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Rep. Costa Announces Approximately $32.9 Million In Water Infrastructure Funding For Valley

July 31, 2009

Costa: This Is Important FundingReady 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 towater districts and cities south of the Delta. The Bureau of Reclamationidentified drought-relief projects throughout California, many in Costa'sdistrict, that will share in $40 million under the American Recovery andReinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Water districts and cities south of theDelta received over 80% of the allocated funding.

"This isencouraging 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 theshort term and interim efforts to bring water to our farm communities duringthis drought," Costa said. "Improving the way our water districts, citiesand counties can transfer, store, or pump water is critical in times ofdrought. These funds will allow infrastructure to be built today whichwill allow our region to weather periods of drought both now and into thefuture. At our constant urging, the Bureau of Reclamation worked directly withsouth of the Delta water interests to identify these projects, and I want tothank them for this coordination. I also want to thank Secretary Salazar forreleasing these funds."

Costa hasbeen working tirelessly with Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazarand the Bureau of Reclamation on Californiawater issues for seven months to bring short and long-term water solutions to California. Inlate June, Costa was successful in bringing Secretary Salazar to Fresno to hear fromfarmers, farm workers and Valley residents on the ongoing water challenges.

Two weeksago, Costa was instrumental in providing $10 million in the Energy and WaterAppropriations bill for the Intertie and Two-Gates project and an amendmentthat would allow additional water transfers. This legislation passed theHouse, and recently was included in the Senate version of the Energy and WaterAppropriations bill which passed this week.

In additionto ARRA funding for drought, Reclamation and the California Department of WaterResources have created a Drought Water Bank, a measure that will makeadditional supplies of water obtainable now and in future times of drought orshortage. The Drought Water Bank acquisition team may purchase water fromwilling sellers upstream of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and transfer thewater to willing buyers using State Water Project or Central Valley Projectfacilities.

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

WestlandsWater District, Fresno, CA 93703

ReclamationARRA Funding: $7,500,000

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

ByronBethany Irrigation District, Byron,CA 94514

ReclamationARRA Funding: $525,000

Fundingwill be used for two projects within the water district. The projectsinclude about 1,000 feet of temporary pipeline, temporary lifts pumps, and theinstallation of a new irrigation well. The pipeline and lift pumps willbe used to move water within the district as well as to pump water into the Delta-Mendota Canal. The additional well willincrease the availability of water for irrigation.

CentralCalifornia Irrigation District, LosBanos, CA 93635

ReclamationARRA Funding: $19,000

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

DelPuerto Water District, Patterson,CA 95363

ReclamationARRA Funding: $4,260,000

Fundingwill be used for 35 projects within the water district. The projectsinclude about 2.1 miles of temporary pipeline, temporary lifts pumps, wellenhancement and rehabilitation projects, and the installation of 25 newwells. The pipelines and lift pumps will be used to move water within thedistrict as well as to pump water into the Delta MendotaCanal. The wellenhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency and yieldof the wells to make more water available for irrigation. The additionalwells will increase the availability of water for irrigation.

FirebaughCanal Water District , Mendota,CA 93640

ReclamationARRA Funding: $475,000

Fundingwill be used for a water system improvement project within the waterdistrict. The project includes approximately 1 mile of temporarypipeline, temporary lifts pumps, flow meters, and water valves. Thepipeline and lift pumps will be used to move water within the district as wellas to pump water into the Delta-MendotaCanal. The watersystem improvement project will address the immediate need of additional waterwithin the district's service area as well as the Delta-Mendota Canalservice area and will increase the amount of water available forirrigation.

FresnoSlough Water District, Tranquillity, CA 93668

ReclamationARRA Funding: $305,000

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

GrasslandWater District, Los Banos, CA 93635

ReclamationARRA Funding: $2,098,500

Fundingwill be used for two projects within the water districts. The projectsinclude enhancement and rehabilitation of existing wells and the installationof new wells. The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects willincrease the efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available forirrigation and for wildlife habitat. The additional wells will increasethe availability of water for irrigation and wildlife habitat.

GrayLodge and Pixley Wildlife Refuges, Gridley, CA 95948 and Delano, CA93216

ReclamationARRA Funding: $3,164,000

Fundingwill be used for projects within both refuges. The projects include theinstallation of up to five new wells. The additional wells will increasethe availability of water for better wildlife and wetlands habitat.

JamesIrrigation District, San Joaquin,CA 93660

ReclamationARRA Funding: $1,604,000

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

MercySprings Water District, Firebaugh,CA 93622

ReclamationARRA Funding: $315,000

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

PachecoWater District, Fresno, CA 93711

ReclamationARRA Funding: $755,500

Fundingwill be used for two projects within the water district. The projectsinclude the enhancement and rehabilitation of seven existing wells. Thewell enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency andyield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation within thedistrict's service area. The additional wells will increase theavailability of water for irrigation.

PanocheWater District, Firebaugh, CA 93622

ReclamationARRA Funding: $2,600,000

Fundingwill be used for six projects within the water district. The projectsinclude about 2 miles of temporary pipeline, temporary booster pumps, wellenhancement and rehabilitation projects, and the installation of five newwells. The pipelines and lift pumps will be used to move water within thedistrict. The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increasethe efficiency and yield of the wells to make more water available forirrigation. The additional wells will increase the groundwater availabilityof water for irrigation throughout the district's service area.

San Luisand Delta-Mendota Water Authority, LosBanos, CA 93635

ReclamationARRA Funding: $2,264,000

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

San LuisWater District, Los Banos, CA 93635

ReclamationARRA Funding: $1,450,000

Fundingwill be used for five projects within the water district. The projectsinclude a well enhancement and rehabilitation project and the installation offour new wells. The well enhancement and rehabilitation project willincrease the efficiency and yield of one existing well to make more wateravailable for irrigation. The additional wells will increase theavailability of water for irrigation.

TranquillityIrrigation District, Tranquillity, CA 93668

ReclamationARRA Funding: $612,000

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

TulareWater District, Tulare, CA 93274

ReclamationARRA Funding: $925,000

Fundingwill be used for two projects within the water district. The projectsinclude enhancement of 2 and rehabilitation of 26 existing wells. Thewell enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiency andyield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation.

VoltaWildlife Area, Los Banos, CA 93635

ReclamationARRA Funding: $1,570,000

Fundingwill be used for to develop up to two new wells in the wildlife area. Theadditional wells will increase the availability of water for better wildlifeand wetlands habitat and reduce the overall water demands on the Central ValleyProject.

WestStanislaus Irrigation District, Westley,CA 95387

ReclamationARRA Funding: $2,515,000

Fundingwill be used for 13 projects within the water district. The projectsinclude about 1 mile of temporary pipeline, valves, flow meters, requiredfittings; well enhancement and rehabilitation on three projects, and theinstallation of nine new wells. The pipelines will be used to move waterwithin the district as well as to pump water into the Delta-Mendota Canal. The well enhancement and rehabilitation projects will increase the efficiencyand yield of the wells to make more water available for irrigation. Theadditional wells will increase the availability of water for irrigation.

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