Friant-kern included in appropriations

An appropriations bill for the budget year 2021 that needs to be passed by Congress to fund the Bureau of Reclamation includes several water projects critical to the Central Valley, including funding for repairs to the Friant-kern Canal.

The House Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill was introduced on Monday. The House Energy and Water Appropriations Committee will consider the bill today.

The bill includes $200 million for repairs of Bureau of Reclamation canals, including the Friant-kern Canal. Also included is $25 million to address the reduction of water storage and to reduce the water level is declining in Bureau Reclamation canals, including the Fraint-kern Canal. The $25 million would also be used to improve the ability to transport water from canals, including the Friant-kern Canal.

There’s also $4 million in the bill for the Sites Reservoir Project to improve long-term water sustainability to the Central Valley Project, which oversees federal water deliveries to the Valley, and also to state water projects.

“Never before has Congress made as serious of an investment in repairing the aging water conveyance facilities bottlenecking the delivery of water to the Central Valley,” Rep. T.J. Cox-d, said. “For years, farmers and communities up and down the Valley have spoken with one voice:

‘Fix the sinking Friantkern Canal or the Valley will literally dry up,’ but Washington would offer us scraps.

“This bill represents the full federal share of what’s needed to fix Friant-kern and it will take a big bite out of other major water problems afflicting the Valley. Increasing water storage and improving water supply reliability will be a game changer for hardworking farmers, ranchers, and families in the Central Valley, getting the water flowing and creating jobs.”

“Representative TJ Cox is a tireless advocate for the people of California’s Central Valley. As a direct result of his efforts, the fiscal year 2021 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill includes significant federal funding for the Bureau of Reclamation to repair critical California water infrastructure and projects throughout the West. I look forward to continue working with him on legislation to ensure a reliable and resilient water supply for the hard-working families and communities in the Central Valley,” said Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Chairwoman of the House Energy and

Water Appropriations Subcommittee.

The House of Representatives passed the Move Forward Act last week, which still needs to be passed by the U.S. Senate and signed by President Trump to become law. That legislation includes a total of $200 million solely for repairs of the Friantkern

Canal. Jason Phillips, CEO of the Friantkern Authority which oversees the canal, has estimated $450 to $600 million in repairs is needed to the canal.

The Move Forward Act also includes $100 million for rural communities to address their clean drinking water issues.