WASHINGTON — Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) urged Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to invest in Central Valley water infrastructure during a House Appropriations hearing. This comes at the heels of his repeated calls for the Biden administration to include significant water infrastructure investments in its upcoming infrastructure package. In his questioning, Rep. Harder pushed Sec. Haaland to commit to supporting the Del Puerto Canyon and Patterson Conveyance Projects in the Central Valley.
“In the boom and bust cycles of water the best way to prepare for the dry years like this one is to store water in the wet years,” said Rep. Harder. “In my district we have a particularly important water project which was authorized in the WIIN Act, the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir, as well as the Conveyance Project that is also essential. It’s my top priority in office to help advance these desperately needed projects. So, Secretary Haaland, I’d love to hear from you. How will your department’s budgets support water infrastructure especially water storage in the Western United States?”
In her response, Sec. Haaland affirmed the need to prepare for drought years like this one by investing in water infrastructure.
The exchange is available for use HERE.
Right now, 77% of California, including Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, are experiencing ‘severe drought.’ Experts now expect a fire season that is longer and more intense than normal. Increased temperatures and decreased river flows are expected to negatively impact reservoir capacities across the state and the Central Valley.
