Kings County Times

WASHINGTON – Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) expressed dissatisfaction with the Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) updated 2024 water allocations for Central Valley Project (CVP) contractors. In response to Reclamation's announcement of a 40% allocation for South-of-Delta contractors, Congressman Valadao stated, "A 5% increase is insufficient for our family farms and downstream communities who rely on meaningful allocations to grow the food that feeds the world."

Since the initial allocation announcement in February, Congressman Valadao has been advocating for higher allocations to reflect the abundant water supply in California. Following Reclamation's March decision to increase allocations, Valadao wrote a letter to Reclamation urging a substantial increase in CVP water allocations for South-of-Delta agricultural contractors.

Central Valley agriculture heavily depends on Reclamation's allocations for yearly planning. Congressman Valadao, a lifelong dairy farmer, has firsthand experience with the challenges faced by farmers and communities due to low water allocations. He has persistently called for allocations to meet the needs of the agriculture community, which forms the backbone of the Central Valley economy.

"I will continue urging transparency in Reclamation's decision-making and a significant increase in water allocations for South-of-Delta agriculture," Congressman Valadao affirmed, emphasizing the importance of fair and adequate water distribution to support the thriving agricultural sector in the region.