Costa: This Is Important Funding Ready To Go Now For Present And Future Periods Of Drought 

WASHINGTON, DC- Today, Congressman Jim Costa (D-Fresno) announced that approximately $32,957,000 million has been awarded to water districts and cities south of the Delta.  The Bureau of Reclamation identified drought-relief projects throughout California, many in Costa’s district, that will share in $40 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).  Water districts and cities south of the Delta received over 80% of the allocated funding.

“This is encouraging news for our farmers, farm workers, and residents of our Valley, and part of a continuing effort that we are pushing every day to deal with the short term and interim efforts to bring water to our farm communities during this drought,” Costa said.  “Improving the way our water districts, cities and counties can transfer, store, or pump water is critical in times of drought.  These funds will allow infrastructure to be built today which will allow our region to weather periods of drought both now and into the future. At our constant urging, the Bureau of Reclamation worked directly with south of the Delta water interests to identify these projects, and I want to thank them for this coordination. I also want to thank Secretary Salazar for releasing these funds.”

Costa has been working tirelessly with Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and the Bureau of Reclamation on California water issues for seven months to bring short and long-term water solutions to California.  In late June, Costa was successful in bringing Secretary Salazar to Fresno to hear from farmers, farm workers and Valley residents on the ongoing water challenges.

Two weeks ago, Costa was instrumental in providing $10 million in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for the Intertie and Two-Gates project and an amendment that would allow additional water transfers.  This legislation passed the House, and recently was included in the Senate version of the Energy and Water Appropriations bill which passed this week. 

In addition to ARRA funding for drought, Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources have created a Drought Water Bank, a measure that will make additional supplies of water obtainable now and in future times of drought or shortage. The Drought Water Bank acquisition team may purchase water from willing sellers upstream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and transfer the water to willing buyers using State Water Project or Central Valley Project facilities.

Funding benefits sixteen water and irrigation districts, and will include the installation of temporary pipelines and pumps, drilling and installation of new water wells, well-enhancement projects, and a groundwater monitoring effort.  Projects include the following:

Westlands Water District, Fresno, CA 93703

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $7,500,000

Funding will be used for two projects within the water district.  The projects include enhancement and rehabilitation of five wells and the installation of 15 new wells.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation. 

Byron Bethany Irrigation District, Byron, CA  94514

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $525,000

Funding will be used for two projects within the water district.  The projects include about 1,000 feet of temporary pipeline, temporary lifts pumps, and the installation of a new irrigation well.  The pipeline and lift pumps will be used to move water within the district as well as to pump water into the Delta-Mendota Canal.  The additional well will increase the availability of water for irrigation. 

Central California Irrigation District, Los Banos, CA 93635

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $19,000

Funding will be used for a well enhancement project within the water district.  The project will clean, develop, and install a pump and motor on an existing well.  The well will then be able to move water within the district as well as to pump water to neighboring districts.  The well enhancement project will increase the efficiency and yield of the well to make more water available for irrigation. 

Del Puerto Water District, Patterson, CA 95363

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $4,260,000

Funding will be used for 35 projects within the water district.  The projects include about 2.1 miles of temporary pipeline, temporary lifts pumps, well enhancement and rehabilitation projects, and the installation of 25 new wells.  The pipelines and lift pumps will be used to move water within the district as well as to pump water into the Delta Mendota Canal.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation.

Firebaugh Canal Water District , Mendota, CA 93640

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $475,000

Funding will be used for a water system improvement project within the water district.  The project includes approximately 1 mile of temporary pipeline, temporary lifts pumps, flow meters, and water valves.  The pipeline and lift pumps will be used to move water within the district as well as to pump water into the Delta-Mendota Canal.  The water system improvement project will address the immediate need of additional water within the district’s service area as well as the Delta-Mendota Canal service area and will increase the amount of water available for irrigation. 

Fresno Slough Water District, Tranquillity, CA 93668

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $305,000

Funding will be used for the installation of a new irrigation well for the district.  The well will increase the availability and reliability of irrigation water for the district. 

Grassland Water District, Los Banos, CA 93635

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $2,098,500

Funding will be used for two projects within the water districts.  The projects include enhancement and rehabilitation of existing wells and the installation of new wells.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation and for wildlife habitat.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation and wildlife habitat. 

Gray Lodge and Pixley Wildlife Refuges, Gridley, CA 95948 and Delano, CA 93216

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $3,164,000

Funding will be used for projects within both refuges.  The projects include the installation of up to five new wells.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for better wildlife and wetlands habitat. 

James Irrigation District, San Joaquin, CA 93660

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $1,604,000

Funding will be used for the installation of four new irrigation wells for the district.  The wells will increase the availability and reliability of irrigation water for the district. 

Mercy Springs Water District, Firebaugh, CA 93622

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $315,000

Funding will be used for the installation of a new irrigation well for the district.  The well will increase the availability and reliability of irrigation water for the district. 

Pacheco Water District, Fresno, CA 93711

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $755,500

Funding will be used for two projects within the water district.  The projects include the enhancement and rehabilitation of seven existing wells.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation within the district’s service area.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation. 

Panoche Water District, Firebaugh, CA 93622

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $2,600,000

Funding will be used for six projects within the water district.  The projects include about 2 miles of temporary pipeline, temporary booster pumps, well enhancement and rehabilitation projects, and the installation of five new wells.  The pipelines and lift pumps will be used to move water within the district.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation.  The additional wells will increase the groundwater availability of water for irrigation throughout the district’s service area. 

San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority, Los Banos, CA 93635

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $2,264,000

Funding will be used for a groundwater monitoring project throughout the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority service area in coordination with the U.S. Geological Survey.  Groundwater wells will be used to document changes in aquifer levels and groundwater quality.  Private contractors will be used to install 16 new wells that will be included in the monitoring program.  Monitoring will also be conducted for possible land subsidence.  The monitoring effort will protect the aquifer from overdraft and alert district member agencies of possible problems associated with groundwater extraction, minimize economic loss for the surrounding community, and preserve employment. 

San Luis Water District, Los Banos, CA 93635

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $1,450,000

Funding will be used for five projects within the water district.  The projects include a well enhancement and rehabilitation project and the installation of four new wells.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation project will increase the efficiency and yield of one existing well to make more water available for irrigation.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation. 

Tranquillity Irrigation District, Tranquillity, CA 93668

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $612,000

Funding will be used for the installation of a new irrigation well for the district.  The well will increase the availability and reliability of irrigation water for the district and for a neighboring district. 

Tulare Water District, Tulare, CA 93274

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $925,000

Funding will be used for two projects within the water district.  The projects include enhancement of 2 and rehabilitation of 26 existing wells.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation. 

Volta Wildlife Area, Los Banos, CA 93635

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $1,570,000

Funding will be used for to develop up to two new wells in the wildlife area.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for better wildlife and wetlands habitat and reduce the overall water demands on the Central Valley Project. 

West Stanislaus Irrigation District, Westley, CA 95387

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $2,515,000

Funding will be used for 13 projects within the water district.  The projects include about 1 mile of temporary pipeline, valves, flow meters, required fittings; well enhancement and rehabilitation on three projects, and the installation of nine new wells.  The pipelines will be used to move water within the district as well as to pump water into the Delta-Mendota Canal.  The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation.  The additional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation. 

The $40 million investment in these projects is part of President Barack Obama’s $1 billion investment of ARRA funding provided by the Department of the Interior for water projects across the West. In April, Secretary Salazar announced $260 million in ARRA funding to address California’s current drought conditions and meet the State’s long-term water supply infrastructure needs. The total funding for California water-related activities under the Interior portion of ARRA is $381 million to expand water supplies, repair aging water infrastructure and address drought mitigation.