MILLERTON LAKE (KMJ) — The proposed Temperance Flat Dam and Reservoir project, is now significantly closer to reality.
The signing of an Memorandum of Understanding between the US Bureau of Reclamation and the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority Friday morning will determine how feasible the project will be to construct. It’ll also establish what needs to be done in order to apply for Proposition 1 funding too.
“California’s water system is facing extreme challenges, as we all know”, announced Congressman Jim Costa. “If we don’t make the same investments that our parents, and our grandparents made, we’re living on borrowed time. Period”.
Congressman Costa was one of a long list of local, state, and federal representatives there to witness the signatures being added to the Memorandum of Understanding.
“We put, every day, the food on America’s dinner table. And if we’re going to continue to do that in the 21st Century we’ve got to fix this broken water system, it’s that simple”.
The newly formed San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority is made up of County Supervisors from Fresno, Tulare, Madera, Kings, and Merced Counties. They join the leaders of cities, Tribes, and other involved agencies. The group of representatives will be collectively supporting the proposed project, and encourage other water infrastructure too.
“We’re all in this together”, adds Assemblyman Jim Patterson. “We’re working hard, our sleeves are rolled up, and this is the beginning of history”.
If the Temperance Flat Dam and Reservoir project gets the green light, it would create 1.2 million acre-feet of new water storage.
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
