Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has shelved plans to attach a rider to the Senate jobs bill that would have suspended Endangered Species Act pumping restrictions in California in the wake of an Interior Department decision to increase water allocations in the state.

Feinstein said last week that she would place her amendment on hold, reserving the right to bring it back should she deem it necessary. In a statement, Feinstein said she was pleased with Interior's decision to allow a 30 percent allocation for water users that get their supply from the federal Central Valley Project, which is run by the Bureau of Reclamation.

The senator also expects more water to be made available in the months ahead as winter and spring rains are forecast to continue.

"The department has confirmed with me that it is working to achieve the equivalent of an additional 8-10 percent further allocation through various administrative actions which are all consistent with" a pair of biological opinions under the ESA, she said.

The biological opinions referenced by Feinstein are currently in effect and effectively limited water pumping to protect the endangered delta smelt and salmon. But heavy winter rains have left California's reservoirs closer to full capacity, leading some to speculate that three years of drought in the state are at an end.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told reporters last week he expects water to continue flowing from federal reservoirs if the current outlook holds. He did caution, however, that the picture could change if the wet weather subsides (E&ENews PM, Feb. 26).

Sullivan reported from San Francisco.