WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement on Governor Gavin Newsom’s announcement that due to recent storms, California is ending some of the state’s water limits and expects to be able to provide 75% of the requested water supplies to State Water Project users in 2023.

In January, Congressman Valadao led a letter to Governor Newsom requesting he waive pumping restrictions and prioritize and expedite water storage projects to help the state be better prepared for future weather events. Read the full letter here.

“For years, my constituents in the Central Valley have suffered from drought conditions, burdensome regulations, and below adequate water allocations,” said Congressman Valadao. “The Governor’s announcement is welcome news and a relief to farmers and rural communities throughout the Valley. Unfortunately, it does not change the fact that we’ve wasted a seemingly immeasurable amount of water because we do not have the proper storage.  For years, I have stressed the dire need to increase water storage, but extreme environmentalists and Sacramento bureaucrats have grossly mismanaged our water and prevented these projects from getting off the ground. While I am grateful for this rain and the Governor’s temporary relief, California’s water problems are far from over.”

Background:

Congressman Valadao has been a leader in California water issues and has long called on the state to build more water storage to make better use of surplus water years and be more resilient to drought.

• Congressman Valadao introduced the WATER for California Act, a critical piece of legislation that would increase water storage infrastructure, streamline operations, and increase accountability.
• Earlier this month, Congressman Valadao took to the House Floor to stress the importance of water storage ahead of expected atmospheric rivers.
• This week, Congressman Valadao highlighted the dire need to cut red tape and build more water storage in California to OMB Director Shalanda Young during a House Budget Committee hearing this week.
• Following the Bureau of Reclamation’s 2023 water allocation announcement, Congressman Valadao released a statement urging water allocations not be reduced as the water year progresses.

In 2022 when the initial water allocation announcement for CVP contractors was 0%, Congressman Valadao released a statement that read in part, “This dire situation emphasizes the need for more storage capacity so we can capture water when we have surplus.”

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