Tuesday September 6, 2022
Turlock Journal —
Assemblyman Adam Gray, D-Merced, has secured a $40 million budget allocation for river restoration projects within his district and throughout the state, his office announced Wednesday.
The allocation will further the efforts of River Partners, a conservation group that played a key role in creating Dos Rios Ranch Preserve, the first state park located entirely within the borders of Stanislaus County.
The Merced, Tuolumne, Stanislaus and San Joaquin rivers all flow through Gray’s 21st assembly district — the Tuolumne River sits about 10 miles to the north of Turlock, while the Merced River is about 15 miles south — and is one reason water policy has been a core issue for Gray.
“These rivers are not only the lifeblood of my district, providing the foundation for every farm, every job, and every bite of the food we eat, they also are vibrant, living wildlife habitats that need to be protected and improved,” Gray said in a press release. “River Partners has been a leader in helping us preserve our rivers. Now, we can concentrate on making them better for both wildlife and people.”