(KMJ) – Time to push lawmakers for more water storage and dams – that was the message of a water forum organized by Congressman Devin Nunes. that took place in Tulare on Wednesday, August 30th.
Standing room only, as around 700 people crowded into the Heritage Complex at Tulare’s International Agri-Center to hear an update of the Valley’s water situation presented by Congressman Nunes.
Some ticketholders (including farmer Ed Brower and his son, seen above) were even turned away at the door by the Tulare Police & Sheriff’s Departments, who said that fire code would not allow anymore people to be allowed inside.
A six person panel comprised of Representative Devin Nunes, Representative David Valadao, Johnny Amaral of the Westlands Water District, Cole Upton, a local farmer, and Jason Philips, from the Friant Water District.
Nunes began by showing a PowerPoint of water outflows and other visuals, and sharing information from a handout titled “Drought By Design” that he says will continue to be updated with the latest figures.
He spoke of the damage done by environmentalists in their efforts trying to save fish, and named the Sierra Club, NRDC, and The Bay Institute – named as as “Environmental Radicals” in the handout – as part of the problem.
Nunes said California is not making the necessary monetary investments to keep infrastructure operational. The Central Valley Water Project and the State Water Projects enable water to be moved from the northern part of the state to Valley are not getting inflows of state money – and as result 25 million people will be affected if something is not done, said Nunes.
Nunes named solutions of building water storage and dams, and changing federal laws, urging the audience to write letters to their representatives to push for change.
“They should be demanding that the Governor bring 2.5 million acre feet to this area. They should be demanding that the U.S. Senate pass legislation that David Valadeo and I have moved through the Congress. It’s outrageous.” – Devin Nunes, U.S. Congressman (CA-22).
The congressman says there are five pieces of legislation that would help bring more water to the Valley’s Agriculture, but the Senate keeps blocking anything from moving forward.
The presentation was followed by a Q&A session with KMJ’s Ray Appleton reading questions submitted by the audience, which was mostly comprised of farmers, many asking how their future crops would be affected.
A group of students from Fresno also attended the forum, and were acknowledged by the panel..
