Friant-kern Canal project funded

SACRAMENTO — The South Valley Water Association praised Assemblyman Rudy Salas (D-bakersfield) for securing $4 million in the state budget for the Friant-kern Canal Pump-back Facility Project, a water conveyance project that will help improve the state’s water infrastructure to deliver water throughout the system.

“Thanks to Assemblyman Salas’ leadership, this money, along with the $3 million in federal funds, will help ensure a stable water-supply for the southern region of the San Joaquin Valley,” said Dan Vink, executive director of the South Valley Water Association. “This was a good outcome that took a lot of teamwork.”

This funding will be used to install permanent pump-back facilities with higher capacities along the southern segment of the Friant-kern Canal bringing more water to the Central Valley. Currently, the Friant-kern Canal has limited pump-back operational capacity, which is used occasionally to deliver water north from the Cross Valley Canal or water extracted from water banks on the Kern River.

“Completion of this project will bring stability and flexibility to California’s water system at a critical time when our local municipalities and farmers are striving to meet the state’s groundwater management goals,” said Assemblymember Salas. “The upgraded facility will further reduce water conveyance losses and improve the flexibility of operations within the Friant Division.”

The funding included in this year’s budget is the culmination of a multiyear effort by Assemblyman Salas and the South Valley Water Association to secure funding for conveyance projects in the Central Valley.

The South Valley Water Association consists of eight irrigation districts: Delano-earlimart, Exeter, Ivanhoe, Lower Tule River, Pixley, Shafter-wasco, Stone Corral and Tea Pot Dome. Collectively they provide water for more than 300,000 acres of irrigable farmland. Each irrigation district is a Friant Contractor.