exhibit D. 

3 (2) Prior to October 1 of each Year, the Contracting Officer shall make 

4 available to the Contractor an estimate of the Rates for Project Water for the following Year and 

5 the computations and cost allocations upon which those Rates are based. The Contractor shall be 

6 allowed not less than 2 months to review and comment on such computations and cost 

7 allocations. By December 31 of each Year, the Contracting Officer shall provide the Contractor 

8 with the final Rates to be in effect for the upcoming Year, and such notification shall revise 

9 Exhibit D. 

10 (c) The Contractor shall pay the United States for Project Water in the 

11 following manner: 

12 (1) With respect to Rates, prior to May 1 of each Year, the Contractor 

13 shall pay the United States one-half the total amount payable pursuant to subdivision (a) of this 

14 Article and the remainder shall be paid prior to July 1 or such later date or dates as may be 

15 specified by the United States in a written notice to the Contractor: Provided, however, that if at 

16 any time during the Year the amount of Project Water diverted by the Contractor shall equal the 

17 amount for which payment has been made, the Contractor shall pay for the remaining amount of 

18 such water as shown in Exhibit A in advance of any further diversion of Project Water. 

19 (2) With respect to Charges, the Contractor shall also make a payment 

20 to the United States, in addition to the Rate(s) in subdivision (c)(1) of this Article, at the Charges 

21 then in effect, before the end of the month following the month of delivery or transfer. The 

22 payments shall be consistent with the quantities of Project Water delivered or transferred. 

23 Adjustment for overpayment or underpayment of Charges shall be made through the adjustment 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 of payments due to the United States for Charges for the next month. Any amount to be paid for 

2 past due payment of Charges shall be computed pursuant to Article 13 of this Settlement 

3 Contract. 

4 (d) Payments to be made by the Contractor to the United States under this 

5 Settlement Contract may be paid from any revenues available to the Contractor. 

6 (1) All revenues received by the United States from the Contractor 

7 relating to the delivery of Project Water or the delivery of non-Project Water through Project 

8 facilities shall be allocated and applied in accordance with Federal Reclamation law and the 

9 associated rules or regulations, and the then current Project ratesetting policies for irrigation 

10 water. 

11 (e) The Contracting Officer shall keep its accounts pertaining to the 

12 administration of the financial terms and conditions of its long-term water service and Settlement 

13 Contracts, in accordance with applicable Federal standards, so as to reflect the application of 

14 Project costs and revenues. The Contracting Officer shall, each Year upon request of the 

15 Contractor, provide to the Contractor a detailed accounting of all Project and Contractor expense 

16 allocations, the disposition of all Project and Contractor revenues, and a summary of all water 

17 delivery information. The Contracting Officer and the Contractor shall enter into good faith 

18 negotiations to resolve any discrepancies or disputes relating to accountings, reports, or 

19 information. 

20 (f) The parties acknowledge and agree that the efficient administration of this 

21 Settlement Contract is their mutual goal. Recognizing that experience has demonstrated that 

22 mechanisms, policies, and procedures used for establishing Rates and Charges and/or for making 

23 and allocating payments, other than those set forth in this Article may be in the mutual best 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 interest of the parties, it is expressly agreed that the parties may enter into agreements to modify 

2 the mechanisms, policies, and procedures for any of those purposes while this Settlement 

3 Contract is in effect without amendment of this Settlement Contract. 

4 (g) For the term of this Settlement Contract, Rates under the respective 

5 ratesetting policies for the Project will be established to recover only reimbursable operation and 

6 maintenance (including any deficits) and capital costs of the Project, as those terms are used in 

7 the then current Project ratesetting policies, and interest, where appropriate, except in instances 

8 where a minimum Rate is applicable in accordance with the relevant Project ratesetting policy. 

9 Proposed changes of significance in practices which implement the ratesetting policies for the 

10 Project will not be implemented until the Contracting Officer has provided the Contractor an 

11 opportunity to discuss the nature, need, and impact of the proposed change. The Contractor 

12 retains all rights to challenge the validity of Rates and Charges imposed pursuant to this 

13 Settlement Contract, including but not limited to operation and maintenance expenses and 

14 operation and maintenance deficits, in an appropriate administrative or judicial proceeding. 

15 (h) Except as provided in subsection 3405(a)(1)(B) of the CVPIA, the Rates 

16 for Project Water transferred, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, by the Contractor shall be the 

17 Contractor’s Rates adjusted upward or downward to reflect the changed costs of delivery (if any) 

18 of the transferred, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of Project Water to the transferee’s point of 

19 delivery in accordance with the then-current ratesetting policies for the Project. Except as 

20 provided in subsection 3407(d)(2)(A) of the CVPIA, the Charges for Project Water transferred, 

21 exchanged, or otherwise disposed of, by the Contractor shall be the Contractor’s Charges 

22 specified in Exhibit D. If the Contractor is receiving lower Rates and Charges because of 

23 inability to pay and is transferring, exchanging, or otherwise disposing of Project Water to 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

18

1 another entity whose Rates and Charges are not adjusted due to inability to pay, the Rates and 

2 Charges for transferred, exchanged, or otherwise disposed of Project Water shall be the 

3 Contractor’s Rates and Charges unadjusted for ability to pay. 

4 (i) Pursuant to the Act of October 27, 1986 (100 Stat. 3050), the Contracting 

5 Officer is authorized to adjust determinations of ability to pay every 5 years. 

6 (j) Each payment to be made pursuant to subdivisions (a) and (b) of this 

7 Article shall be made at the office of the Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region, File 

8 No. 11546, P.O. Box 6000, San Francisco, California 94160-1546, or at such other place as the 

9 United States may designate in a written notice to the said Contractor. Payments shall be made 

10 by cash transaction, wire, or any other mechanism as may be agreed to in writing by the 

11 Contractor and the Contracting Officer. In the event there should be a default in the payment of 

12 the amount due, the delinquent payment provisions of Article 13 shall apply. The Contractor 

13 shall not be relieved of the whole or any part of its said obligation by, on account of, or 

14 notwithstanding, as the case may be: 

15 (1) Its failure, refusal, or neglect to divert 75 percent of the quantity of 

16 Project Water shown on Exhibit A; 

17 (2) The default in payment to it by any water user of assessments, 

18 tolls, or other charges levied by or owing to said Contractor; 

19 (3) Any judicial determination that any assessment, toll, or other 

20 charge referred to in subsection 8(c)(2) of this Settlement Contract is irregular, void, or 

21 ineffectual; or 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

19

1 (4) Any injunctive process enjoining or restraining the Contractor 

2 from making or collecting any such assessment, toll, or other charge referred to in subsection 

3 8(c)(2) of this Settlement Contract.

4 AGREEMENT ON WATER QUANTITIES

5 9. (a) During the term of this Settlement Contract and any renewals thereof: 

6 (1) It shall constitute full agreement as between the United States and 

7 the Contractor as to the quantities of water and the allocation thereof between Base Supply and 

8 Project Water which may be diverted by the Contractor from the Sacramento River for beneficial 

9 use on the land shown on Exhibit B which said diversion, use, and allocation shall not be 

10 disturbed so long as the Contractor shall fulfill all of its obligations hereunder; 

11 (2) Neither party shall claim any right against the other in conflict with 

12 the provisions of Article 9(a)(1) hereof. 

13 (b) Nothing herein contained is intended to or does limit rights of the 

14 Contractor against others than the United States or of the United States against any person other 

15 than the Contractor: Provided, however, that in the event the Contractor, the United States, or 

16 any other person shall become a party to a general adjudication of rights to the use of water of 

17 the Sacramento River system, this Settlement Contract shall not jeopardize the rights or position 

18 of either party hereto or of any other person and the rights of all such persons in respect to the 

19 use of such water shall be determined in such proceedings the same as if this Settlement Contract 

20 had not been entered into, and if final judgment in any such general adjudication shall determine 

21 that the rights of the parties hereto are different from the rights as assumed herein, the parties 

22 shall negotiate an amendment to give effect to such judgment. In the event the parties are unable 

23 to agree on an appropriate amendment they shall, within 60 days of determining that there is an 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

20

1 impasse, employ the services of a neutral mediator, experienced in resolving water rights 

2 disputes, to assist in resolving the impasse. The cost of the mediation will be shared equally. A 

3 failure to reach agreement on an amendment within 60 days of the end of mediation will cause 

4 the immediate termination of this Settlement Contract. 

5 (c) In the event that the California State Water Resources Control Board or a 

6 court of competent jurisdiction issues a final decision or order modifying the terms and 

7 conditions of the water rights of either party to this Settlement Contract in order to impose Bay8 Delta water quality obligations, the Contractor and the United States shall promptly meet to 

9 determine whether or not to modify any of the terms of this Settlement Contract to comply with 

10 the final decision or order, including, but not limited to, the applicability of the rescheduling 

11 charge in Article 3(c)(1) of this Settlement Contract. If within 60 days of the date of the issuance 

12 of the final decision or order the parties are not able to reach agreement regarding either the need 

13 to modify this Settlement Contract or the manner in which this Settlement Contract is to be 

14 modified, the parties shall promptly retain a neutral mediator, experienced in resolving water 

15 right disputes, to assist the parties in resolving their dispute. The cost of the mediator shall be 

16 shared equally. In the event that either of the parties to this Settlement Contract determines that 

17 the parties will not be able to develop mutually-agreeable modification(s) to this Settlement 

18 Contract even with the assistance of a mediator, either of the parties to this Settlement Contract 

19 may attempt to resolve the impasse by seeking appropriate judicial relief including, but not 

20 limited to, filing a general adjudication of the rights to the use of water in the Sacramento River 

21 system. The foregoing provisions of this sub-article shall only apply to the incremental 

22 obligations contained within a final decision or order of the State Water Resources Control 

23 Board that reflects a modification to the obligations imposed in State Water Resources Control 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 Board Revised Water Rights Decision 1641 dated March 15, 2000, and its associated 1995 Water 

2 Quality Control Plan which, taken together, will be considered the baseline for the application of 

3 the provisions of this sub-article. 

4 (d) In the event this Settlement Contract terminates, the rights of the parties to 

5 thereafter divert and use water shall exist as if this Settlement Contract had not been entered into; 

6 and the fact that as a compromise settlement of a controversy as to the respective rights of the 

7 parties to divert and use water and the yield of such rights during the term hereof, this Settlement 

8 Contract places a limit on the Contract Total to be diverted annually by the Contractor during the 

9 Settlement Contract term and segregates it into Base Supply and Project Water shall not 

10 jeopardize the rights or position of either party with respect to its water rights or the yield thereof 

11 at all times after the Settlement Contract terminates. It is further agreed that the Contractor at all 

12 times will first use water to the use of which it is entitled by virtue of its own water rights, and 

13 neither the provisions of this Settlement Contract, action taken thereunder, nor payments made 

14 thereunder to the United States by the Contractor shall be construed as an admission that any part 

15 of the water used by the Contractor during the term of this Settlement Contract was in fact water 

16 to which it would not have been entitled under water rights owned by it nor shall receipt of 

17 payments thereunder by the United States from the Contractor be construed as an admission that 

18 any part of the water used by the Contractor during the term of this Settlement Contract was in 

19 fact water to which it would have been entitled under water rights owned by it. 

20 MEASUREMENT OF WATER

21 10. (a) All water diverted by the Contractor from the Sacramento River will be 

22 diverted at the existing point or points of diversion shown on Exhibit A or at such other points as 

23 may be mutually agreed upon in writing by the Contracting Officer and the Contractor. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

22

1 (b) All water diverted from the Sacramento River pursuant to this Settlement 

2 Contract will be measured or caused to be measured by the United States at each point of 

3 diversion with existing equipment or equipment to be installed, operated, and maintained by the 

4 United States, and/or others, under contract with and at the option of the United States. The 

5 equipment and methods used to make such measurement shall be in accordance with sound 

6 engineering practices. Upon request of the Contractor, the accuracy of such measurements will 

7 be investigated by the Contracting Officer and any errors appearing therein will be corrected. 

8 (c) The right of ingress to and egress from all points of diversion is hereby 

9 granted to all authorized employees of the United States. The Contractor also hereby grants to 

10 the United States the right to install, operate, maintain, and replace such equipment on diversion 

11 or carriage facilities at each point of diversion as the Contracting Officer deems necessary. 

12 (d) The Contractor shall not modify, alter, remove, or replace diversion 

13 facilities or do any other act which would alter the effectiveness or accuracy of the measuring 

14 equipment installed by the United States or its representatives unless and until the Contracting 

15 Officer has been notified with due diligence and has been given an opportunity to modify such 

16 measuring equipment in such manner as may be necessary or appropriate. In the event of an 

17 emergency the Contractor shall notify the United States within a reasonable time thereafter as to 

18 the existence of the emergency and the nature and extent of such modification, alteration, 

19 removal, or replacement of diversion facilities. 

20 (e) The Contractor shall pay the United States for the costs to repair, relocate, 

21 or replace measurement equipment when the Contractor modifies, alters, removes, or replaces 

22 diversion or carriage facilities. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 (f) Contractor and Contracting Officer shall develop a mutually agreeable 

2 surface water delivery water measurement program which shall be implemented by the 

3 Contractor, and such measurement program shall be consistent with the conservation and 

4 efficiency criteria for evaluating water conservation plans as provided in Article 29 (a). 

5 (g) All new surface water delivery systems installed within the lands 

6 delineated on Exhibit B after the effective date of this Settlement Contract shall also comply with 

7 the measurement provisions described in this Article. 

8 RULES AND REGULATIONS

9 11. The parties agree that the delivery of Project Water for irrigation use or use of 

10 Federal facilities pursuant to this Settlement Contract is subject to Federal Reclamation law, 

11 including but not limited to, the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C. 390aa et seq.), as 

12 amended and supplemented, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the 

13 Interior under Federal Reclamation law. 

14 GENERAL OBLIGATION--BENEFITS CONDITIONED UPON PAYMENT

15 12. (a) The obligation of the Contractor to pay the United States as provided in 

16 this Settlement Contract is a general obligation of the Contractor notwithstanding the manner in 

17 which the obligation may be distributed among the Contractor's water users and notwithstanding 

18 the default of individual water users in their obligations to the Contractor. 

19 (b) The payment of Charges becoming due hereunder is a condition precedent 

20 to receiving benefits under this Settlement Contract. The United States shall not make water 

21 available to the Contractor through Project facilities during any period in which the Contractor 

22 may be in arrears in the advance payment of water Rates due the United States. The Contractor 

23 shall not furnish water made available pursuant to this Settlement Contract for lands or parties 

24 which are in arrears in the advance payment of water rates levied or established by the 

25 Contractor. 

26 (c) With respect to subdivision (b) of this Article, the Contractor shall have no 

27 obligation to require advance payment for water Rates which it levies. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 CHARGES FOR DELINQUENT PAYMENTS

2 13. (a) The Contractor shall be subject to interest, administrative and penalty 

3 charges on delinquent installments or payments. When a payment is not received by the due 

4 date, the Contractor shall pay an interest charge for each day the payment is delinquent beyond 

5 the due date. When a payment becomes 60 days delinquent, the Contractor shall pay an 

6 administrative charge to cover additional costs of billing and processing the delinquent payment. 

7 When a payment is delinquent 90 days or more, the Contractor shall pay an additional penalty 

8 charge of six percent per year for each day the payment is delinquent beyond the due date. 

9 Further, the Contractor shall pay any fees incurred for debt collection services associated with a 

10 delinquent payment. 

11 (b) The interest charge rate shall be the greater of the rate prescribed quarterly 

12 in the Federal Register by the Department of the Treasury for application to overdue payments, 

13 or the interest rate of one-half of one percent per month prescribed by Section 6 of the 

14 Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (Public Law 76-260). The interest charge rate shall be 

15 determined as of the due date and remain fixed for the duration of the delinquent period. 

16 (c) When a partial payment on a delinquent account is received, the amount 

17 received shall be applied, first to the penalty, second to the administrative charges, third to the 

18 accrued interest, and finally to the overdue payment. 

19 QUALITY OF WATER

20 14. The operation and maintenance of Project facilities shall be performed in such 

21 manner as is practicable to maintain the quality of raw water made available through such 

22 facilities at the highest level reasonably attainable as determined by the Contracting Officer. The 

23 United States does not warrant the quality of water and is under no obligation to construct or 

24 furnish water treatment facilities to maintain or better the quality of water. 

25 WATER AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

26 15. The Contractor, in carrying out this Settlement Contract, shall comply with all 

27 applicable water and air pollution laws and regulations of the United States and the State of 

28 California, and shall obtain all required permits or licenses from the appropriate Federal, State, 

29 or local authorities. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

2 16. During the performance of this Settlement Contract, the Contractor agrees as 

3 follows: 

4 (a) The Contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for 

5 employment because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. The Contractor will take 

6 affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during 

7 employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Such action 

8 shall include, but not be limited to, the following: Employment, upgrading, demotion, or 

9 transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination, rates of payment or other 

10 forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The Contractor 

11 agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, 

12 notices to be provided by the Contracting Officer setting forth the provisions of this 

13 nondiscrimination clause. 

14 (b) The Contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees 

15 placed by or on behalf of the Contractor, state that all qualified applicants will receive 

16 consideration for employment without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, or 

17 national origin. 

18 (c) The Contractor will send to each labor union or representative of workers 

19 with which it has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice, 

20 to be provided by the Contracting Officer, advising the said labor union or workers' 

21 representative of the Contractor's commitments under Section 202 of Executive Order No. 11246 

22 of September 24, 1965, as amended, and shall post copies of the notice in conspicuous places 

23 available to employees and applicants for employment. 

24 (d) The Contractor will comply with all provisions of Executive Order No. 

25 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended, and of the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of 

26 the Secretary of Labor. 

27 (e) The Contractor will furnish all information and reports required by said 

28 amended Executive Order and by the rules, regulations, and orders of the Secretary of Labor, or 

29 pursuant thereto, and will permit access to its books, records, and accounts by the Contracting 

30 Officer and the Secretary of Labor for purposes of investigation to ascertain compliance with 

31 such rules, regulations, and orders. 

32 (f) In the event of the Contractor's noncompliance with the nondiscrimination 

33 clauses of this Settlement Contract or with any of the said rules, regulations, or orders, this 

34 Settlement Contract may be canceled, terminated, or suspended, in whole or in part, and the 

35 Contractor may be declared ineligible for further Government contracts in accordance with 

36 procedures authorized in said amended Executive Order, and such other sanctions may be 

37 imposed and remedies invoked as provided in said Executive Order, or by rule, regulation, or 

38 order of the Secretary of Labor, or as otherwise provided by law. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 (g) The Contractor will include the provisions of paragraphs (a) through (g) in 

2 every subcontract or purchase order unless exempted by the rules, regulations, or orders of the 

3 Secretary of Labor issued pursuant to Section 204 of said amended Executive Order, so that such 

4 provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor. The Contractor will take such 

5 action with respect to any subcontract or purchase order as may be directed by the Secretary of 

6 Labor as a means of enforcing such provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance: 

7 Provided, however, that in the event the Contractor becomes involved in, or is threatened with, 

8 litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such direction, the Contractor may request 

9 the United States to enter into such litigation to protect the interests of the United States. 

10 COMPLIANCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS AND REGULATIONS

11 17. Omitted 

12 MINGLING OF CONTRACTOR’S PROJECT AND NON-PROJECT WATER

13 18. (a) Project Water must of necessity be transported by the Contractor to its 

14 water users by means of the same works and channels used for the transport of its non-Project 

15 Water including Base Supply. Notwithstanding such mingling of water, the provisions of Article 

16 11 hereof shall be applicable only to Project Water, and such mingling of water shall not in any 

17 manner subject to the provisions of Article 11 hereof the Contractor’s non-Project Water 

18 including Base Supply. 

19 (b) If required in accordance with subdivision (c) of this Article, the 

20 Contractor shall install and maintain such measuring equipment and distribution facilities and 

21 maintain such records as may be necessary to determine the amounts of water delivered to 

22 Excess Lands served by the Contractor. The Contractor shall not within any month deliver to 

23 Ineligible Lands water in excess of the non-Project Water, including Base Supply, for that 

24 month. The Contracting Officer or authorized representative shall have the right at all 

25 reasonable times to inspect such records and measuring equipment. 

26 (c) The Contractor will not be considered in violation of the requirement that 

27 Project Water be delivered only to Eligible Lands during any month of the irrigation season that 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

27

1 the water requirement for beneficial use on Eligible Lands for that month is equal to or in excess 

2 of the Project Water for that month as shown on Exhibit A or any revision thereof pursuant to 

3 subdivision (c) of Article 3. The water requirement for beneficial use on Eligible Lands will be 

4 determined by multiplying: 

5 (1) the number of irrigable acres of the particular types of crops grown 

6 in that year on the acreage designated as eligible by 

7 (2) the Unit Duties as set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto and made 

8 a part hereof, or by such other Unit Duties mutually agreed upon by the Contractor and the 

9 Contracting Officer. In order to make the computation of the water requirement for Eligible 

10 Lands, on April 1 of each Year and concurrently with its order for water for the irrigation season, 

11 the Contractor shall designate the acreage of and type of crops to be grown on its Eligible Lands 

12 that irrigation season. During any month the water requirement as above determined for crops 

13 growing on Eligible Lands during such month is equal to or in excess of the Project Water for 

14 that month as provided herein the Contractor shall not be required to measure the water delivered 

15 to Excess Lands. Any month the said water requirement is less than the amount of Project Water 

16 as provided herein, the Contractor will be required to measure water delivered to excess land in 

17 accordance with subdivision (b) hereof. 

18 BOOKS, RECORDS, AND REPORTS

19 19. The Contractor shall establish and maintain accounts and other books and records 

20 pertaining to administration of the terms and conditions of this Settlement Contract, including: 

21 the Contractor's financial transactions, water supply data, and Project land and right-of-way 

22 agreements; the water users' land-use (crop census), land ownership, land-leasing and water use 

23 data; and other matters that the Contracting Officer may require. Reports thereon shall be 

24 furnished to the Contracting Officer in such form and on such date or dates as the Contracting 

25 Officer may require. Subject to applicable Federal laws and regulations, each party to this 

26 Settlement Contract shall have the right during office hours to examine and make copies of each 

27 other’s books and official records relating to matters covered by this Settlement Contract. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 CHANGE OF PLACE OF USE OR ORGANIZATION

2 20. (a) Unless the written consent of the United States is first obtained, no change 

3 shall be made in the place of water use shown in Exhibit B. 

4 CONSOLIDATION OF CONTRACTING ENTITIES

5 21. Consolidation of Contractors may be approved by the Contracting Officer 

6 provided: (i) the Contracting Officer approves the form and organization of the resulting entity 

7 and the utilization by it of the Contract Total; and (ii) the obligations of the Contractors are 

8 assumed by such entity. 

9 No such consolidation shall be valid unless and until approved by the Contracting 

10 Officer. 

11 NOTICES

12 22. Any notice, demand, or request authorized or required by this Settlement Contract 

13 shall be deemed to have been given, on behalf of the Contractor, when mailed, postage prepaid, 

14 or delivered to the Area Manager, Northern California Area Office, Bureau of Reclamation, 

15 16349 Shasta Dam Boulevard, Shasta Lake, California 96019, and on behalf of the United 

16 States, when mailed, postage prepaid, or delivered to the Board of Directors of the River Garden 

17 Farms Company, 41758 County Road 112, Knights Landing, California 95645. The designation 

18 of the addressee or the address may be changed by notice given in the same manner as provided 

19 in this Article for other notices. 

20 ASSIGNMENT LIMITED--SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OBLIGATED

21 23. (a) The provisions of this Settlement Contract shall apply to and bind the 

22 successors and assigns of the parties hereto, but no assignment or transfer of this Settlement 

23 Contract or any right or interest therein shall be valid until approved in writing by the 

24 Contracting Officer. 

25 (b) The assignment of any right or interest in this Settlement Contract by 

26 either party shall not interfere with the rights or obligations of the other party to this Settlement 

27 Contract absent the written concurrence of said other party. 

28 (c) The Contracting Officer shall not unreasonably condition or withhold the 

29 approval of any proposed assignment. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 OFFICIALS NOT TO BENEFIT

2 24. (a) No Member of or Delegate to Congress, Resident Commissioner, or 

3 official of the Contractor shall benefit from this Settlement Contract other than as a water user or 

4 landowner in the same manner as other water users or landowners. 

5 (b) No officer or member of the governing board of the Contractor shall 

6 receive any benefit that may arise by reason of this Settlement Contract other than as a 

7 landowner within the Contractor’s service area and in the same manner as other landowners 

8 within the said service area. 

9 CONTINGENT UPON APPROPRIATION OR ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS

10 25. The expenditure or advance of any money or the performance of any obligation of 

11 the United States under this Settlement Contract shall be contingent upon appropriation or 

12 allotment of funds. Absence of appropriation or allotment of funds shall not relieve the 

13 Contractor from any obligations under this Settlement Contract. No liability shall accrue to the 

14 United States in case funds are not appropriated or allotted. 

15 CONFIRMATION OF SETTLEMENT CONTRACT

16 26. The Contractor, after the execution of this Settlement Contract, shall promptly 

17 seek to secure a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction of the State of California, if 

18 appropriate, confirming the execution of this Settlement Contract. The Contractor shall furnish 

19 the United States a certified copy of the final decree, the validation proceedings, and all pertinent 

20 supporting records of the court approving and confirming this Settlement Contract, and 

21 decreeing and adjudging it to be lawful, valid, and binding on the Contractor. This Settlement 

22 Contract shall not be binding on the United States until such final decree has been secured. 

23 UNAVOIDABLE GROUNDWATER PERCOLATION

24 27. To the extent applicable, the Contractor shall not be deemed to have delivered 

25 Project Water to Excess Lands or Ineligible Lands if such lands are irrigated with groundwater 

26 that reaches the underground strata as an unavoidable result of the delivery of Project Water by 

27 the Contractor to Eligible Lands. 

28 PRIVACY ACT COMPLIANCE

29 28. (a) The Contractor shall comply with the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. 552a) 

30 (the Act) and the Department of the Interior rules and regulations under the Act (43 CFR 2.45 et 

31 seq.) in maintaining Landholder acreage certification and reporting records, required to be 

32 submitted to the Contractor for compliance with Sections 206 and 228 of the Reclamation 

33 Reform Act of 1982 (96 Stat. 1266), and pursuant to 43 CFR 426.18. 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

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1 (b) With respect to the application and administration of the criminal penalty 

2 provisions of the Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(i)), the Contractor and the Contractor's employees 

3 responsible for maintaining the certification and reporting records referenced in (a) above are 

4 considered to be employees of the Department of the Interior. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(m). 

5 (c) The Contracting Officer or a designated representative shall provide the 

6 Contractor with current copies of the Interior Department Privacy Act regulations and the Bureau 

7 of Reclamation Federal Register Privacy Act System of Records Notice (Acreage Limitation--

8 Interior, Reclamation-31) which govern the maintenance, safeguarding, and disclosure of 

9 information contained in the Landholder's certification and reporting records. 

10 (d) The Contracting Officer shall designate a full-time employee of the 

11 Bureau of Reclamation to be the System Manager who shall be responsible for making decisions 

12 on denials pursuant to 43 CFR 2.61 and 2.64 amendment requests pursuant to 43 CFR 2.72. The 

13 Contractor is authorized to grant requests by individuals for access to their own records. 

14 (e) The Contractor shall forward promptly to the System Manager each 

15 proposed denial of access under 43 CFR 2.64; and each request for amendment of records filed 

16 under 43 CFR 2.71; notify the requester accordingly of such referral; and provide the System 

17 Manager with information and records necessary to prepare an appropriate response to the 

18 requester. These requirements do not apply to individuals seeking access to their own 

19 certification and reporting forms filed with the Contractor pursuant to 43 CFR 426.18, unless the 

20 requester elects to cite the Privacy Act as a basis for the request. 

21 WATER CONSERVATION

22 29. (a) Prior to the diversion of Project Water, the Contractor shall be 

23 implementing an effective water conservation and efficiency program based on the Basin-Wide 

24 Water Management Plan and/or Contractor's water conservation plan that has been determined 

25 by the Contracting Officer to meet the conservation and efficiency criteria for evaluating water 

26 conservation plans established under Federal law. The water conservation and efficiency 

27 program shall contain definite water conservation objectives, appropriate economically feasible 

28 water conservation measures, and time schedules for meeting those objectives. Continued 

29 diversion of Project Water pursuant to this Settlement Contract shall be contingent upon the 

30 Contractor’s continued implementation of such water conservation program. In the event the 

31 Contractor's water conservation plan or any revised water conservation plan completed pursuant 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

31

1 to subdivision (c) of Article 29 of this Settlement Contract have not yet been determined by the 

2 Contracting Officer to meet such criteria, due to circumstances which the Contracting Officer 

3 determines are beyond the control of the Contractor, Project Water deliveries shall be made 

4 under this Settlement Contract so long as the Contractor diligently works with the Contracting 

5 Officer to obtain such determination at the earliest practicable date, and thereafter the Contractor 

6 immediately begins implementing its water conservation and efficiency program in accordance 

7 with the time schedules therein. 

8 (b) The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer a report on the 

9 status of its implementation of the water conservation plan on the reporting dates specified in the 

10 then existing conservation and efficiency criteria established under Federal law. 

11 (c) At 5-year intervals, the Contractor shall revise its water conservation plan 

12 to reflect the then current conservation and efficiency criteria for evaluating water conservation 

13 plans established under Federal law and submit such revised water management plan to the 

14 Contracting Officer for review and evaluation. The Contracting Officer will then determine if 

15 the water conservation plan meets Reclamation’s then current conservation and efficiency 

16 criteria for evaluating water conservation plans established under Federal law. 

17 (d) If the Contractor is engaged in direct ground-water recharge, such activity 

18 shall be described in the Contractor’s water conservation plan. 

19 (e) In order to provide incentives for water conservation, the Contractor may 

20 reduce the amount of Project Water for which payment is required under Article 8(a) in 

21 accordance with the provisions of this Article 29(e). 

22 (1) On or before February 15 of any Water Year, the Contractor may 

23 file with Reclamation an offer to reduce Project Water use, hereinafter referred to as Offer. The 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

32

1 Offer shall specify the maximum quantity of Project Water to be diverted by the Contractor for 

2 each month that Project Water is available for that Water Year under this Settlement Contract. 

3 The Contracting Officer shall provide the Contractor with a decision, in writing, to the Offer on 

4 or before March 15 of that Water Year. The dates specified in this Article 29(e)(1) can be 

5 changed if mutually agreed to, in writing, by the Contractor and Contracting Officer. 

6 (2) If Reclamation accepts the Offer, the Contractor’s payment 

7 obligation under Article 8(a)(1) shall be reduced to the maximum quantity of Project Water to be 

8 diverted by the Contractor as specified in the Offer. The Contractor shall not divert Project 

9 Water in excess of the quantities set forth in the Offer: Provided, however, if the Contractor’s 

10 diversions of Project Water exceed the quantities set forth in the Offer, the Contractor shall pay 

11 to Reclamation the applicable Rates and Charges plus an amount equal to the applicable Rates 

12 and Charges, unadjusted for ability to pay, for each acre-foot of Project Water diverted in excess 

13 of the quantities set forth in the Offer. 

14 (3) If Reclamation decides not to accept the Offer, the Contractor’s 

15 payment obligation will remain as specified in Article 8(a)(1). 

16 (4) The provisions of this Article 29(e) shall be in addition to and shall 

17 not affect the provisions of Article 3(e) pertaining to the sale, transfer, exchange, or other 

18 disposal of the Contract Total designated in Exhibit A. 

19 OPINIONS AND DETERMINATIONS

20 30. (a) Where the terms of this Settlement Contract provide for actions to be 

21 based upon the opinion or determination of either party to this Settlement Contract, said terms 

22 shall not be construed as permitting such action to be predicated upon arbitrary, capricious, or 

23 unreasonable opinions or determinations. Both parties, notwithstanding any other provisions of 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

33

1 this Settlement Contract, expressly reserve the right to seek relief from and appropriate 

2 adjustment for any such arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable opinion or determination. Each 

3 opinion or determination by either party shall be provided in a timely manner. Nothing in 

4 subdivision (a) of Article 30 of this Settlement Contract is intended to or shall affect or alter the 

5 standard of judicial review applicable under Federal law to any opinion or determination 

6 implementing a specific provision of Federal law embodied in statute or regulation. 

7 (b) The Contracting Officer shall have the right to make determinations 

8 necessary to administer this Settlement Contract that are consistent with the provisions of this 

9 Settlement Contract, the laws of the United States and of the State of California, and the rules 

10 and regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior. Such determinations shall be made 

11 in consultation with the Contractor to the extent reasonably practicable. 

12 CONTRACTOR TO PAY CERTAIN MISCELLANEOUS COSTS

13 31. (a) In addition to all other payments to be made by the Contractor pursuant to 

14 this Settlement Contract, the Contractor shall pay to the United States, within 60 days after 

15 receipt of a bill and detailed statement submitted by the Contracting Officer to the Contractor for 

16 such specific items of direct cost incurred by the United States for work requested by the 

17 Contractor associated with this Settlement Contract plus indirect costs in accordance with 

18 applicable Bureau of Reclamation policies and procedures. All such amounts referred to in this 

19 Article shall not exceed the amount agreed to in writing in advance by the Contractor. This 

20 Article shall not apply to costs for routine contract administration. 

21 (b) All advances for miscellaneous costs incurred for work requested by the 

22 Contractor pursuant to Article 31 of this Settlement Contract shall be adjusted to reflect the 

23 actual costs when the work has been completed. If the advances exceed the actual costs incurred, 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

34

1 the difference will be refunded to the Contractor. If the actual costs exceed the Contractor's 

2 advances, the Contractor will be billed for the additional costs pursuant to Article 31 of this 

3 Settlement Contract. 

4 WAIVER OF DEFAULT

5 32. The waiver by either party to this Settlement Contract as to any default shall not 

6 be construed as a waiver of any other default or as authority of the other party to continue such 

7 default or to make, do, or perform, or not to make, do, or perform, as the case may be, any act or 

8 thing which would constitute a default. 

9 CONTRACT ASSIGNMENT OR TERMINATION UPON TRANSFER OF LAND

10 33. (a) The rights and obligations of the Contractor may be transferred in 

11 connection with the transfer of title to the land or any portion thereof delineated on Exhibit B on 

12 the following terms and conditions: 

13 (1) A voluntary inter vivos transfer may be made, upon mutual 

14 agreement of the United States and the Contractor, to a person eligible to hold title to the land as 

15 a nonexcess landowner: 

16 (2) A voluntary inter vivos transfer may be made to a person ineligible 

17 to hold title to the land as a nonexcess landowner provided that no Project Water may thereafter 

18 be used on Excess Lands and the assignee shall not be privileged to obtain such use of Project 

19 Water on Excess Lands. 

20 (3) In the event the title of the Contractor to such land, or any portion 

21 thereof, is transferred by operation of law, such as by conveyance in satisfaction of a mortgage, 

22 by inheritance, or by devise, the rights and obligations of the Contractor shall pass with the title 

23 and the land shall be subject to provisions of Reclamation law pertaining to such transfers. Any 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

35

1 transfer of the rights and obligations of this Settlement Contract by the person acquiring title by 

2 operation of law shall be in accordance with provisions of subsection (1) or (2) above. 

3 (b) The Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer in writing of any 

4 proposed transfer of this Settlement Contract. In addition, in the case of a partial assignment the 

5 Contractor shall: 

6 (1) Designate the proportionate quantities of Base Supply and Project 

7 Water which it desires to assign; 

8 (2) Furnish the United States with a copy of the deed transferring title. 

9 (c) No transfer of this Settlement Contract shall be effective unless and until 

10 approved by the Contracting Officer, and, if approved, shall be effective from the date of such 

11 approval. 

12 (d) Upon mutual agreement between the United States and the Contractor, this 

13 Settlement Contract or a portion thereof may be terminated and the new landowner will have the 

14 privilege of entering into a Settlement Contract for water service for a proportionate share of the 

15 Contract Total supply provided he is duly qualified to receive water for such land. 

16 TERMINATION

17 34. This Settlement Contract will terminate upon mutual agreement of the parties 

18 prior to the end of the term or any renewal thereof.
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

36

1 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Settlement Contract as 

2 of the day and year first hereinabove written. 

3 THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

4 By: ___________________________________ 

5 Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region 

6 Bureau of Reclamation 

7 (SEAL) 

8 RIVER GARDEN FARMS COMPANY 

9 By: ___________________________________ 

10 President 

11 ATTEST: 

________________________________ 

12 Secretary 

13 (I:\Sac River Drafts\04-29-03 River Garden Farms Co. Final Draft Contract with exhibits.doc)
Exhibit A 

River Garden Farms Company 

Sacramento River 

SCHEDULE OF MONTHLY DIVERSIONS OF WATER

 Base Supply Project Water Contract Total

 (acre-feet) (acre-feet) (acre-feet) 

 April 4,300 0 4,300

 May 6,500 0 6,500

 June 5,800 0 5,800

 July 5,500 300 5,800

 August 4,500 200 4,700

 September 2,200 0 2,200

 October 500 0 500

 

 Total 29,300 500 29,800

 

 Points of Diversion: 34.5R, 41.0R, 43.1R

 Dated:
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

Exhibit B 

(Map to be inserted to identify area covered by contract) 

River Garden Farms Company 

Sacramento River 
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

Exhibit C 

River Garden Farms Company 

Sacramento River 

UNIT DUTY

(In Acre-Feet Per Acre) 

 Alfalfa and General 

 Rice Irrigated Pasture Crops

 June 1.80 0.80 0.60 

 July 1.90 1.00 0.70 

 August 1.80 0.80 0.70 

 September 0.50 0.60 0.40 

 

 

 Dated:
Contract No. 14-06-200-878A-R-1 

Exhibit D 

River Garden Farms Company 

Sacramento River 

WATER RATES AND CHARGES 

Note: Rates and Charges shown are 2003 rates. This exhibit will be updated prior to execution 

of the contract to reflect the Rates and Charges for 2004. 

 

COST OF SERVICE RATES: Per Acre-Foot

Capital Rates 

 Storage $4.14 

O&M Rates: 

 Water Marketing $6.28 

 Storage $5.57 

Deficit Rates: 

 Interest Bearing $1.36 

CFO/PFR Adjustment Rate 1/ $1.15

 

 TOTAL $18.51

FULL-COST RATES: 

Section 202(3) Rate is applicable to a 

 Qualified Recipient or to a Limited 

 Recipient receiving irrigation water 

 on or before October 1, 1981. $23.97

Section 205(a)(3) Rate is 

 applicable to a Limited Recipient that 

 did not receive irrigation water on or 

 before October 1, 1981. $26.52

CHARGES UNDER P.L. 102-575 TO THE 

RESTORATION FUND 2/ 

 Restoration Payments (3407(d)(2)(A)) $7.69

1/ Chief Financial Officer (CFO) adjustment and Provision for Replacement (PFR) expense is being 

distributed over a 5-year period beginning in FY 2003 for those contractors that requested those costs be 

deferred. 

2/ Restoration fund charges are payments in addition to the water rates and were determined pursuant to 

Title XXXIV of Public Law 102-575. Restoration fund charges are on a fiscal year basis (10/1 - 9/30).