Irrigation and Other

Contract No.

1-07-20-W0242-LTR1

UNITED STATES

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

Central Valley Project, California

LONG-TERM RENEWAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES

GRAVELLY FORD WATER DISTRICT

PROVIDING FOR PROJECT WATER SERVICE

FROM FRIANT DIVISION

Table of Contents

Article No. Title Page No.

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

Explanatory Recitals .........................................................................................1-5

1 Definitions ......................................................................................................5-10

2 Term of Contract ..........................................................................................10-13

3 Water to be Made Available and Delivered to the Contractor .....................13-19

4 Time for Delivery of Water ..........................................................................19-22

5 Point of Diversion and Responsibility for Distribution of Water .................22-24

6 Measurement of Water Within the Service Area .........................................24-25

7 Rates and Method of Payment for Water .....................................................25-32

8 Non-Interest Bearing Operation and Maintenance Deficits ..............................32

9 Sales, Transfers, or Exchanges of Water ......................................................32-34

10 Application of Payments and Adjustments .......................................................34

11 Temporary Reductions--Return Flows .........................................................35-36

12 Constraints on the Availability of Water ......................................................36-38

13 Unavoidable Groundwater Percolation ..............................................................38

14 Rules and Regulations .......................................................................................39

15 Water and Air Pollution Control ........................................................................40

16 Quality of Water ...............................................................................................40

17 Water Acquired by the Contractor Other Than From the United States ......41-43

18 Opinions and Determinations ........................................................................43-44

19 Coordination and Cooperation .....................................................................44-45

20 Charges for Delinquent Payments ................................................................45-46

21 Equal Opportunity ........................................................................................46-47

22 General Obligation--Benefits Conditioned Upon Payment ..........................47-48

23 Compliance With Civil Rights Laws and Regulations ......................................48
Article No. Title Page No.

24 Privacy Act Compliance ..............................................................................48-49

25 Contractor to Pay Certain Miscellaneous Costs ................................................49

26 Water Conservation ......................................................................................49-51

27 Existing or Acquired Water or Water Rights .....................................................51

28 Operation and Maintenance by Non-Federal Entity .....................................51-53

29 Contingent on Appropriation or Allotment of Funds .........................................53

30 Books, Records, and Reports.........................................................................53-54

31 Assignment Limited--Successors and Assigns Obligated .................................54

32 Severability ...................................................................................................54-55

33 Resolution of Disputes ........................................................................................55

34 Officials Not to Benefit ......................................................................................55

35 Changes in Contractor's Service Area ...............................................................56

36 Federal Laws......................................................................................................56

37 Notices...............................................................................................................57

38 Confirmation of Contract..................................................................................57

Signature Page

Exhibit A

Exhibit B
Contract No. 1-07-20-W0242-LTR1

1 UNITED STATES

2 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

3 BUREAU OF RECLAMATION

4 Central Valley Project, California

5 LONG-TERM RENEWAL CONTRACT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES

6 AND

7 GRAVELLY FORD WATER DISTRICT

8 PROVIDING FOR PROJECT WATER SERVICE

9 FROM FRIANT DIVISION

THIS CONTRACT, made this 20th 10 day of January , 2001, in pursuance generally

11 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), and acts amendatory or supplementary thereto, including, but

12 not limited to, the Acts of August 26, 1937 (50 Stat. 844), as amended and supplemented, August 4, 1939

13 (53 Stat. 1187), as amended and supplemented, July 2, 1956 (70 Stat. 483), June 21, 1963 (77 Stat. 68),

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

15 the Act of October 30, 1992 (106 Stat. 4706), all collectively hereinafter referred to as Federal

16 Reclamation law, between THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, hereinafter referred to as the United

17 States, and GRAVELLY FORD WATER DISTRICT, hereinafter referred to as the Contractor, a public

18 agency of the State of California, duly organized, existing, and acting pursuant to the laws thereof, with its

19 principal place of business in California;

20 WITNESSETH, That:

21 EXPLANATORY RECITALS

[1st 22 ] WHEREAS, the United States has constructed and is operating the Central Valley Project,

23 California, for diversion, storage, carriage, distribution and beneficial use, for flood control, irrigation,
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24 municipal, domestic, industrial, fish and wildlife mitigation, protection and restoration, generation and

25 distribution of electric energy, salinity control, navigation and other beneficial uses, of waters of the

26 Sacramento River, the American River, the Trinity River, and the San Joaquin River and their tributaries; and

[2nd 27 ] WHEREAS, the United States constructed Friant Dam (thereby creating Millerton Lake)

28 and the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals, hereinafter collectively referred to as the Friant Division facilities,

29 which will be used in part for the furnishing of water to the Contractor pursuant to the terms of this Contract;

30 and

[3rd 31 ] WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8 of the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat. 388), the United

32 States has acquired water rights and other rights to the flows of the San Joaquin River, including without

33 limitation the permits issued as the result of Decision 935 by the California State Water Resource Control

34 Board and the contracts described in subdivision (n) of Article 3 of this Contract, pursuant to which the

35 Contracting Officer develops, diverts, stores and delivers Project Water stored or flowing through Millerton

36 Lake in accordance with State and Federal law for the benefit of Project Contractors in the Friant Division;

37 and

38 [3.1] WHEREAS, the water supplied to the Contractor pursuant to this Contract is Project Water

39 developed through the exercise of the rights described in the third (3rd) Explanatory Recital of this Contract;

40 and

[4th 41 ] WHEREAS, the Contractor and the United States entered into Contract 

42 No. 1-07-20-W0242, as amended, which established terms for the delivery to the Contractor of Project

43 Water from the Friant Division from July 26, 1981, to February 28, 1995; and
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[5th 44 ] WHEREAS, the Contractor and the United States have pursuant to subsection 3404(c)(1)

45 of the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (CVPIA), subsequently entered into interim renewal

46 contract(s) identified as Contract No(s). 1-07-20-W0242-IR1, IR2, IR3, and IR4, the current of which is

47 hereinafter referred to as the Existing Contract, which provided for the continued water service to the

48 Contractor from December 1, 2000, through February 28, 2001; and

[6th 49 ] WHEREAS, Section 3404(c) of the CVPIA provides for long-term renewal of interim and

50 existing long-term Project Water service contracts following completion of appropriate environmental

51 documentation, including a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) pursuant to the National

52 Environmental Policy Act analyzing the direct and indirect impacts and benefits of implementing the CVPIA

53 and the potential renewal of all existing contracts for Project Water; and

[7th 54 ] WHEREAS, the United States has completed the PEIS and all other appropriate

55 environmental review necessary to provide for long-term renewal of the Existing Contract; and

[8th 56 ] WHEREAS, the Contractor has requested the long-term renewal of the Existing Contract,

57 pursuant to the terms of the Existing Contract, Federal Reclamation law, and the laws of the State of

58 California, for water service from the Central Valley Project; and

[9th 59 ] WHEREAS, the United States has determined that the Contractor has fulfilled all of its

60 obligations under the Existing Contract; and

[10th 61 ] WHEREAS, the Contractor has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Contracting Officer

62 that the Contractor has utilized the Project Water supplies available to it for reasonable and beneficial use

63 and/or has demonstrated projected future demand for water use such that the Contractor has the capability
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64 and expects to utilize fully for reasonable and beneficial use the quantity of Project Water to be made

65 available to it pursuant to this Contract; and

[11th 66 ] WHEREAS, water obtained from the Central Valley Project has been relied upon by urban

67 and agricultural areas within California for more than fifty (50) years, and is considered by the Contractor as

68 an essential portion of its water supply; and

[12th 69 ] WHEREAS, the economies of regions within the Central Valley Project, including the

70 Contractor’s, depend upon the continued availability of water, including water service from the Central

71 Valley Project; and

[13th 72 ] WHEREAS, the Secretary intends through coordination, cooperation, and partnerships to

73 pursue measures to improve water supply, water quality, and reliability of the Project for all Project

74 purposes; and

[14th 75 ] WHEREAS, the mutual goals of the United States and the Contractor include: to provide

76 for reliable Project Water supplies; to control costs of those supplies; to achieve repayment of the Central

77 Valley Project as required by law; to guard reasonably against Project Water shortages; to achieve a

78 reasonable balance among competing demands for use of Project Water; and to comply with all applicable

79 environmental statutes, all consistent with the legal obligations of the United States relative to the Central

80 Valley Project; and

[15th 81 ] Omitted; 

82 [15.1] WHEREAS, during Uncontrolled Seasons, Friant Division Project Contractors utilize

83 undependable Class 2 Water in their service areas to, among other things, assist in the management and
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84 alleviation of groundwater overdraft in the Friant Division service area, provide opportunities for

85 environmental enhancement, including restoration of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam, minimize

86 flooding along the San Joaquin River, encourage optimal water management, and maximize the reasonable

87 and beneficial use of the water; and

88 [15.2] WHEREAS, the parties desire and intend that this Contract not provide a disincentive to

89 the Friant Division Project Contractors continuing to carry out the beneficial activities set out in the

90 Explanatory Recital immediately above; and

[16th 91 ] WHEREAS, the United States and the Contractor are willing to enter into this Contract

92 pursuant to Federal Reclamation law on the terms and conditions set forth below;

93 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual and dependent covenants herein contained, it

94 is hereby mutually agreed by the parties hereto as follows:

95 DEFINITIONS

96 1. When used herein unless otherwise distinctly expressed, or manifestly incompatible with the

97 intent of the parties as expressed in this Contract, the term:

98 (a) “Calendar Year” shall mean the period January 1 through December 31, both dates

99 inclusive;

100 (b) “Charges” shall mean the payments required by Federal Reclamation law in addition

101 to the Rates and Tiered Pricing Components specified in this Contract as determined annually by the

102 Contracting Officer pursuant to this Contract;

103 (b2) "Class 1 Water" shall mean that supply of water stored in or flowing through
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104 Millerton Lake which, subject to the contingencies hereinafter described in Articles 3, 11, and 12 of 

105 this Contract, will be available for delivery from Millerton Lake and the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals as

106 a dependable water supply during each Year;

107 (b3) "Class 2 Water" shall mean that supply of water which can be made available

108 subject to the contingencies hereinafter described in Articles 3, 11, and 12 of this Contract for delivery from

109 Millerton Lake and the Friant-Kern and Madera Canals in addition to the supply of Class 1 Water. 

110 Because of its uncertainty as to availability and time of occurrence, such water will be undependable in

111 character and will be furnished only if, as, and when it can be made available as determined by the

112 Contracting Officer;

113 (c) “Condition of Shortage” shall mean a condition respecting the Project during any

114 Year such that the Contracting Officer is unable to deliver sufficient water to meet the Contract Total;

115 (d) “Contracting Officer” shall mean the Secretary of the Interior’s duly authorized

116 representative acting pursuant to this Contract or applicable Reclamation law or regulation;

117 (e) “Contract Total” shall mean the maximum amount of Class 1 Water, plus the

118 maximum amount of Class 2 Water to which the Contractor is entitled under subdivision (a) of Article 3 of

119 this Contract;

120 (f) “Contractor's Service Area" shall mean the area to which the Contractor is

121 permitted to provide Project Water under this Contract as described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto, which

122 may be modified from time to time in accordance with Article 35 of this Contract without amendment of this
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123 Contract;

124 (g) “CVPIA” shall mean the Central Valley Project Improvement Act, Title XXXIV of

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

126 (h) “Eligible Lands” shall mean all lands to which Irrigation Water may be delivered in

127 accordance with Section 204 of the Reclamation Reform Act of October 12, 1982 

128 (96 Stat. 1263), as amended, hereinafter referred to as RRA;

129 (i) “Excess Lands” shall mean all lands in excess of the limitations contained in Section

130 204 of the RRA, other than those lands exempt from acreage limitation under Federal Reclamation law;

131 (j) “Full Cost Rate” shall mean that water rate described in Sections 205(a)(3) or

132 202(3) of the RRA, whichever is applicable;

133 (k) “Ineligible Lands” shall mean all lands to which Irrigation Water may not be

134 delivered in accordance with Section 204 of the RRA;

135 (l) “Irrigation Full Cost Water Rate” shall have the same meaning as “full cost” as that

136 term is used in paragraph (3) of Section 202 of the RRA;

137 (m) “Irrigation Water” shall mean water made available from the Project that is used

138 primarily in the production of agricultural crops or livestock, including domestic use incidental thereto, and

139 watering of livestock. Irrigation Water shall not include water used for purposes such as the watering of

140 landscaping or pasture for animals (e.g., horses) which are kept for personal enjoyment or water delivered

141 to landholdings operated in units of less than five (5) acres unless the Contractor establishes to the
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142 satisfaction of the Contracting Officer that the use of water delivered to any such landholding is a use

143 described in this subdivision of this Article;

144 (n) “Landholder” shall mean a party that directly or indirectly owns or leases nonexempt

145 land, as provided in 43 CFR 426.2;

146 (n2) “Long Term Historic Average” shall mean the average of the final forecast of Water

Made Available to the Contractor pursuant to this Contract and the contracts referenced in the fourth (4th 147 )

and fifth (5th 148 ) Explanatory Recitals of this Contract;

149 (o) Omitted;

150 (p) “Municipal and Industrial (M&I) Full Cost Water Rate” shall mean the annual rate,

151 which, as determined by the Contracting Officer, shall amortize the expenditures for construction allocable to

152 Project M&I facilities in service, including, O&M deficits funded, less payments, over such periods as may

153 be required under Federal Reclamation law with interest accruing from the dates such costs were first

154 incurred plus the applicable rate for the O&M of such Project facilities. Interest rates used in the calculation

155 of the M&I Full Cost Rate shall comply with the Interest Rate methodology contained in Section 202 (3)

156 (B) and (C) of the RRA;

157 (q) “Operation and Maintenance” or “O&M" shall mean normal and reasonable care,

158 control, operation, repair, replacement (other than Capital replacement), and maintenance of Project

159 facilities;

160 (r) “Operating Non-Federal Entity" shall mean the Friant Water Users Authority, 

161 a Non-Federal entity which has the obligation to operate and maintain all or a portion of the Friant Division
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162 facilities pursuant to an agreement with the United States, and which may have funding obligations with

163 respect thereto;

164 (r2) "Other Water" shall mean water from the Project other than Irrigation Water as

165 described in subdivision (l) of this Article, which is used for a purpose that is considered to be an irrigation

166 use pursuant to State law such as the watering of landscaping or pasture for animals (e.g., horse) which are

167 kept for the personal enjoyment. For purposes of this Contract, Other Water shall be paid for at Rates and

168 Charges identical to those established for municipal and industrial water pursuant to the then current

169 Municipal and Industrial (M&I) Ratesetting Policy;

170 (s) “Project” shall mean the Central Valley Project owned by the United States and

171 managed by the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation;

172 (t) “Project Contractors” shall mean all parties who have water service contracts for

173 Project Water from the Project with the United States pursuant to Federal Reclamation law;

174 (u) “Project Water” shall mean all water that is developed, diverted, stored, or

175 delivered by the Secretary in accordance with the statutes authorizing the Project and in accordance with the

176 terms and conditions of water rights acquired pursuant to California law;

177 (v) “Rates” shall mean the payments determined annually by the Contracting Officer in

178 accordance with the then current applicable water ratesetting policies for the Project, as described in

179 subdivision (a) of Article 7 of this Contract;

180 (w) Omitted;
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181 (x) “Secretary” shall mean the Secretary of the Interior, a duly appointed successor, or

182 an authorized representative acting pursuant to any authority of the Secretary and through any agency of the

183 Department of the Interior;
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184 (y) “Tiered Pricing Component” shall be the incremental amount to be paid for each

185 acre-foot of Water Delivered as described in subdivision (j) of Article 7 of this Contract; 

186 (z) “Water Delivered” or “Delivered Water” shall mean Project Water diverted for use

187 by the Contractor at the point(s) of delivery approved by the Contracting Officer;

188 (aa) “Water Made Available” shall mean the estimated amount of Project Water that can

189 be delivered to the Contractor for the upcoming Year as declared by the Contracting Officer, pursuant to

190 subdivision (a) of Article 4 of this Contract;

191 (bb) “Water Scheduled” shall mean Project Water made available to the Contractor for

192 which times and quantities for delivery have been established by the Contractor and Contracting Officer,

193 pursuant to subdivision (b) of Article 4 of this Contract; and

194 (cc) "Year" shall mean the period from and including March 1 of each Calendar Year

195 through the last day of February of the following Calendar Year.

196 TERM OF CONTRACT 

197 2. (a) This Contract shall be effective March 1, 2001, through February 28, 2026. In the

198 event the Contractor wishes to renew the Contract beyond February 28, 2026, the Contractor shall submit

199 a request for renewal in writing to the Contracting Officer no later than two (2) years prior to the date this

200 Contract expires. The renewal of this Contract insofar as it pertains to the furnishing of Irrigation Water to

201 the Contractor shall be governed by subdivision (b) of this Article.

202 (b) (1) Under terms and conditions of a renewal contract that are mutually

203 agreeable to the parties hereto, and upon a determination by the Contracting Officer that at the time of
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204 contract renewal the conditions set forth in subdivision (b)(2) of this Article are met, and subject to Federal

205 and State law, this Contract, insofar as it pertains to the furnishing of Irrigation Water to the Contractor, shall

206 be renewed for a period of twenty-five (25) years.

207 (2) The conditions which must be met for this Contract to be renewed are: (i)

208 the Contractor has prepared a water conservation plan that has been determined by the Contracting Officer

209 in accordance with Article 26 of this Contract to meet the conservation and efficiency criteria for evaluating

210 such plans established under Federal law; (ii) the Contractor is implementing an effective water conservation

211 and efficiency program based on the Contractor’s water conservation plan as required by Article 26 of this

212 Contract; (iii) the Contractor is operating and maintaining all water measuring devices and implementing all

213 water measurement methods as approved by the Contracting Officer pursuant to Article 6 of this Contract;

214 (iv) the Contractor has reasonably and beneficially used the Project Water supplies made available to it and,

215 based on projected demands, is reasonably anticipated and expects fully to utilize for reasonable and

216 beneficial use the quantity of Project Water to be made available to it pursuant to such renewal; (v) the

217 Contractor is complying with all terms and conditions of this Contract and all legal obligations of the

218 Contractor, if any, set forth in an enforceable court order, final judgment and/or settlement relating to

219 restoration of the San Joaquin River; and (vi) the Contractor has the physical and legal ability to deliver

220 Project Water.

221 (3) The terms and conditions of the renewal contract described in subdivision

222 (b)(1) of this Article and any subsequent renewal contracts shall be developed consistent with the parties’

223 respective legal rights and obligations, and in consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, as those
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224 circumstances exist at the time of renewal, including, without limitation, the Contractor’s need for continued

225 delivery of Project Water; environmental conditions affected by implementation of the Contract to be

226 renewed, and specifically changes in those conditions that occurred during the life of the Contract to be

227 renewed; the Secretary’s progress toward achieving the 

228 purposes of the CVPIA as set out in Section 3402 and in implementing the specific provisions of the

229 CVPIA; and current and anticipated economic circumstances of the region served by the Contractor.

230 (c) This Contract, insofar as it pertains to the furnishing of Other Water to the

231 Contractor, shall be renewed for a period of twenty-five (25) years and thereafter shall be renewed for

232 successive periods of up to forty (40) years each, which periods shall be consistent with the then-existing

233 Reclamation-wide policy, under terms and conditions mutually agreeable to the parties and consistent with

234 Federal and State law. The present Reclamation-wide policy, dated March 20, 2000, provides that the

235 term of such contracts shall be no more than twenty-five (25) years each, subject to a variance to allow a

236 longer term in appropriate circumstances. The Contractor shall be afforded the opportunity to comment to

237 the Contracting Officer on the proposed adoption and application of any revised Reclamation-wide policy

238 applicable to the delivery of Project Other Water that would affect the term of any subsequent renewal

239 contract with the Contractor for the furnishing of Other Water.

240 (d) The Contracting Officer anticipates that by December 31, 2024, all authorized

241 Project construction expected to occur will have occurred, and on that basis the Contracting Officer agrees

242 by that date to allocate all costs that are properly assignable to the Contractor, and agrees further that, at

243 any time after such allocation is made, and subject to satisfaction of the conditions set out in this subdivision
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244 of this Article, this Contract shall, at the request of the Contractor, be converted to a contract under

245 subsection (c)(1) and (d) of Section 9, of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, subject to applicable

246 Federal law and under stated terms and conditions mutually agreeable to the Contractor and the Contracting

247 Officer. A condition for such conversion to occur shall be a determination by the Contracting Officer that,

248 account being taken of the amount credited to return by the Contractor as provided for under Reclamation

249 law, the remaining amount of construction costs assignable for ultimate return by the Contractor can

250 probably be repaid to the United States within the term of a contract under said subsection 9(c)(1) and (d). 

251 If the remaining amount of costs that are properly assignable to the Contractor cannot be determined by

252 December 31, 2024, the Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor, and provide the reason(s) why such

253 a determination could not be made. Further, the Contracting Officer shall make such a determination as

254 soon thereafter as possible so as to permit, upon request of the Contractor and satisfaction of the conditions

255 set out above, conversion to a contract under said subsection 9(c)(1) and (d). In the event such

256 determination of costs has not been made at a time which allows conversion of this Contract during the term

257 of this Contract or the Contractor has not requested conversion of this Contract within such term, the parties

258 shall incorporate in any subsequent renewal contract as described in Articles 2(b) and (c) a provision that

259 carries forth in substantially identical terms the provisions of this Article 2(d). In the event the Contracting

260 Officer is able to make a determination of the remaining amount of costs that are properly assignable to the

261 Contractor before December 31, 2024, the Contracting Officer shall do so at the earliest time he/she has

262 such ability.

263 WATER TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AND DELIVERED TO THE Contractor
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264 3. (a) During each Year, consistent with all applicable State water rights, permits, and

265 licenses; Federal law; and subject to the provisions set forth in Articles 11 and 12 of this Contract, the

266 Contracting Officer shall make available for delivery to the Contractor 14,000 acre-feet of Class 2 Water

267 for irrigation purposes. The quantity of Water Delivered to the Contractor in accordance with this

268 subdivision shall be scheduled and paid for pursuant to the provisions of Articles 4 and 7 of this Contract.

269 (b) Omitted.

270 (c) The Contractor shall utilize the Project Water in accordance with all applicable legal

271 requirements.

272 (d) The Contractor shall make reasonable and beneficial use of all Project Water or

273 other water furnished pursuant to this Contract. Groundwater recharge programs, groundwater banking

274 programs, surface water storage programs, and other similar programs utilizing Project Water or other water

275 furnished pursuant to this Contract conducted within the Contractor’s Service Area which are consistent

276 with applicable State law and result in use consistent with Reclamation law will be allowed; Provided, That

277 any direct recharge program(s) is (are) described in the Contractor’s Water Conservation Plan submitted

278 pursuant to Article 26 of this Contract; Provided, further, That such Water Conservation Plan demonstrates

279 sufficient lawful uses exist in the Contractor’s Service Area so that using a long-term average, the quantity of

280 Delivered Water is demonstrated to be reasonable for such uses and in compliance with Reclamation law. 

281 Groundwater recharge programs, groundwater banking programs, surface water storage programs, and

282 other similar programs utilizing Project Water or other water furnished pursuant to this Contract conducted

283 outside the Contractor’s Service Area may be permitted upon written approval of the Contracting Officer,
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284 which approval will be based upon environmental documentation, Project Water rights, and Project

285 operational concerns. The Contracting Officer will address such concerns in regulations, policies, or

286 guidelines.

287 (e) The Contractor shall comply with requirements applicable to the Contractor in

288 biological opinion(s) prepared as a result of a consultation regarding the execution of this Contract

289 undertaken pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, that are within the

290 Contractor’s legal authority to implement. The Contractor shall comply with the limitations or requirements

291 imposed by environmental documentation applicable to the Contractor and within its legal authority to

292 implement regarding specific activities. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the Contractor from

293 challenging or seeking judicial relief in a court of competent jurisdiction with respect to any biological opinion

294 or other environmental documentation referred to in this Article.

295 (f) Subject to subdivisions (l) and (n) of Article 3 of this Contract, following the

296 declaration of Water Made Available under Article 4 of this Contract, the Contracting Officer will make a

297 determination whether Project Water, or other water available to the Project, can be made available to the

298 Contractor in addition to the Contract Total under Article 3 of this Contract during the Year without

299 adversely impacting other Project Contractors. At the request of the Contractor, the Contracting Officer

300 will consult with the Contractor prior to making such a determination. Subject to subdivisions (l) and (n) of

301 Article 3 of this Contract, if the Contracting Officer determines that Project Water, or other water available

302 to the Project, can be made available to the Contractor, the Contracting Officer will announce the availability

303 of such water and shall so notify the Contractor as soon as practical. The Contracting Officer will thereafter
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304 meet with the Contractor and other Project Contractors capable of taking such water to determine the most

305 equitable and efficient allocation of such water. If the Contractor requests the delivery of any quantity of

306 such water, the Contracting Officer shall make such water available to the Contractor in accordance with

307 applicable statutes, regulations, guidelines, and policies.

308 (g) The Contractor may request permission to reschedule for use during the subsequent

309 Year some or all of the Water Made Available to the Contractor during the current Year referred to as

310 “carryover.” The Contractor may request permission to use during the current Year a quantity of Project

311 Water which may be made available by the United States to the Contractor during the subsequent Year

312 referred to as “preuse.” The Contracting Officer’s written approval may permit such uses in accordance

313 with applicable statutes, regulations, guidelines, and policies.

314 (h) The Contractor’s right pursuant to Federal Reclamation law and applicable State

315 law to the reasonable and beneficial use of Water Delivered pursuant to this Contract during the term thereof

316 and any subsequent renewal contracts, as described in Article 2 of this Contract, during the terms thereof

317 shall not be disturbed so long as the Contractor shall fulfill all of its obligations under this Contract and any

318 renewals thereof. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall affect the Contracting Officer’s ability to impose

319 shortages under Article 11 or subdivision (b) of Article 12 of this Contract or applicable provisions of any

320 subsequent renewal contracts.

321 (i) Project Water furnished to the Contractor pursuant to this Contract may be

322 delivered for purposes other than those described in subdivisions (m) and (r2) of Article 1 of this Contract

323 upon written approval by the Contracting Officer in accordance with the terms and conditions of such
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324 approval.

325 (j) The Contracting Officer shall make reasonable efforts to protect the water rights and

326 other rights described in the third (3rd) Explanatory Recital of this Contract and to provide the water

327 available under this Contract. The Contracting Officer shall not object to participation by the Contractor, in

328 the capacity and to the extent permitted by law, in administrative proceedings related to the water rights and

329 other rights described in the third (3rd) Explanatory Recital of this Contract; Provided, however, That the

330 Contracting Officer retains the right to object to the substance of the Contractor’s position in such a

331 proceeding.

332 (k) Project Water furnished to the Contractor during any month designated in a

333 schedule or revised schedule submitted by the Contractor and approved by the Contracting Officer shall be

334 deemed to have been accepted by the Contractor as Class 1 Water to the extent that Class 1 Water is

335 called for in such schedule for such month and shall be deemed to have been accepted as Class 2 Water to

336 the extent Class 2 Water is called for in such schedule for such month. If in any month the Contractor

337 diverts a quantity of water in addition to the total amount of Class 1 Water and Class 2 Water set forth in

338 the Contractor's approved schedule or revised schedule for such month, such additional diversions shall be

339 charged first against the Contractor's remaining Class 2 Water supply available in the current Year. To the

340 extent the Contractor's remaining Class 2 Water supply available in the current Year is not sufficient to

341 account for such additional diversions, such additional diversions shall be charged against the Contractor's

342 remaining Class 1 Water supply available in the current Year. To the extent the Contractor's remaining

343 Class 1 Water and Class 2 Water supplies available in the current Year are not sufficient to account for such
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344 additional diversions, such additional diversions shall be charged first against the Contractor's available

345 Class 2 Water supply and then against the Contractor's available Class 1 Water supply, both for the

346 following 

347 Year. Payment for all additional diversions of water shall be made in accordance with Article 7 of this

348 Contract.

349 (l) If the Contracting Officer determines there is a Project Water supply available at

350 Friant Dam as the result of an unusually large water supply not otherwise storable for Project purposes or

351 infrequent and otherwise unmanaged flood flows of short duration, such water will be made available to the

352 Contractor and others under Section 215 of the RRA pursuant to the priorities specified below if the

353 Contractor enters into a temporary contract with the United States not to exceed one (1) year for the

354 delivery of such water or, as otherwise provided for in Federal Reclamation law and associated regulations. 

355 Such water may be identified by the Contractor either (i) as additional water to supplement the supply of

356 Class 1 Water and/or Class 2 Water made available to it pursuant to this Contract or, (ii) upon written

357 notification to the Contracting Officer, as water to be credited against the Contractor's Class 2 Water supply

358 available pursuant to this Contract. The Contractor shall deliver such water to Eligible Lands, or to Excess

359 Lands in accordance with this Article. The Contracting Officer shall make water determined to be available

360 pursuant to this subsection according to the following priorities: first, to long-term Contractors for Class 1

361 Water and/or Class 2 Water within the Friant Division; second, to long-term Contractors in the Cross

362 Valley Division of the Project. The Contracting Officer will consider and seek to accommodate requests

363 from other parties for Section 215 Water for use within the area identified as the Friant Division service area
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364 in the environmental assessment developed in connection with the execution of this Contract.

365 (m) Nothing in this Contract, nor any action or inaction of the Contractor or Contracting

366 Officer in connection with the implementation of this Contract, is intended to override, modify, supersede or

367 otherwise interfere with any term or condition of the water rights and other rights referred in the third (3rd)

368 Explanatory Recital of this Contract.

369 (n) The rights of the Contractor under this Contract are subject to the terms of the

370 contract for exchange waters, dated July 27, 1939, between the United States and the San Joaquin and

371 Kings River Canal and Irrigation Company, Incorporated, et al., (hereinafter referred to as the Exchange

372 Contractors), Contract No. I1r-1144, as amended. The United States agrees that it will not deliver to the

373 Exchange Contractors thereunder waters of the San Joaquin River unless and until required by the terms of

374 said contract, and the United States further agrees that it will not voluntarily and knowingly determine itself

375 unable to deliver to the Exchange Contractors entitled thereto from water that is available or that may

376 become available to it from the Sacramento River and its tributaries or the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta

377 those quantities required to satisfy the obligations of 

378 the United States under said Exchange Contract and under Schedule 2 of the Contract for Purchase of

379 Miller and Lux Water Rights (Contract I1r-1145, dated July 27, 1939).

380 TIME FOR DELIVERY OF WATER

381 4. (a) On or about February 20 of each Calendar Year, the Contracting Officer shall

382 announce the Contracting Officer’s expected declaration of the Water Made Available. The declaration will

383 be updated monthly, and more frequently if necessary, based on then-current operational and hydrologic
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384 conditions and a new declaration with changes, if any, to the Water Made Available will be made. The

385 Contracting Officer shall provide forecasts of Project operations and the basis of the estimate, with relevant

386 supporting information, upon the written request of the Contractor. Concurrently with the declaration of the

387 Water Made Available, the Contracting Officer shall provide the Contractor with the updated Long Term

388 Historic Average. The declaration of Project operations will be expressed in terms of both Water Made

389 Available and the Long Term Historic Average.

390 (b) On or before each March 1 and at such other times as necessary, the Contractor

391 shall submit to the Contracting Officer a written schedule, satisfactory to the Contracting Officer, showing

392 the monthly quantities of Project Water to be delivered by the United States to the Contractor pursuant to

393 this Contract for the Year commencing on such March 1. The Contracting Officer shall use all reasonable

394 means to deliver Project Water according to the approved schedule for the Year commencing on such

395 March 1.

396 (c) The Contractor shall not schedule Project Water in excess of the quantity of Project

397 Water the Contractor intends to put to reasonable and beneficial use within the Contractor's Service Area,

398 or to sell, transfer or exchange pursuant to Article 9 of this Contract during any Year.

399 (d) Subject to the conditions set forth in subdivision (a) of Article 3 of this Contract, the

400 United States shall deliver Project Water to the Contractor in accordance with the initial schedule submitted

401 by the Contractor pursuant to subdivision (b) of this Article, or any written revision(s), satisfactory to the

402 Contracting Officer, thereto submitted within a reasonable time prior to the date(s) on which the requested

403 change(s) is/are to be implemented; Provided, That the total amount of water requested in that schedule or
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404 revision does not exceed the quantities announced by the Contracting Officer pursuant to the provisions of

405 subdivision (a) of Article 3, and the Contracting Officer determines that there will be sufficient capacity

406 available in the appropriate Friant Division facilities to deliver the water in accordance with that schedule: 

407 Provided, further, That the Contractor shall not schedule the delivery of any water during any period as to

408 which the Contractor is notified by the Contracting Officer or Operating Non-Federal Entity that Project

409 facilities required to make deliveries to the Contractor will not be in operation because of scheduled O&M.

410 (e) The Contractor may, during the period from and including November 1 of each

411 Year through and including the last day of February of that Year, request delivery of any amount of the

412 Class 1 Water estimated by the Contracting Officer to be made available to it during the following Year. 

413 The Contractor may, during the period from and including January 1 of each Year (or such earlier date as

414 may be determined by the Contracting Officer) through and including the last day of February of that Year,

415 request delivery of any amount of Class 2 Water estimated by the Contracting Officer to be made available

416 to it during the following Year. Such water shall hereinafter be referred to as preuse water. Such request

417 must be submitted in writing by the Contractor for a specified quantity of preuse and shall be subject to the

418 approval of the Contracting Officer. Payment for preuse water so requested shall be at the appropriate

419 rate(s) for the following Year in accordance with Article 7 of this Contract and shall be made in advance of

420 delivery of any preuse water. The Contracting Officer shall deliver such preuse water in accordance with a

421 schedule or any revision thereof submitted by the Contractor and approved by the Contracting Officer, to

422 the extent such water is available and to the extent such deliveries will not interfere with the delivery of

423 Project Water entitlements to other Friant Division Contractors or the physical maintenance of the Project
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424 facilities. The quantities of preuse water delivered pursuant to this subdivision shall be deducted from the

425 quantities of water that the Contracting Officer would otherwise be obligated to make available to the

426 Contractor during the following Year; Provided, That the quantity of preuse water to be deducted from the

427 quantities of either Class 1 Water or Class 2 Water to be made available to the Contractor in the following

428 Year shall be specified by the Contractor at the time the preuse water is requested or as revised in its first

429 schedule for the following Year submitted in accordance with subdivision (b) of this Article, based on the

430 availability of the following Year water supplies as determined by the Contracting Officer.

431 POINT OF DIVERSION AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISTRIBUTION OF WATER

432 5. (a) Project Water scheduled pursuant to subdivision (b) of Article 4 of this Contract

433 shall be delivered to the Contractor at a point or points of delivery either on Project facilities or another

434 location or locations mutually agreed to in writing by the Contracting Officer and the Contractor.

435 (b) The Contracting Officer, the Operating Non-Federal Entity, or other appropriate

436 entity shall make all reasonable efforts to maintain sufficient flows and levels of water in the Friant Division

437 facilities to deliver Project Water to the Contractor at specific turnouts established pursuant to subdivision

438 (a) of this Article.

439 (c) The Contractor shall deliver Irrigation Water and Other Water in accordance with

440 any applicable land classification provisions of Federal Reclamation law and the associated regulations. The

441 Contractor shall not deliver Project Water to land outside the Contractor's Service Area unless approved in

442 advance by the Contracting Officer.

443 (d) All Water Delivered to the Contractor pursuant to this Contract shall be measured
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444 and recorded with equipment furnished, installed, operated, and maintained by the United States, the

445 Operating Non-Federal Entity or other appropriate entity as designated by the Contracting Officer

446 (hereafter “other appropriate entity”) at the point or points of delivery established pursuant to subdivision (a)

447 of this Article. Upon the request of either party to this Contract, the Contracting Officer shall investigate, or

448 cause to be investigated by the responsible Operating Non-Federal Entity, the accuracy of such

449 measurements and shall take any necessary steps to adjust any errors appearing therein. For any period of

450 time when accurate measurements have not been made, the Contracting Officer shall consult with the

451 Contractor and the responsible Operating Non-Federal Entity prior to making a final determination of the

452 quantity delivered for that period of time.

453 (e) Neither the Contracting Officer nor any Operating Non-Federal Entity shall be

454 responsible for the control, carriage, handling, use, disposal, or distribution of Project Water Delivered to

455 the Contractor pursuant to this Contract beyond the delivery points specified in subdivision (a) of this

456 Article. The Contractor shall indemnify the United States, its officers, employees, agents, and assigns on

457 account of damage or claim of damage of any nature whatsoever for which there is legal responsibility,

458 including property damage, personal injury, or death arising out of or connected with the control, carriage,

459 handling, use, disposal, or distribution of such Project Water beyond such delivery points, except for any

460 damage or claim arising out of: (i) acts or omissions of the Contracting Officer or any of its officers,

461 employees, agents, or assigns, including any responsible Operating Non-Federal Entity, with the intent of

462 creating the situation resulting in any damage or claim; (ii) willful misconduct of the Contracting Officer or

463 any of its officers, employees, agents, or assigns, including any responsible Operating Non-Federal Entity;

464 (iii) negligence of the Contracting Officer or any of its officers, employees, agents, or assigns including any
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465 responsible Operating Non-Federal Entity; or (iv) damage or claims resulting from a malfunction of facilities

466 owned and/or operated by the United States or responsible Operating Non-Federal Entity; Provided, That

467 the Contractor is not the Operating Non-Federal Entity that owned or operated the malfunctioning

468 facility(ies) from which the damage claim arose.

469 MEASUREMENT OF WATER WITHIN THE SERVICE AREA

470 6. (a) The Contractor established a measurement program satisfactory to the Contracting

471 Officer, all surface water delivered for irrigation purposes within the Contractor’s Service Area is measured

472 at each agricultural turnout. The water measuring devices or water measuring methods of comparable

473 effectiveness must be acceptable to the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall be responsible for

474 installing, operating, and maintaining and repairing all such measuring devices and implementing all such

475 water measuring methods at no cost to the United States. The Contractor shall use the information obtained

476 from such water measuring devices or water measuring methods to ensure its proper management of the

477 water, to bill water users for water delivered by the Contractor. Nothing herein contained, however, shall

478 preclude the Contractor from establishing and collecting any charges, assessments, or other revenues

479 authorized by California law. The Contractor shall include a summary of all its annual surface water

480 deliveries in the annual report described in subdivision (c) of Article 26 of this Contract.

481 (b) To the extent the information has not otherwise been provided, upon execution of

482 this Contract, the Contractor shall provide to the Contracting Officer a written report describing the

483 measurement devices or water measuring methods being used or to be used to implement subdivision (a) of

484 this Article and identifying the agricultural turnouts or alternative measurement programs approved by the
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485 Contracting Officer, at which such measurement devices or water measuring methods are being used, and, if

486 applicable, identifying the locations at which such devices and/or methods are not yet being used including a

487 time schedule for implementation at such locations. The Contracting Officer shall advise the Contractor in

488 writing within sixty (60) days as to the adequacy of, and necessary modifications, if any, of the measuring

489 devices or water measuring methods identified in the Contractor’s report and if the Contracting Officer does

490 not respond in such time, they shall be deemed adequate. If the Contracting Officer notifies the Contractor

491 that the measuring devices or methods are inadequate, the parties shall within sixty (60) days following the

492 Contracting Officer‘s response, negotiate in good faith the earliest practicable date by which the Contractor

493 shall modify said measuring devices and/or measuring methods as required by the Contracting Officer to

494 ensure compliance with subdivision (a) of this Article.

495 (c) All new surface water delivery systems installed within the Contractor's Service

496 Area after the effective date of this Contract shall also comply with the measurement provisions described in

497 subdivision (a) of this Article.

498 (d) The Contractor shall inform the Contracting Officer and the State of California in

499 writing by April 30 of each Year of the monthly volume of surface water delivered within the Contractor’s

500 Service Area during the previous Year.

501 (e) The Contractor shall inform the Contracting Officer and the Operating 

Non-Federal Entity on or before the twentieth (20th 502 ) calendar day of each month of the quantity of Irrigation

503 and Other Water taken during the preceding month.

504 RATES AND METHOD OF PAYMENT FOR WATER

505 7. (a) The Contractor shall pay the United States as provided in this Article for all
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506 Delivered Water at Rates, Charges, and the Tiered Pricing Component established in accordance with: (i)

507 the Secretary’s ratesetting policy for Irrigation Water adopted in 1988 and the Secretary’s then-existing

508 ratesetting policy for M&I water. Such ratesetting policies shall be amended, modified, or superseded only

509 through a public notice and comment procedure; (ii) applicable Reclamation law and associated rules and

510 regulations, or policies; and (iii) other applicable provisions of this Contract. Payments shall be made by

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

512 Contracting Officer. The Rates, Charges, and Tiered Pricing Components applicable to the Contractor

513 upon execution of this Contract are set forth in Exhibit “B”, as may be revised annually.

514 (b) The Contracting Officer shall notify the Contractor of the Rates, Charges, and

515 Tiered Pricing Components as follows:

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

517 the Contractor an estimate of the Charges for Project Water that will be applied to the period October 1, of

518 the current Calendar Year, through September 30, of the following Calendar Year, and the basis for such

519 estimate. The Contractor shall be allowed not less than two (2) months to review and comment on such

520 estimates. On or before September 15 of each Calendar Year, the Contracting Officer shall notify the

521 Contractor in writing of the Charges to be in effect during the period 

522 October 1 of the current Calendar Year, through September 30, of the following Calendar Year, and such

523 notification shall revise Exhibit “B.”

524 (2) Prior to October 1 of each Calendar Year, the Contracting Officer shall

525 make available to the Contractor an estimate of the Rates and Tiered Pricing Components for Project Water
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526 for the following Year and the computations and cost allocations upon which those Rates are based. The

527 Contractor shall be allowed not less than two (2) months to review and comment on such computations and

528 cost allocations. By December 31 of each Calendar Year, the Contracting Officer shall provide the

529 Contractor with the final Rates and Tiered Pricing Components to be in effect for the upcoming Year, and

530 such notification shall revise Exhibit “B.”

531 (c) At the time the Contractor submits the initial schedule for the delivery of Project

532 Water for each Year pursuant to subdivision (b) of Article 4 of this Contract, the Contractor shall make an

533 advance payment to the United States equal to the total amount payable pursuant to the applicable Rate(s)

534 set under subdivision (a) of this Article, for the Project Water scheduled to be delivered pursuant to this

535 Contract during the first two (2) calendar months of the Year. Before the end of the first month and before

536 the end of each calendar month thereafter, the Contractor shall make an advance payment to the United

537 States, at the Rate(s) set under subdivision (a) of this Article, for the Water Scheduled to be delivered

538 pursuant to this Contract during the second month immediately following. Adjustments between advance

539 payments for Water Scheduled and payments at Rates due for Water Delivered shall be made before the

540 end of the following month; Provided, That any revised schedule submitted by the Contractor pursuant to

541 Article 4 of this Contract which increases the amount of Water Delivered pursuant to this Contract during

542 any month shall be accompanied with appropriate advance payment, at the Rates then in effect, to assure

543 that Project Water is not delivered to the Contractor in advance of such payment. In any month in which the

544 quantity of Water Delivered to the Contractor pursuant to this Contract equals the quantity of Water

545 Scheduled and paid for by the Contractor, no additional Project Water shall be delivered to the Contractor
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546 unless and until an advance payment at the Rates then in effect for such additional Project Water is made. 

547 Final adjustment between the advance payments for the Water Scheduled and payments for the quantities of

548 Water Delivered during each Year pursuant to this Contract shall be made as soon as practicable but no

549 later than April 30th of the following Year, or sixty (60) days after the delivery of Project Water carried

550 over under subdivision (f) of Article 3 of this Contract if such water is not delivered by the last day of

551 February.

552 (d) The Contractor shall also make a payment in addition to the Rate(s) in subdivision

553 (c) of this Article to the United States for Water Delivered, at the Charges and the appropriate Tiered

554 Pricing Component then in effect, before the end of the month following the month of delivery; Provided,

555 That the Contractor may be granted an exception from the Tiered Pricing Component pursuant to

556 subdivision (j)(2) of this Article. The payments shall be consistent with the quantities of Irrigation Water and

557 Other Water Delivered as shown in the water delivery report for the subject month prepared by the

558 Operating Non-Federal Entity or, if there is no Operating Non-Federal Entity, by the Contracting Officer. 

559 Such water delivery report shall be the basis for payment of Charges and Tiered Pricing Components by the

560 Contractor, and shall be provided to the Contractor by the Operating Non-Federal Entity or the Contracting

561 Officer (as applicable) within five (5) days after the end of the month of delivery. The water delivery report

562 shall be deemed a bill for the payment of Charges and the applicable Tiered Pricing Component for Water

563 Delivered. Adjustment for overpayment or underpayment of Charges shall be made through the adjustment

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

565 payment of Charges and the Tiered Pricing Component shall be computed pursuant to Article 20 of this
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566 Contract.

567 (e) The Contractor shall pay for any Water Delivered under subdivision (d), (f), or (g)

568 of Article 3 of this Contract as determined by the Contracting Officer pursuant to applicable statutes,

569 associated regulations, any applicable provisions of guidelines or ratesetting policies; Provided, That the

570 Rate for Water Delivered under subdivision (d) of Article 3 of this Contract shall be no more than the

571 otherwise applicable Rate for Irrigation Water or Other Water under subdivision (a) of this Article.

572 (f) Payments to be made by the Contractor to the United States under this Contract

573 may be paid from any revenues available to the Contractor.

574 (g) All revenues received by the United States from the Contractor relating to the

575 delivery of Project Water or the delivery of non-project water through Project facilities shall be allocated

576 and applied in accordance with Federal Reclamation law and the associated rules or regulations, and the

577 then current Project ratesetting policies for M&I water or Irrigation Water.

578 (h) The Contracting Officer shall keep its accounts pertaining to the administration of the

579 financial terms and conditions of its long-term contracts, in accordance with applicable Federal standards, so

580 as to reflect the application of Project costs and revenues. The Contracting Officer shall, each Year upon

581 request of the Contractor, provide to the Contractor a detailed accounting of all Project and Contractor

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

583 delivery information. The Contracting Officer and the Contractor shall enter into good faith negotiations to

584 resolve any discrepancies or disputes relating to accountings, reports, or information.
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585 (i) The parties acknowledge and agree that the efficient administration of this Contract

586 is their mutual goal. Recognizing that experience has demonstrated that mechanisms, policies, and

587 procedures used for establishing Rates, Charges, and Tiered Pricing Components, and/or for making and

588 allocating payments, other than those set forth in this Article may be in the mutual best interest of the parties,

589 it is expressly agreed that the parties may enter into agreements to modify the mechanisms, policies, and

590 procedures for any of those purposes while this Contract is in effect without amending this Contract.

591 (j) (1) Beginning at such time as the total of the deliveries of Class 1 Water and

592 Class 2 Water in a Year exceed eighty (80%) percent of the Contract Total, then before the end of the

593 month following the month of delivery the Contractor shall make an additional payment to the United States

594 equal to the applicable Tiered Pricing Component. The Tiered Pricing Component for the total of the

595 deliveries of Class 1 Water and Class 2 Water in excess of eighty (80%) percent of the Contract Total, but

596 less than or equal to ninety (90%) percent of the Contract Total, shall equal the one-half of the difference

597 between the Rate established under subdivision (a) of Article 7 of this Contract and the Irrigation Full Cost

598 Water Rate or M&I Full Cost Water Rate, whichever is applicable. The Tiered Pricing Component for the

599 total of the deliveries of Class 1 Water and Class 2 Water which exceeds ninety (90%) percent of the

600 Contract Total shall equal the difference between (i) the Rate established under subdivision (a) of Article 7

601 of this Contract and (ii) the Irrigation Full Cost Water Rate or M&I Full Cost Water Rate, whichever is

602 applicable.

603 (2) Subject to the Contracting Officer’s written approval, the Contractor may

604 request and receive an exemption from such Tiered Pricing Components for Project Water delivered to
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605 produce a crop which the Contracting Officer determines will provide significant and quantifiable habitat

606 values for waterfowl in fields where the water is used and the crops are produced; Provided, That the

607 exemption from the Tiered Pricing Components for Irrigation Water shall apply only if such habitat values

608 can be assured consistent with the purposes of CVPIA through binding agreements executed with or

609 approved by the Contracting Officer prior to use of such water.

610 (3) For purposes of determining the applicability of the Tiered Pricing

611 Components pursuant to this Article, Water Delivered shall include Project Water that the Contractor

612 transfers to others but shall not include Project Water transferred and delivered to the Contractor.

613 (k) For the term of this Contract, Rates under the respective ratesetting policies will be

614 established to recover only reimbursable “operation and maintenance” (including any deficits) and capital

615 costs of the Project, as those terms are used in the then-current Project ratesetting policies, and interest,

616 where appropriate, except in instances where a minimum Rate is applicable in accordance with the relevant

617 Project ratesetting policy. Changes of significance in practices which implement the Contracting Officer’s

618 ratesetting policies will not be implemented until the Contracting Officer has provided the Contractor an

619 opportunity to discuss the nature, need, and impact of the proposed change.

620 (l) Except as provided in subsections 3405(a)(1)(B) and 3405(f) of the CVPIA, the

621 Rates for Project Water transferred by the Contractor shall be the Contractor’s Rates adjusted upward or

622 downward to reflect the changed costs of delivery (if any) of the transferred Project Water to the

623 transferee’s point of delivery in accordance with the then applicable CVP Ratesetting Policy. If the

624 Contractor is receiving lower Rates and Charges because of inability to pay and is transferring Project
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625 Water to another entity whose Rates and Charges are not adjusted due to inability to pay, the Rates and

626 Charges for transferred Project Water shall be the Contractor’s Rates and Charges unadjusted for ability to

627 pay.

628 (m) Pursuant to the Act of October 27, 1986 (100 Stat. 3050), the Contracting Officer

629 is authorized to adjust determinations of ability to pay every five (5) years.

630 NON-INTEREST BEARING OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE DEFICITS

631 8. The Contractor and the Contracting Officer concur that, as of the effective date of this

632 Contract, the Contractor has no non-interest bearing operation and maintenance deficits and shall have no

633 further liability therefor.

634 SALES, TRANSFERS, OR EXCHANGES OF WATER

635 9. (a) The right to receive Project Water provided for in this Contract may be sold,

636 transferred, or exchanged to others for reasonable and beneficial uses within the State of California if such

637 sale, transfer, or exchange is authorized by applicable Federal and State laws, and applicable guidelines or

638 regulations then in effect. No sale, transfer, or exchange of Project Water under this Contract may take

639 place without the prior written approval of the Contracting Officer, except as provided for in subdivision (b)

640 of this Article, and no such sales, transfers, or exchanges shall be approved absent compliance with

641 appropriate environmental documentation including but not limited to the National Environmental Policy Act

642 and the Endangered Species Act. Such environmental documentation should include, as appropriate, an

643 analysis of groundwater impacts and economic and social effects, including environmental justice, of the

644 proposed water transfers on both the transferor and transferee.
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645 (b) In order to facilitate efficient water management by means of water transfers of the

646 type historically carried out among Project Contractors located within the same geographical area and to

647 allow the Contractor to participate in an accelerated water transfer program during the term of this Contract,

648 the Contracting Officer shall prepare, as appropriate, necessary environmental documentation including, but

649 not limited to, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act analyzing annual

650 transfers within such geographical areas and the Contracting Officer shall determine whether such transfers

651 comply with applicable law. Following the completion of the environmental documentation, such transfers

652 addressed in such documentation shall be conducted with advance notice to the Contracting Officer, but

653 shall not require prior written approval by the Contracting Officer. Such environmental documentation and

654 the Contracting Officer’s compliance determination shall be reviewed every five (5) years and updated, as

655 necessary, prior to the expiration of the then existing five (5) -year period. All subsequent environmental 

656 documentation shall include an alternative to evaluate not less than the quantity of Project Water historically

657 transferred within the same geographical area.

658 (c) For a water transfer to qualify under subdivision (b) of this Article, such water

659 transfer must: (i) be for irrigation purposes for lands irrigated within the previous three (3) years, for M&I

660 use, groundwater recharge, groundwater banking, similar groundwater activities, surface water storage, or

661 fish and wildlife resources; not lead to land conversion; and be delivered to established cropland, wildlife

662 refuges, groundwater basins or municipal and industrial use; (ii) occur within a single Year; (iii) occur

663 between a willing seller and a willing buyer; (iv) convey water through existing facilities with no new

664 construction or modifications to facilities and be between existing Project Contractors and/or the Contractor
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665 and the United States, Department of the Interior; and (v) comply with all applicable Federal, State, and

666 local or tribal laws and requirements imposed for protection of the environment and Indian Trust Assets, as

667 defined under Federal law.

668 APPLICATION OF PAYMENTS AND ADJUSTMENTS 

669 10. (a) The amount of any overpayment by the Contractor of the Contractor’s O&M,

670 Capital, and deficit (if any) obligations for the Year shall be applied first to any current liabilities of the

671 Contractor arising out of this Contract then due and payable. Overpayments of more than One Thousand

672 Dollars ($1,000) shall be refunded at the Contractor’s request. In lieu of a refund, any amount of such

673 overpayment at the option of the Contractor, may be credited against amounts to become due to the United

674 States by the Contractor. With respect to overpayment, such refund or adjustment shall constitute the sole

675 remedy of the Contractor or anyone having or claiming to have the right to the use of any of the Project

676 Water supply provided for herein. All credits and refunds of overpayments shall be made within thirty (30)

677 days of the Contracting Officer obtaining direction as to how to credit or refund such overpayment in

678 response to the notice to the Contractor that it has finalized the accounts for the Year in which the

679 overpayment was made.

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

681 pursuant to Article 25 of this Contract shall be adjusted to reflect the actual costs when the work has been

682 completed. If the advances exceed the actual costs incurred, the difference will be refunded to the

683 Contractor. If the actual costs exceed the Contractor's advances, the Contractor will be billed for the

684 additional costs pursuant to Article 25 of this Contract.
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685 TEMPORARY REDUCTIONS--RETURN FLOWS

686 11. (a) Subject to: (i) the authorized purposes and priorities of the Project and the

687 requirements of Federal law and (ii) the obligations of the United States under existing contracts, or renewals

688 thereof, providing for water deliveries from the Project, the Contracting Officer shall make all reasonable

689 efforts to optimize Project Water deliveries to the Contractor as provided in this Contract.

690 (b) The Contracting Officer or Operating Non-Federal Entity may temporarily

691 discontinue or reduce the quantity of Water Delivered to the Contractor as herein provided for the purposes

692 of investigation, inspection, maintenance, repair, or replacement of any of the Project facilities or any part

693 thereof necessary for the delivery of Project Water to the Contractor, but so far as feasible the Contracting

694 Officer or Operating Non-Federal Entity will give the Contractor due notice in advance of such temporary

695 discontinuance or reduction, except in case of emergency, in which case no notice need be given; Provided,

696 That the United States shall use its best efforts to avoid any discontinuance or reduction in such service. 

697 Upon resumption of service after such reduction or discontinuance, and if requested by the Contractor, the

698 United States will, if possible, deliver the quantity of Project Water which would have been delivered

699 hereunder in the absence of such discontinuance or reduction.

700 (c) The United States reserves the right to all seepage and return flow water derived

701 from Water Delivered to the Contractor hereunder which escapes or is discharged beyond the Contractor's

702 Service Area; Provided, That this shall not be construed as claiming for the United States any right as

703 seepage or return flow to water being used pursuant to this Contract for surface irrigation or underground

704 storage either being put to reasonable and beneficial use pursuant to this Contract within the Contractor’s

705 Service Area by the Contractor or those claiming by, through, or under the Contractor. For purposes of this
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706 subdivision, groundwater recharge, groundwater banking and all similar groundwater activities will be

707 deemed to be underground storage.

708 CONSTRAINTS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF WATER

709 12. (a) In its operation of the Project, the Contracting Officer will use all reasonable means

710 to guard against a Condition of Shortage in the quantity of water to be made available to the Contractor

711 pursuant to this Contract. In the event the Contracting Officer determines that a Condition of Shortage

712 appears probable, the Contracting Officer will notify the Contractor of said determination as soon as

713 practicable.

714 (b) If there is a Condition of Shortage because of errors in physical operations of the

715 Project, drought, other physical causes beyond the control of the Contracting Officer or actions taken by the

716 Contracting Officer to meet legal obligations then, except as provided in subdivision (a) of Article 18 of this

717 Contract, no liability shall accrue against the United States or any of its officers, agents, or employees for

718 any damage, direct or indirect, arising therefrom.

719 (c) The United States shall not execute contracts which together with this Contract, shall

720 in the aggregate provide for furnishing during the life of this Contract or any renewals hereof Class 1 Water

721 in excess of 800,000 acre-feet per Year or Class 2 Water in excess of 1,401,475 acre-feet per Year;

722 Provided, That, subject to subdivision (l) of Article 3 of this Contract, the limitation placed on Class 2 Water

723 contracts shall not prohibit the United States from entering into temporary contracts of one year or less in

724 duration for delivery of Project Water to other entities if such water is not necessary to meet the schedules

725 as may be submitted by all Friant Division 
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726 long-term water service Contractors entitled to receive Class 1 Water and/or Class 2 Water under their

727 water service contracts. Nothing in this subdivision shall limit the Contracting Officer’s ability to take actions

728 that result in the availability of new water supplies to be used for Project purposes and allocating such new

729 supplies; Provided, That the Contracting Officer shall not take such actions until after consultation with the

730 Friant Division Project Contractors.

731 (d) The Contracting Officer shall not deliver any Class 2 Water pursuant to this or any

732 other contract for water service heretofore or hereafter entered into any Year unless and until the

733 Contracting Officer determines that the cumulative total quantity of Class 1 Water specified in subdivision (c)

734 of this Article will be available for delivery in said Year. If the Contracting Officer determines there is or will

735 be a shortage in any Year in the quantity of Class 1 Water available for delivery, the Contracting Officer

736 shall apportion the available Class 1 Water among all Contractors 

737 entitled to receive such water that will be made available at Friant Dam in accordance with the following:

738 (1) A determination shall be made of the total quantity of Class 1 Water at

739 Friant Dam which is available for meeting Class 1 Water contractual commitments, the amount so

740 determined being herein referred to as the available supply.

741 (2) The total available Class 1 supply shall be divided by the Class 1 Water

742 contractual commitments, the quotient thus obtained being herein referred to as the Class 1 apportionment

743 coefficient.

744 (3) The total quantity of Class 1 Water under Article 3 of this Contract shall be

745 multiplied by the Class 1 apportionment coefficient and the result shall be the quantity of Class 1 Water
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746 required to be delivered by the Contracting Officer to the Contractor for the respective Year, but in no

747 event shall such amount exceed the total quantity of Class 1 Water specified in subdivision (a) of Article 3 of

748 this Contract.

749 (e) If the Contracting Officer determines there is less than the quantity of Class 2 Water

750 which the Contractor otherwise would be entitled to receive pursuant to Article 3 of this Contract, the

751 quantity of Class 2 Water which shall be furnished to the Contractor by the Contracting Officer will be

752 determined in the manner set forth in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), of subdivision (d) of this Article

753 substituting the term "Class 2" for the term "Class 1."

754 (f) In the event that in any Year there is made available to the Contractor, by reason of

755 any shortage or apportionment as provided in subdivisions (a), (d) or (e) of this Article, or any

756 discontinuance or reduction of service as set forth in subdivision (a) of Article 11 of this Contract, less than

757 the quantity of water which the Contractor otherwise would be entitled to receive hereunder, there shall be

758 made an adjustment on account of the amounts already paid to the Contracting Officer by the Contractor for

759 Class 1 Water and Class 2 Water for said Year in accordance with Article 10 of this Contract.

760 UNAVOIDABLE GROUNDWATER PERCOLATION

761 13. To the extent applicable, the Contractor shall not be deemed to have delivered Irrigation

762 Water to Excess Lands or Ineligible Lands within the meaning of this Contract if such lands are irrigated with

763 groundwater that reaches the underground strata as an unavoidable result of the delivery of Irrigation Water

764 by the Contractor to Eligible Lands.
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765 RULES AND REGULATIONS

766 14. (a) The parties agree that the delivery of Irrigation Water or use of Federal facilities

767 pursuant to this Contract is subject to Federal Reclamation law, including but not limited to, the Reclamation

768 Reform Act of 1982 (43 U.S.C.390aa et seq.), as amended and supplemented, and the rules and

769 regulations promulgated by the Secretary of the Interior under Federal Reclamation law.

770 (b) The terms of this Contract are subject to any enforceable order,

771 judgment and/or settlement in NRDC v. Patterson, No. CIVS 88-1658-LKK-EM and shall be timely

772 modified as necessary to effectuate or facilitate any final order, judgment or settlement in said litigation.

773 (c) The parties acknowledge that, as of the effective date of this Contract, active

774 settlement discussions are underway in NRDC v. Patterson between Friant Division water service

775 contractors, representatives of the Contracting Officer, and the plaintiffs in NRDC v. Patterson. The mutual

776 goals of the parties to those discussions are (i) to expeditiously evaluate and implement, on a mutually

777 acceptable basis, instream and related measures that will restore ecological functions and hydrologic and

778 geomorphologic processes of the San Joaquin River below Friant Dam to a level that restores and maintains

779 fish populations in good condition, including but not limited to naturally-reproducing, self-sustaining

780 populations of chinook salmon and (ii) to accomplish these restoration goals while not adversely impacting

781 the overall sufficiency, reliability and cost of water supplies to Friant Division water users. The Contractor

782 has been actively participating, and intends to continue to participate in such settlement discussions. Except

783 as provided in this Contract, this Contract does not add to the obligations of the parties, if any, relating to

784 the San Joaquin River. This Contract does not limit or detract from the obligations of the parties, if any,

785 relating to the San Joaquin River. 
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786 WATER AND AIR POLLUTION CONTROL

787 15. The Contractor, in carrying out this Contract, shall comply with all applicable water and air

788 pollution laws and regulations of the United States and the State of California, and shall obtain all required

789 permits or licenses from the appropriate Federal, State, or local authorities.

790 QUALITY OF WATER

791 16. (a) Project facilities used to deliver Project Water to the Contractor pursuant to this

792 Contract shall be operated and maintained to enable the United States to deliver Project Water to the

793 Contractor in accordance with the water quality standards specified in subsection 2(b) of the Act of August

794 26, 1937 (50 Stat. 865), as added by Section 101 of the Act of October 27, 1986 (100 Stat. 3050) or

795 other existing Federal laws. The United States is under no obligation to construct or furnish water treatment

796 facilities to maintain or to improve the quality of Water Delivered to the Contractor pursuant to this

797 Contract. The United States does not warrant the quality of Water Delivered to the Contractor pursuant to

798 this Contract.

799 (b) The Operation and Maintenance of Project facilities shall be performed in such

800 manner as is practicable to maintain the quality of raw water made available through such facilities at the

801 highest level reasonably attainable as determined by the Contracting Officer. The Contractor shall be

802 responsible for compliance with all State and Federal water quality standards applicable to surface and

803 subsurface agricultural drainage discharges generated through the use of Federal or Contractor facilities or

804 Project Water provided by the Contractor within the Contractor's Service Area.
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805 WATER ACQUIRED BY THE Contractor

806 OTHER THAN FROM THE UNITED STATES

807 17. (a) Water or water rights now owned or hereafter acquired by the Contractor other

808 than from the United States and Irrigation Water furnished pursuant to the terms of this Contract may be

809 simultaneously transported through the same distribution facilities of the Contractor subject to the following: 

810 (i) if the facilities utilized for commingling Irrigation Water and non-project water were constructed without

811 funds made available pursuant to Federal Reclamation law, the provisions of Federal Reclamation law will

812 be applicable only to the Landholders of lands which receive Irrigation Water; (ii) the eligibility of land to

813 receive Irrigation Water must be established through the certification requirements as specified in the

814 Acreage Limitation Rules and Regulations (43 CFR 

815 Part 426); (iii) the water requirements of Eligible Lands within the Contractor's Service Area can be

816 established and the quantity of Irrigation Water to be utilized is less than or equal to the quantity necessary to

817 irrigate such Eligible Lands. The Contractor and the Contracting Officer concur that, as of the effective date

818 of this Contract, the Contractor has a distribution system that was constructed without the use of federally

819 financed funds. The use of this distribution system is not subject to the provisions of this subdivision of this

820 Article. 

821 (b) Water or water rights now owned or hereafter acquired by the Contractor, other

822 than from the United States or adverse to the Project or its Contractors (i.e., non-project water), may be

823 stored, conveyed and/or diverted through Project facilities, subject to the completion of appropriate

824 environmental documentation, with the approval of the Contracting Officer and the 
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825 execution of any contract determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary, consistent with the

826 following provisions:

827 (1) The Contractor may introduce non-project water into Project facilities and

828 deliver said water to lands within the Contractor’s Service Area, including Ineligible Lands, subject to

829 payment to the United States and/or to any applicable Operating Non-Federal Entity of an appropriate rate

830 as determined by the CVP Ratesetting Policy and the RRA, each as amended, modified or superseded from

831 time to time. In addition, if electrical power is required to pump non-project water through the facilities, the

832 Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining the necessary power and paying the necessary charges

833 therefor.

834 (2) Delivery of such non-project water in and through Project facilities shall only

835 be allowed to the extent such deliveries do not: (i) interfere with other Project purposes as determined by

836 the Contracting Officer; (ii) reduce the quantity or quality of water available to other Project water service

837 Contractors; (iii) interfere with the delivery of contractual water entitlements to any other Project water

838 service Contractors; or (iv) interfere with the physical maintenance of the Project facilities.

839 (3) Neither the United States nor the Operating Non-Federal Entity shall be

840 responsible for control, care or distribution of the non-project water before it is introduced into or after it is

841 delivered from the Project facilities. The Contractor hereby releases and agrees to defend and indemnify the

842 United States and the Operating Non-Federal Entity, and their respective officers, agents, and employees,

843 from any claim for damage to persons or property, direct or indirect, resulting from Contractor’s diversion

844 or extraction of non-project water from any source.
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845 (4) Diversion of such non-project water into Project facilities shall be consistent

846 with all applicable laws, and if involving groundwater, consistent with any groundwater management plan for

847 the area from which it was extracted.

848 (5) After Project purposes are met, as determined by the Contracting Officer,

849 the United States and the Contractor shall share priority to utilize the remaining capacity of the facilities

850 declared to be available by the Contracting Officer for conveyance and transportation of non-project water

851 prior to any such remaining capacity being made available to non-Project Contractors.

852 OPINIONS AND DETERMINATIONS

853 18. (a) Where the terms of this Contract provide for actions to be based upon the opinion

854 or determination of either party to this Contract, said terms shall not be construed as permitting such action

855 to be predicated upon arbitrary, capricious, or unreasonable opinions or determinations. Both parties,

856 notwithstanding any other provisions of this Contract, expressly reserve the right to seek relief from and

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

858 opinion or determination by either party shall be provided in a timely manner. Nothing in subdivision (a) of

859 Article 18 of this Contract is intended to or shall affect or alter the standard of judicial review applicable

860 under federal law to any opinion or determination implementing a specific provision of federal law embodied

861 in statute or regulation. 

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

863 administer this Contract that are consistent with the provisions of this Contract, the laws of the United States

864 and of the State of California, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the 
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865 Secretary of the Interior. Such determinations shall be made in consultation with the Contractor to the

866 extent reasonably practicable.

867 COORDINATION AND COOPERATION

868 19. (a) In order to further their mutual goals and objectives, the Contracting Officer and the

869 Contractor shall communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with each other, and with other affected Project

870 Contractors, in order to improve the operation and management of the Project. The communication,

871 coordination, and cooperation regarding operations and management shall include, but not be limited to, any

872 action which will or may materially affect the quantity or quality of Project Water supply, the allocation of

873 Project Water supply, and Project financial matters including, but not limited to, budget issues. The

874 communication, coordination, and cooperation provided for hereunder shall extend to all provisions of this

875 Contract. Each party shall retain exclusive decision making authority for all actions, opinion, and

876 determinations to be made by the respective party.

877 (b) Within one-hundred twenty (120) days following the effective date of this Contract,

878 the Contractor, other affected Project Contractors, and the Contracting Officer shall arrange to meet with

879 interested Project Contractors to develop a mutually agreeable, written Project-wide process, which may be

880 amended as necessary separate and apart from this Contract. The goal of this process shall be to provide,

881 to the extent practicable, the means of mutual communication and interaction regarding significant decisions

882 concerning Project operation and management on a 

883 real-time basis.

884 (c) In light of the factors referred to in subdivision (b) of Article 3 of this Contract, it is
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885 the intent of the Secretary to improve water supply reliability. To carry out this intent:

886 (1) The Contracting Officer will, at the request of the Contractor, assist in the

887 development of integrated resource management plans for the Contractor. Further, the Contracting Officer

888 will, as appropriate, seek authorizations for implementation of partnerships to improve water supply, water

889 quality, and reliability.

890 (2) The Secretary will, as appropriate, pursue program and project

891 implementation and authorization in coordination with Project Contractors to improve the water supply,

892 water quality, and reliability of the Project for all Project purposes.

893 (3) The Secretary will coordinate with Project Contractors and the State of

894 California to seek improved water resource management.

895 (4) The Secretary will coordinate actions of agencies within the Department of

896 the Interior that may impact the availability of water for Project purposes.

897 (5) The Contracting Officer shall periodically, but not less than annually, hold

898 division level meetings to discuss Project operations, division level water management activities, and other

899 issues as appropriate.

900 (d) Without limiting the contractual obligations of the Contracting Officer hereunder,

901 nothing in this Contract shall be construed to limit or constrain the Contracting Officer’s ability to

902 communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with the Contractor or other interested stakeholders or to make

903 decisions in a timely fashion as needed to protect health, safety, physical integrity of structures or facilities, or

904 the Contracting Officer’s ability to comply with applicable laws.

905 CHARGES FOR DELINQUENT PAYMENTS
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906 20. (a) The Contractor shall be subject to interest, administrative and penalty charges on

907 delinquent installments or payments. When a payment is not received by the due date, the Contractor shall

908 pay an interest charge for each day the payment is delinquent beyond the due date. When a payment

909 becomes sixty (60) days delinquent, the Contractor shall pay an administrative charge to cover additional

910 costs of billing and processing the delinquent payment. When a payment is delinquent ninety (90) days or

911 more, the Contractor shall pay an additional penalty charge of six (6%) percent per year for each day the

912 payment is delinquent beyond the due date. Further, the Contractor shall pay any fees incurred for debt

913 collection services associated with a delinquent payment.

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

915 Federal Register by the Department of the Treasury for application to overdue payments, or the interest rate

916 of one-half of one (0.5%) percent per month prescribed by Section 6 of the Reclamation Project Act of

917 1939 (Public Law 76-260). The interest charge rate shall be determined as of the due date and remain

918 fixed for the duration of the delinquent period.

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

920 shall be applied, first to the penalty, second to the administrative charges, third to the accrued interest, and

921 finally to the overdue payment.

922 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

923 21. During the performance of this Contract, the Contractor agrees as follows:

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

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

926 action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without

927 regard to their race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Such action shall include, but not be limited to,

928 the following: Employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff

929 or termination, rates of payment or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including

930 apprenticeship. The Contractor agrees to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants

931 for employment, notices to be provided by the Contracting Officer setting forth the provisions of this

932 nondiscrimination clause.

933 (b) The Contractor will, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or

934 on behalf of the Contractor, state that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment

935 without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

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

937 which it has a collective bargaining agreement or other contract or understanding, a notice, to be provided
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938 by the Contracting Officer, advising the said labor union or workers' representative of the Contractor's

939 commitments under Section 202 of Executive Order 11246 of September 24, 1965, and shall post copies

940 of the notice in conspicuous places available to employees and applicants for employment.

941 (d) The Contractor will comply with all provisions of Executive Order 

942 No. 11246 of September 24, 1965, as amended, and of the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the

943 Secretary of Labor. 

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

945 Executive Order and by the rules, regulations, and orders of the Secretary of Labor, or pursuant thereto,

946 and will permit access to its books, records, and accounts by the Contracting Officer and the Secretary of

947 Labor for purposes of investigation to ascertain compliance with such rules, regulations, and orders.

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

949 this Contract or with any of the said rules, regulations, or orders, this Contract may be canceled, terminated,

950 or suspended, in whole or in part, and the Contractor may be declared ineligible for further Government

951 contracts in accordance with procedures authorized in said amended Executive Order, and such other

952 sanctions may be imposed and remedies invoked as provided in said 

953 Executive Order, or by rule, regulation, or order of the Secretary of Labor, or as otherwise provided by

954 law.

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

956 subcontract or purchase order unless exempted by the rules, regulations, or orders of the Secretary of

957 Labor issued pursuant to Section 204 of said amended Executive Order, so that such provisions will be

958 binding upon each subcontractor or vendor. The Contractor will take such action with respect to any

959 subcontract or purchase order as may be directed by the Secretary of Labor as a means of enforcing such

960 provisions, including sanctions for noncompliance: Provided, however, That in the event the Contractor

961 becomes involved in, or is threatened with, litigation with a subcontractor or vendor as a result of such

962 direction, the Contractor may request the United States to enter into such litigation to protect the interests of

963 the United States.

964 GENERAL OBLIGATION--BENEFITS CONDITIONED UPON PAYMENT

965 22. (a) The obligation of the Contractor to pay the United States as provided in this

966 Contract is a general obligation of the Contractor notwithstanding the manner in which the obligation may be

967 distributed among the Contractor's water users and notwithstanding the default of individual water users in

968 their obligations to the Contractor.

969 (b) The payment of charges becoming due hereunder is a condition precedent to

970 receiving benefits under this Contract. The United States shall not make water available to the Contractor

971 through Project facilities during any period in which the Contractor may be in arrears in the advance
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972 payment of water rates due the United States. The Contractor shall not furnish water made available

973 pursuant to this Contract for lands or parties which are in arrears in the advance payment of water rates

974 levied or established by the Contractor.

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

976 obligation to require advance payment for water rates which it levies.

977 COMPLIANCE WITH CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS AND REGULATIONS

978 23. (a) The Contractor shall comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42

979 U.S.C. 2000d), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1975 (P.L. 93-112, as amended), the Age

980 Discrimination Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C. 6101, et seq.) and any other applicable civil rights laws, as well as

981 with their respective implementing regulations and guidelines imposed by the U.S. Department of the Interior

982 and/or Bureau of Reclamation.

983 (b) These statutes require that no person in the United States shall, on the grounds of

984 race, color, national origin, handicap, or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or

985 be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the

986 Bureau of Reclamation. By executing this Contract, the Contractor agrees to immediately take any

987 measures necessary to implement this obligation, including permitting officials of the United States to inspect

988 premises, programs, and documents.

989 (c) The Contractor makes this agreement in consideration of and for the purpose of

990 obtaining any and all Federal grants, loans, contracts, property discounts, or other Federal financial

991 assistance extended after the date hereof to the Contractor by the Bureau of Reclamation, including

992 installment payments after such date on account of arrangements for Federal financial assistance which were

993 approved before such date. The Contractor recognizes and agrees that such Federal assistance will be

994 extended in reliance on the representations and agreements made in this Article, and that the United States

995 reserves the right to seek judicial enforcement thereof.

996 PRIVACY ACT COMPLIANCE

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

998 Act) and the Department of the Interior rules and regulations under the Act (43 CFR 2.45 et seq.) in

999 maintaining Landholder acreage certification and reporting records, required to be submitted to the

1000 Contractor for compliance with Sections 206 and 228 of the Reclamation Reform Act of 1982 

1001 (96 Stat. 1266), and pursuant to 43 CFR 426.18.
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1002 (b) With respect to the application and administration of the criminal penalty provisions

1003 of the Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(i)), the Contractor and the Contractor's employees responsible for maintaining

1004 the certification and reporting records referenced in (a) above are considered to be employees of the

1005 Department of the Interior. See 5 U.S.C. 552a(m).
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1006 (c) The Contracting Officer or a designated representative shall provide the Contractor

1007 with current copies of the Interior Department Privacy Act regulations and the Bureau of Reclamation

1008 Federal Register Privacy Act System of Records Notice (Acreage Limitation--Interior, Reclamation-31)

1009 which govern the maintenance, safeguarding, and disclosure of information contained in the Landholder's

1010 certification and reporting records.

1011 (d) The Contracting Officer shall designate a full-time employee of the Bureau of

1012 Reclamation to be the System Manager who shall be responsible for making decisions on denials pursuant to

1013 43 CFR 2.61 and 2.64 amendment requests pursuant to 43 CFR 2.72. The Contractor is authorized to

1014 grant requests by individuals for access to their own records.

1015 (e) The Contractor shall forward promptly to the System Manager each proposed

1016 denial of access under 43 CFR 2.64; and each request for amendment of records filed under 43 CFR 2.71;

1017 notify the requester accordingly of such referral; and provide the System Manager with information and

1018 records necessary to prepare an appropriate response to the requester. These requirements do not apply to

1019 individuals seeking access to their own certification and reporting forms filed with the Contractor pursuant to

1020 43 CFR 426.18, unless the requester elects to cite the Privacy Act as a basis for the request.

1021 CONTRACTOR TO PAY CERTAIN MISCELLANEOUS COSTS

1022 25. In addition to all other payments to be made by the Contractor pursuant to this Contract, the

1023 Contractor shall pay to the United States, within sixty (60) days after receipt of a bill and detailed statement

1024 submitted by the Contracting Officer to the Contractor for such specific items of direct cost incurred by the

1025 United States for work requested by the Contractor associated with this Contract plus indirect costs in

1026 accordance with applicable Bureau of Reclamation policies and procedures. All such amounts referred to in

1027 this Article shall not exceed the amount agreed to in writing in advance by the Contractor. This Article shall

1028 not apply to costs for routine contract administration.

1029 WATER CONSERVATION

1030 26. (a) Prior to the delivery of water provided from or conveyed through Federally

1031 constructed or Federally financed facilities pursuant to this Contract, the Contractor shall be implementing an
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1032 effective water conservation and efficiency program based on the Contractor's water conservation plan that

1033 has been determined by the Contracting Officer to meet the conservation and efficiency criteria for

1034 evaluating water conservation plans established under Federal law. The water conservation and efficiency

1035 program shall contain definite water conservation objectives, appropriate economically feasible water

1036 conservation measures, and time schedules for meeting those objectives. Continued Project Water delivery

1037 pursuant to this Contract shall be contingent upon the Contractor’s continued implementation of such water

1038 conservation program. In the event the Contractor's water conservation plan or any revised water

1039 conservation plan completed pursuant to subdivision (d) of Article 26 of this Contract have not yet been

1040 determined by the Contracting Officer to meet such criteria, due to circumstances which the Contracting

1041 Officer determines are beyond the control of the Contractor, water deliveries shall be made under this

1042 Contract so long as the Contractor diligently works with the Contracting Officer to obtain such

1043 determination at the earliest practicable date, and thereafter the Contractor immediately begins implementing

1044 its water conservation and efficiency program in accordance with the time schedules therein.

1045 (b) Omitted.

1046 (c) The Contractor shall submit to the Contracting Officer a report on the status of its

1047 implementation of the water conservation plan on the reporting dates specified in the then existing

1048 conservation and efficiency criteria established under Federal law. 

1049 (d) At five (5) -year intervals, the Contractor shall revise its water conservation plan to

1050 reflect the then current conservation and efficiency criteria for evaluating water conservation plans

1051 established under Federal law and submit such revised water management plan to the Contracting Officer
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1052 for review and evaluation. The Contracting Officer will then determine if the water conservation plan meets

1053 Reclamation’s then current conservation and efficiency criteria for evaluating water conservation plans

1054 established under Federal law. 

1055 (e) If the Contractor is engaged in direct groundwater recharge, such activity shall be

1056 described in the Contractor’s water conservation plan.

1057 EXISTING OR ACQUIRED WATER OR WATER RIGHTS

1058 27. Except as specifically provided in Article 17 of this Contract, the provisions of this Contract

1059 shall not be applicable to or affect non-project water or water rights now owned or hereafter acquired by

1060 the Contractor or any user of such water within the Contractor's Service Area. Any such water shall not be

1061 considered Project Water under this Contract. In addition, this Contract shall not be construed as limiting or

1062 curtailing any rights which the Contractor or any water user within the Contractor's Service Area acquires or

1063 has available under any other contract pursuant to Federal Reclamation law.

1064 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BY NON-FEDERAL ENTITY

1065 28. (a) The Operation and Maintenance of a portion of the Project facilities which serve the

1066 Contractor, and responsibility for funding a portion of the costs of such Operation and Maintenance, have

1067 been transferred to the Operating Non-Federal Entity by separate agreement between the United States and

1068 the Operating Non-Federal Entity. That separate agreement shall not interfere with or affect the rights or

1069 obligations of the Contractor or the United States hereunder.

1070 (b) The Contracting Officer has previously notified the Contractor in writing that the

1071 Operation and Maintenance of a portion of the Project facilities which serve the Contractor has been
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1072 transferred to the Operating Non-Federal Entity, and therefore, the Contractor shall pay directly to the

1073 Operating Non-Federal Entity, or to any successor approved by the Contracting Officer under the terms

1074 and conditions of the separate agreement between the United States and the Operating Non-Federal Entity

1075 described in subdivision (a) of this Article, all rates, charges or assessments of any kind, including any

1076 assessment for reserve funds, which the Operating Non-Federal Entity or such successor determines, sets or

1077 establishes for (i) the Operation and Maintenance of the portion of the Project facilities operated and

1078 maintained by the Operating Non-Federal Entity or such successor, or (ii) the Friant Division’s share of the

1079 operation, maintenance and replacement costs for physical works and appurtenances associated with the

1080 Tracy Pumping Plant, the Delta-Mendota Canal, the O'Neill Pumping/Generating Plant, the federal share of

1081 the O'Neill Forebay, the Mendota Pool, and the federal share of San Luis Unit joint use conveyance and

1082 conveyance pumping facilities. Such direct payments to the Operating Non-Federal Entity or such

1083 successor shall not relieve the Contractor of its obligation to pay directly to the United States the

1084 Contractor’s share of the Project Rates, Charges, and Tiered Pricing Components except to the extent the

1085 Operating Non-Federal Entity collects payments on behalf of the United States in accordance with the

1086 separate agreement identified in subdivision (a) of this Article.

1087 (c) For so long as the Operation and Maintenance of any portion of the Project facilities

1088 serving the Contractor is performed by the Operating Non-Federal Entity, or any successor thereto, the

1089 Contracting Officer shall adjust those components of the Rates for Water Delivered under this Contract

1090 representing the cost associated with the activity being performed by the Operating Non-Federal Entity or

1091 its successor.
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1092 (d) In the event the Operation and Maintenance of the Project facilities operated and

1093 maintained by the Operating Non-Federal Entity is re-assumed by the United States during the term of this

1094 Contract, the Contracting Officer shall so notify the Contractor, in writing, and present to the Contractor a

1095 revised Exhibit “B” which shall include the portion of the Rates to be paid by the Contractor for Project

1096 Water under this Contract representing the Operation and Maintenance costs of the portion of such Project

1097 facilities which have been re-assumed. The Contractor shall, thereafter, in the absence of written notification

1098 from the Contracting Officer to the contrary, pay the Rates, 

1099 Charges, and Tiered Pricing Component(s) specified in the revised Exhibit “B” directly to the United States

1100 in compliance with Article 7 of this Contract.

1101 CONTINGENT ON APPROPRIATION OR ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS

1102 29. The expenditure or advance of any money or the performance of any obligation of the

1103 United States under this Contract shall be contingent upon appropriation or allotment of funds. Absence of

1104 appropriation or allotment of funds shall not relieve the Contractor from any obligations under this Contract. 

1105 No liability shall accrue to the United States in case funds are not appropriated or allotted.

1106 BOOKS, RECORDS, AND REPORTS

1107 30. (a) The Contractor shall establish and maintain accounts and other books and records

1108 pertaining to administration of the terms and conditions of this Contract, including: the Contractor's financial

1109 transactions, water supply data, and Project land and right-of-way agreements; the water users' land-use

1110 (crop census), land ownership, land-leasing and water use data; and other matters that the Contracting

1111 Officer may require. Reports thereon shall be furnished to the Contracting Officer in such form and on such

1112 date or dates as the Contracting Officer may require. Subject to applicable Federal laws and regulations,

1113 each party to this Contract shall have the right during office hours to examine and make copies of the other

1114 party's books and records relating to matters covered by this Contract.

1115 (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a) of this Article, no books, records,

1116 or other information shall be requested from the Contractor by the Contracting Officer unless such books,
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1117 records, or information are reasonably related to the administration or performance of this Contract. Any

1118 such request shall allow the Contractor a reasonable period of time within which to provide the requested

1119 books, records, or information.

1120 (c) At such time as the Contractor provides information to the Contracting Officer

1121 pursuant to subdivision (a) of this Article, a copy of such information shall be provided to the Operating

1122 Non-Federal Entity.

1123 ASSIGNMENT LIMITED--SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS OBLIGATED

1124 31. (a) The provisions of this Contract shall apply to and bind the successors and assigns of

1125 the parties hereto, but no assignment or transfer of this Contract or any right or interest therein shall be valid

1126 until approved in writing by the Contracting Officer.

1127 (b) The assignment of any right or interest in this Contract by either party shall not

1128 interfere with the rights or obligations of the other party to this Contract absent the written concurrence of

1129 said other party.

1130 (c) The Contracting Officer shall not unreasonably condition or withhold approval of

1131 any proposed assignment.

1132 SEVERABILITY

1133 32. In the event that a person or entity who is neither (i) a party to a Project contract, nor (ii) a

1134 person or entity that receives Project Water from a party to a Project contract, nor (iii) an association or

1135 other form of organization whose primary function is to represent parties to Project contracts, brings an

1136 action in a court of competent jurisdiction challenging the legality or enforceability of a provision included in

1137 this Contract and said person, entity, association, or organization obtains a final court decision holding that
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1138 such provision is legally invalid or unenforceable and the Contractor has not intervened in that lawsuit in

1139 support of the plaintiff(s), the parties to this Contract shall use their best efforts to (i) within thirty (30) days

1140 of the date of such final court decision identify by mutual agreement the provisions in this Contract which

1141 must be revised and (ii) within three (3) months thereafter promptly agree on the appropriate revision(s). 

1142 The time periods specified above may be extended by mutual agreement of the parties. Pending the

1143 completion of the actions designated above, to the extent it can do so without violating any applicable

1144 provisions of law, the United States shall continue to make the quantities of Project Water specified in this

1145 Contract available to the Contractor pursuant to the provisions of this Contract which were not found to be

1146 legally invalid or unenforceable in the final court decision.

1147 RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES

1148 33. Should any dispute arise concerning any provisions of this Contract, or the parties’ rights

1149 and obligations thereunder, the parties shall meet and confer in an attempt to resolve the dispute. Prior to

1150 the Contractor commencing any legal action, or the Contracting Officer referring any matter to Department

1151 of Justice, the party shall provide to the other party thirty (30) days’ written notice of the intent to take such

1152 action; Provided, That such notice shall not be required where a delay in commencing an action would

1153 prejudice the interests of the party that intends to file suit. During the thirty (30) -day notice period, the

1154 Contractor and the Contracting Officer shall meet and confer in an attempt to resolve the dispute. Except as

1155 specifically provided, nothing herein is intended to waive or abridge any right or remedy that the Contractor

1156 or the United States may have.

1157 OFFICIALS NOT TO BENEFIT

1158 34. No Member of or Delegate to Congress, Resident Commissioner, or official of the
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1159 Contractor shall benefit from this Contract other than as a water user or landowner in the same manner as

1160 other water users or landowners.

1161 CHANGES IN CONTRACTOR’S SERVICE AREA

1162 35. (a) While this Contract is in effect, no change may be made in the Contractor's Service

1163 Area or boundaries, by inclusion or exclusion of lands, dissolution, consolidation, merger, or otherwise,

1164 except upon the Contracting Officer's written consent.

1165 (b) Within thirty (30) days of receipt of a request for such a change, the Contracting

1166 Officer will notify the Contractor of any additional information required by the Contracting Officer for

1167 processing said request, and both parties will meet to establish a mutually agreeable schedule for timely

1168 completion of the process. Such process will analyze whether the proposed change is likely to: (i) result in

1169 the use of Project Water contrary to the terms of this Contract; (ii) impair the ability of the Contractor to pay

1170 for Project Water furnished under this Contract or to pay for any Federally-constructed facilities for which

1171 the Contractor is responsible; and (iii) have an impact on any Project Water rights applications, permits, or

1172 licenses. In addition, the Contracting Officer shall comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and

1173 the Endangered Species Act. The Contractor will be responsible for all costs incurred by the Contracting

1174 Officer in this process, and such costs will be paid in accordance with Article 25 of this Contract.

1175 FEDERAL LAWS

1176 36. By entering into this Contract, the Contractor does not waive its rights to contest the validity

1177 or application in connection with the performance of the terms and conditions of this Contract of any Federal

1178 law or regulation; Provided, That the Contractor agrees to comply with the terms and conditions of this

1179 Contract unless and until relief from application of such Federal law or regulation to the implementing

1180 provision of the Contract is granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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1181 NOTICES

1182 37. Any notice, demand, or request authorized or required by this Contract shall be deemed to

1183 have been given, on behalf of the Contractor, when mailed, postage prepaid, or delivered to the Area

1184 Manager, South-Central California Area Office, 1243 “N” Street, Fresno, California 93721, and on behalf

1185 of the United States, when mailed, postage prepaid, or delivered to the Board of Directors of the Gravelly

Ford Water District, 1836 West 5th 1186 Street, Madera, California 93637. The designation of the addressee

1187 or the address may be changed by notice given in the same manner as provided in this Article for other

1188 notices.

1189 CONFIRMATION OF CONTRACT

1190 38. The Contractor, after the execution of this Contract, shall promptly seek to secure a decree

1191 of a court of competent jurisdiction of the State of California, confirming the execution of this Contract. The

1192 Contractor shall furnish the United States a certified copy of the final decree, the validation proceedings, and

1193 all pertinent supporting records of the court approving and confirming this Contract, and decreeing and

1194 adjudging it to be lawful, valid, and binding on the Contractor.
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1195 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Contract as of the day and 

1196 year first above written.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By: /s/ William H. Luce, Jr. 

Acting Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region

Bureau of Reclamation

(SEAL)

GRAVELLY FORD WATER DISTRICT

By: /s/ Timothy DeSilva 

President of the Board of Directors

Attest:

By: /s/ Kenneth Basilia 

Secretary of the Board of Directors

(I:Grav.wpd)
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EXHIBIT A

[Map or Description of Service Area]
Contract No. 1-07-20-W0242-LTR1

EXHIBIT B

[Initial Rates and Charges]