A drone aerial view of Bethany Dams and Reservoir, located on the California Aqueduct and downstream from the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant.
Credit: CA. DWR

September 21, 2023 - WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder just reintroduced his Securing Access for the Central Valley and Enhancing (SAVE) Water Resources Act. The bill provides a wraparound approach to addressing water issues facing the Central Valley by increasing storage opportunities, spurring innovation, and making long-overdue investments in our aging water infrastructure. Water is a crucial resource for San Joaquin County’s agriculture industry, and Harder is committed to protecting it for generations to come.

"Water is our most precious resource in the Valley and we must do everything we can to protect it and end the cycle of flooding and extreme drought,” said Rep. Harder. “Pitting us against each other to fight over water isn’t the answer. We need to invest in our water infrastructure so that when we see historic rain like earlier this year, it can be stored for later use instead of flooding our families’ living rooms.”

Specifically, the bill:

INCREASES WATER STORAGE

• Provides $250 million in storage funding and expedites a record of decision to move forward on the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Phase II Project which will bring an additional 115,000 acre feet of water storage to the Valley.
• Helps farmers prepare for SGMA by leveraging federal resources to identify prime locations for groundwater storage and recharge in California and across the Western United States.

UPGRADES AGING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 

• Establishes a water infrastructure and drought solutions fund to provide $750 million for water surface and groundwater storage, water reclamation and reuse, and WaterSMART program projects.
• Reauthorizes the Rural Water Supply Act, which requires the Bureau of Reclamation to work with rural communities to improve access to safe and clean sources of drinking water.

SPURS INNOVATION

• Creates an innovative financing program that would provide low-interest federal loans to fund local water infrastructure projects.
• Invests in water reuse and recycling by increasing funding for WaterSMART programs from $50 million to $500 million and extending the program's authorization.
• Expedites a request from Stockton East Water District to provide water to unserved rural communities in their Central Valley Project service area.

The bill is cosponsored by Representatives John Garamendi (CA-8), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), and Eric Swalwell (CA-14) and is supported by the Stockton East Water District and Contra Costa Water District.

“Recent extreme drought has left no part of California untouched, posing significant challenges for farmers and communities,” said Rep. Costa. “The heavy rain and floods California received this year further demonstrate the importance of efficient water management. This bill will help increase water storage and spur innovation to ensure all communities have access to a sustainable water supply.”

“Meeting California’s current and future water needs should be a priority for every member of our Congressional delegation, Republican or Democrat,” said Rep. Garamendi. “I am pleased to cosponsor Congressman Harder’s commonsense bill again this year, which puts real solutions on the table to help modernize our state’s aging water infrastructure. The climate crisis demands that we act now to secure the water supply necessary to meet California’s growing needs. I call on Speaker McCarthy, Governor Newsom, and the rest of my Congressional colleagues from California to join us in getting serious about reform.”

“Stockton East Water District is well underway towards reaching our goal of 20,000 acre-feet of increased surface water use to ensure sustainability of the basin’s critically overdraft groundwater supplies by 2040. We have surface water supply, conveyance facilities, water treatment facilities, and some available capacity within each to deliver more water within the basin, but are limited by the service area identified within our Central Valley Project (CVP) contract. We are thankful for Congressman Harder’s support for contract changes necessary for groundwater sustainability and foresight by realizing our necessary changes provide a benefit already realized by other CVP contractors,” said Justin Hopkins, General Manager, Stockton East Water District.

“The Contra Costa Water District is very grateful for Rep. Harder’s leadership on the SAVE Water Resources Act. It contains several important provisions that will provide a direct benefit to our customers by making our water supply more durable and resilient,” said Ernie Avila, Board President, Contra Costa Water District.
Source: Congressman Josh Harder