Friant Kern Canal (USBR/Adam Nickels)
November 5, 2020 - Yesterday, Congressman Kevin McCarthy released the following statement on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation completing the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) review of the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project. Signing of the Record of Decision (ROD) marks completion of the required environmental reviews, which now allows this project to advance to the construction phase.
McCarthy released the following statement:
“With this action today, all of the environmental documentation is complete and this project can now move into the pre-construction and construction phases.
“From repairing the Friant-Kern Canal to issuing new updated, science-based regulations to bring our communities more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the President and his teams at the Interior Department and Bureau of Reclamation have done more in 4 years to end the neglect of previous Administrations and help Californians get the water they contract and pay for.
“I want to thank Secretary Bernhardt and Commissioner Burman for continuing to prioritize critical repairs to the Friant-Kern Canal. I also want to commend President Trump for never wavering from his commitment to get water flowing to Central Valley families, communities, and farmers. I look forward to working with the Trump Administration, the Friant Water Authority, and other stakeholders to continue to advance this important canal repair project.”
Local stakeholders released the following statements on the signing of the ROD:
“Today’s action by the Bureau of Reclamation to sign the ROD is the culmination of years of dedicated work and cooperation among the Friant Water Authority and our partners at the Department of the Interior, with critical support and assistance from Leader McCarthy and our other congressional representatives who have helped maintain momentum to achieve today’s outcome. On behalf of the nearly 15,000 farms and dozens of communities who rely on the Friant-Kern Canal, I extend our deep appreciation for Leader McCarthy for his leadership on this project, without which the long-term economic prosperity of the southern San Joaquin Valley would be in jeopardy.” - Friant Water Authority Chairman Chris Tantau
“Since 2017, Friant Water Authority has been working in lockstep with the Bureau of Reclamation to assess how much subsidence has diminished the Friant-Kern Canal’s capacity and how it can be fixed to benefit the communities of the southern San Joaquin Valley. Signing of the ROD affirms the commitment of our federal partners to seeing this project through.” - Friant Water Authority CEO Jason Philips
“For decades, Arvin-Edison Water Storage District has borne the brunt of the Friant-Kern Canal’s capacity limitations. We’re both the southernmost district on the canal and the single largest Class 2 water contractor, which means we live and die by our ability to recharge groundwater aquifers using water the canal delivers. Now that the ROD has been signed, we’re one step closer to implementing this project and restoring lost water supplies to the small communities and farmers in our district who rely on the aquifers this canal helps keep sustainable.” - Arvin-Edison Water Storage District President Edwin Camp
“Without repairing the Friant-Kern Canal, life as we know it in the San Joaquin Valley will change dramatically. The southern San Joaquin Valley is the top agricultural region in the United States, and our communities will only continue to thrive with federal and local leadership on investments that achieve long-term sustainability, like repairing the Friant-Kern Canal. Today moves us closer to that future.” - Porterville Irrigation District President Eric Borba
“It can’t be overstated: the southern San Joaquin Valley depends on surface water for its long-term sustainability. The signing of the ROD is a massive win for our communities, environment and agricultural industry at large. We are entering a long overdue era of investment in to our existing infrastructure, and Kern County Farm Bureau (KCFB) will continue collaborative efforts with stakeholders to ensure Kern County remains a leader in the global ag industry. The KCFB appreciates the efforts of Congressman McCarthy and the Bureau of Reclamation and commends them on their pursuit of bringing much needed water supplies to the Central Valley.” – John C. Moore III, President, Kern County Farm Bureau
“The final environmental hurdle has been cleared for the Friant-Kern Canal repair project. The Tulare County Farm Bureau applauds President Trump, his administration and our valley congressmen, especially Congressman McCarthy, for sheparding this project through the regulatory maze. As we all know, water is the engine that drives the San Joaquin Valley and it’s availability affects ALL residents. Our water concerns continue, but this is a refreshing step in the right direction.” - John C. Guthrie, President, Tulare County Farm Bureau
Background:
- In September 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation published the Final Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report for the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project (FKC Project) that identified a preferred alternative on correcting subsidence on the Friant-Kern Canal, as required by NEPA.
- Under NEPA, Reclamation was required to wait at least 30 days before signing the ROD, which formally selects the preferred alternative and completes the required environmental reviews of the FKC Project. The preferred alternative for the FKC Project includes realigning portions of the middle reach of the canal and raising the lining on other portions of the canal.
- In July 2020, Reclamation issued a final feasibility report to Congress for the FKC Project, which authorizes this project under the WIIN Act thereby making it eligible to receive construction funds when requested by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) and subsequently appropriated by Congress.
- In 2017, the Friant Water Authority discovered significant subsidence (up to 2 feet in some areas) along 33 miles of the Friant-Kern Canal in Tulare and Kern Counties. The subsidence has reduced the canal’s capacity to deliver water by 60% to the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District, Kern Tulare Water District, Sausalito Irrigation District, Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District, South San Joaquin Municipal Utility District, Tea Pot Dome Water District, and Terra Bella Irrigation District.
- In 2017, one of the wettest years in recent history, 300,000 acre-feet of water could not be delivered through the Friant-Kern Canal to those who contract and pay for it due to subsidence.
- In 2016, the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which was championed by McCarthy, was signed into law. Section 4007 of the law created a process by which water infrastructure projects, like the FKC Project, can be authorized by Congress and provided Federal funds of up to 50% of total project costs.
- Between Fiscal Year 2018 and Fiscal year 2020, Congressman McCarthy secured $4,550,000 for the FKC Project for studies and environmental compliance work at the request the DOI.
- Reclamation estimates the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project will cost $500,000,000, which will be financed through a combination of Federal and non-Federal funds.
- Built between 1939 and 1944, the Friant-Kern Canal is 152 miles long, delivering water from Millerton Lake to the eastern side of the Central Valley for irrigation and conjunctive use purposes, and terminates near Bakersfield, California.
Source: Congressman Kevin McCarthy
Trump Administration greenlights Friant-Kern Canal repair
Reclamation’s Record of Decision completes environmental process to restore critical water supply infrastructure for San Joaquin Valley
November 5, 2020 - SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On Wednesday, after the Trump Administration invested nearly $5 million to study and begin pre-construction work on the Friant Kern Canal Project, the Bureau of Reclamation signed the Record of Decision giving environmental clearance to repair a 33-mile stretch of the canal in California’s eastern San Joaquin Valley. The section of the canal has lost over half of its original capacity to convey water due to subsidence—a sinking of the earth from groundwater extraction. The repairs will eventually restore full water delivery to over one million acres of farmland and 250,000 residents.
“Since day one, the Trump Administration directed Reclamation to modernize infrastructure to ensure water reliability for California’s farms and communities,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “I am delighted Reclamation reached another of the Administration’s critical milestones for the San Joaquin Valley and look forward to seeing shovels in the ground in the near future.”
Signed into law in 2016, the bipartisan Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, championed by Leader Kevin McCarthy, Senator Feinstein, and Congressman Nunes created a process by which water infrastructure projects, like the Friant-Kern Canal Project, can be authorized by Congress and provided federal funds of up to 50% of total project costs.
This comes after an already long list of water actions from the Trump Administration including:
- On Oct. 19, 2018, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum on Promoting the Reliable Supply and Delivery of Water in the West.
- Completed the review of the long-term coordinated operations for the Central Valley Project and California State Water Project and subsequently to issue an updated Plan of Operations and Record of Decision
- On Feb. 19, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Memorandum on Developing and Delivering More Water Supplies in California while visiting Bakersfield, California.
- Established an interagency Water Subcabinet that will coordinate and streamline the Federal government’s actions on water.
“The team assembled by Reclamation has been outstanding and has worked hard, with no missteps, to keep this project on schedule,” said Jason Phillips, chief executive officer of the Friant Water Authority. “To me, it is another example of how the Trump Administration is dedicated to getting things done; things that really matter to people, cities, and farms in the Valley, and the Friant Water Authority is truly grateful for that.”
“I want to thank Secretary Bernhardt and Commissioner Burman for continuing to prioritize critical repairs to the Friant-Kern Canal,” said Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23). “With this action today, all of the environmental documentation is complete, and this project can now move into the pre-construction and construction phases. I also want to commend President Trump for never wavering from his commitment to get water flowing to Central Valley families, communities, and farmers. From repairing the Friant-Kern Canal to issuing new updated, science-based regulations to bring our communities more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the President and his teams at the Interior Department and Bureau of Reclamation have navigated complicated California water policy to secure multiple achievements in order to help Californians get the water they contract and pay for. I look forward to working with the Trump Administration, the Friant Water Authority, and other stakeholders to continue to advance this important canal repair project.”
“I want to thank President Trump and Secretary Bernhardt for their commitment to restoring Central Valley families and farmers their rightful supply of water,” said Congressman Devin Nunes (CA-22). “For the first time in decades, the federal government has provided the Valley steadfast support against the radical environmentalists’ crusade against agriculture. Today’s decision to advance this crucial infrastructure project — the Friant-Kern Canal restoration — is yet another historic victory for the Central Valley.”
Background:
The Friant-Kern Canal delivers water to more than one million acres of highly productive farmland and 250,000 residents. The diminished capacity in the canal has resulted in up to 300,000 acre-feet of reduced water deliveries in certain water years with effects most prominent in the middle reach of the canal (milepost 88 to milepost 121). The Project would restore capacity from the current estimated 1,600 cubic-feet-per-second to the original 4,000 cubic-feet-per-second in the most critical area near the Deer Creek check structure (milepost 103).The Project’s final Record of Decision is available at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=41341. Contact Rain Emerson for a copy at 559-262-0335 (TTY 800-877-8339).
Source: BOR
