Valadao Fights for Central Valley Water During Committee Oversight Hearing
Today, Tuesday, October 29, 2013, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing entitled "A Roadmap for Increasing our Water and Hydropower Supplies: The Need for New or Expanded Multi-Purpose Surface Storage Facilities."
The hearing examined the need and benefits of increased water storage and ways to expedite the construction of such facilities.
During the hearing, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-21) delivered the following remarks:
"Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening the subcommittee today to discuss the important issue of water storage and for your continued leadership on this subject.
"My Congressional District includes some of the most productive and diverse farmland in our nation. We are proud of our agricultural heritage and the crops we produce, but we know that we would not be where we are today without previous generations' decisions to invest in water infrastructure.
"Reservoirs and dams play an important role by capturing water in wet years, protecting families from flooding, and giving water managers the ability to provide a regular flow of water in times of drought. In addition, dams and reservoirs provide nearly 15% of all electricity in our home state of California and account for well over half of all renewable energy produced nationwide.
"Unfortunately, the investments in water storage made by previous generations have not continued into the modern day. Today, over two-thirds of all the Bureau of Reclamation's facilities are over 50 years old. In my home state, the Central Valley Project -- which was designed to provide critical water delivery to 22 million families and farmers -- is stretched thin and is now responsible for serving over 38 million individuals.
"Restricted by heavy handed regulation, and litigated by environmental activists who have turned suing the government into a multi-million dollar, taxpayer-funded industry, our nation's water systems have failed to keep up with today's demands.
"Today, farmers and families across my district are feeling the real impacts of restricted infrastructure growth. The most unfortunate part about recent water shortages is that it simply does not have to be this way. It is not that we as a society use too much water -- we have become more efficient. Rather, investment in our water infrastructure has failed to keep pace with our growing population and economy.
"In 2009, federal regulations magnified the impacts of a drought leaving farmers dependent on a 10% water allocation from the Central Valley Project. As a result, thousands of acres of farmland were fallowed and more than $1 billion in income and 20,000 jobs in the region were lost. The impacts are still being felt today.
"This year, because of onerous regulation under the Endangered Species Act, over 800,000 acre-feet of water was allowed to flow out to sea rather than be delivered to the farmers and families in my district who need it most. Today, water shortages and environmental red-tape are forcing California farmers to do with only 20% of their total water allocation. Next year, because of the same bureaucratic regulation, they may not receive any. For individuals, economies, and civilizations, the same truth holds true: without water, you die.
"Although there were many factors that contributed to the 2009 water crisis, one thing is clear. The ability to store more water in the wet years could have guarded against the crisis and the new one we are facing in 2014.
"Water storage provides many benefits, but the most important benefit it provides is the assurance that in times of drought, water will be there for families, to water crops, protect jobs, and continue to fuel our economy. We must invest in water infrastructure today so we can be assured of our tomorrow.
"I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to be here today to discuss the important topic water storage with the subcommittee and the witnesses today. I look forward to continuing to work with you and this subcommittee to expand water storage and ensure a reliable supply of high quality water for farmers and families across the United States."
Congressman Valadao also had the honor of introducing his constituent, Tom Barcellos, who served as a witness in today's hearing. Mr. Barcellos is the owner of Barcellos Farms and T-Bar Dairy located in Tipton, California. He has also served as a director on the boards of numerous water managers, including the Lower Tule River Irrigation District. Barcellos testified on behalf of Lower Tule River Irrigation District and the Family Farm Alliance on the importance of water storage to the agriculture industry in the San Joaquin Valley and across the country.
Source