California Rep. David Valadao introduces water bill as drought worsens

Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., introduced sweeping state water legislation on Thursday to address water supply concerns in the state’s agricultural center amid persisting drought conditions.

The Working to Advance Tangible and Effective Reforms (WATER) for California Act focuses on operational stability, infrastructure, and accountability to bring more water to the Central Valley.

“For too long, the Central Valley has suffered from devastating drought conditions, unfair water allocations, and a gross mismanagement of the water we do have by Sacramento bureaucrats and environmentalists,” Valadao said in a statement.

“This bill will bring more water to the farmers, businesses, and rural communities in the Valley and throughout California, doing everything possible to survive this devastating drought. I promised my constituents that I would fight to secure a reliable and clean supply of water for our communities. This legislation would do just that by streamlining operations, expanding water storage infrastructure, and increasing accountability.”

Now in its third year of drought, the state has asked residents to limit their indoor and outdoor water usage. Shortages have been keenly felt in the San Joaquin Valley and its multi-billion-dollar agriculture industry.

The area was also the birthplace of the National Farm Workers Association, which eventually became the United Farm Workers.

“Access to a clean, reliable, and affordable supply of water is critical for the health and well-being of Valley residents, businesses, and farmers,” Valadao said in an email on Friday.

“The WATER for California Act puts people over fish and will bring more water to those in our community who need it most,” he added, referring to the Delta smelt – an endangered species that state water regulators have throttled pumping to protect.

The fish has come to symbolize what they consider to be unfair environmental restrictions. In 2016, then-candidate Donald Trump promised at a Fresno rally to “open up the water” for farmers and mocked “a certain kind of three-inch fish.”

Environmentalists have defended the smelt as an “indicator species” critical to the ecosystem.

Valadao was joined by the rest of the California Republican delegation in introduction of the water bill.

“As we continue to suffer through another year of drought, solutions must address both moving water to our communities and storing water during wet years for use during dry ones,” said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose district borders Valadao’s.