Wednesday November 2, 2022
The Ripon Advance —
U.S. Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) recently led a traveling water tour through California’s Central Valley to discuss the state’s water delivery systems, water storage capacity, and regulations that make it increasingly difficult for agricultural producers and rural communities to access water.
“These discussions highlighted the reforms desperately needed to bring more water to the valley,” Rep. Valadao said. “For too long, the Central Valley has suffered from devastating drought conditions, unfair water allocations, and a gross mismanagement of the water we do have by Sacramento bureaucrats and environmentalists.”
During the tour, the congressman hosted U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR), ranking member of the U.S. House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, which has jurisdiction over America’s water resources, federal irrigation projects, generation of electric power from federal water projects, interstate water issues, and fisheries management.
The lawmakers met with water agencies, stakeholders, and farmers from across the valley, including in the Kings River Conservation District, the Westlands Water District, and in Kern County and the Tulare Irrigation District, among several others.