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Contact: Spencer Pederson
2022254540
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Radanovich Applauds State Legislature for Passage of Water Bond
Washington,
Nov 5 -
Congressman George Radanovich (R-Mariposa) today released the following statement on the historic $11.14 billion water bond and legislative package passed by the California state legislature early yesterday morning.
“I commend the work of the legislature, particularly Senator Cogdill and Assemblyman Villines, as well as Governor Schwarzenegger for their tireless efforts on this historic and vital water bond. Our state’s economy is absolutely dependent on a certain and steady supply of water to San Joaquin Valley farmers. Agriculture is one of the state’s largest economic engines, an engine that runs on water and is currently sputtering due to an aging water infrastructure and overzealous environmental regulations.
“The water bond that the state legislature passed is an enormous step in the right direction when it comes to providing water certainty to San Joaquin Valley growers and farmers. While I would have liked to have seen explicit language for Temperance Flat Dam included in the three billion dollar surface storage provision, any new surface storage is a positive development.
“One of the most encouraging aspects of the measure is the long term ability to build a conveyance system around the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta that will help ease many of the pumping restrictions currently holding water from the Valley. I have been saying for years that the combination needed to dramatically improve California’s water delivery and infrastructure is Temperance Flat Dam, a peripheral canal around the Delta, and Sites Reservoir—it seems as if Sacramento has finally woken up and started moving in that direction.
“The last few years have been extremely difficult for families in the Valley. Environmental restrictions on water, coupled with low rainfall and a struggling state and national economy have created a perfect storm that has brought devastating unemployment levels to our communities. While this water bond provides hope for long term solutions to California’s broken water system, we must keep fighting for the short term fixes to get water back to our Valley.”
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