Media Contact: Michelle.Sherwood@sen.ca.gov

FRIANT KERN CANAL, CA – Senator Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) today released the following statement after presenting the second funding installment of $100 million for repair of the state’s major conveyance infrastructure.  This funding is from Senator Hurtado’s 2021 Budget win of $200 million to repair the state’s broken water canals which have been damaged by subsidence—the actual shrinking of land.  Today, Senator Hurtado presented the check to the Friant Water Authority that manages one of the four projects that will benefit from this funding, the Friant Kern Canal.  The other projects are the Delta Mendota Canal, the San Luis Canal and the California Aqueduct.

“As our climate continues to change, and as drought conditions worsen, investing in the state water infrastructure is vital, not just to move water, but to ensure we have enough food to feed Californians and the country,” said Senator Hurtado. 

"With World Food Day just around the corner, I am proud to celebrate this essential investment in our food system. This $100 million was hard won and it will fund critical repairs to California’s water conveyance canals. Still, It is only the beginning, only a drop in the bucket of what we need when it comes to the state’s water infrastructure. We must invest in our water security—to prevent it from malicious cyber-attacks, we must invest in our water storage, and we must continue to invest in repairing existing water infrastructure. California’s health, wellbeing and our human security relies on future water investments.”

“This second installment of funding to help fix the San Joaquin Valley’s major canals can’t come at a more critical time,” said Jason Phillips, CEO of Friant Water Authority. “The Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project is well underway, and the public commitment from the State of California is of great assistance in its progress.”

Jennifer Pierre, State Water Contractors- “We applaud the Governor and the Legislature’s commitment to responsible investments in California’s future, specifically by doing the necessary work of investing in the current and future viability of the water delivery infrastructure that will always be necessary to meet California’s water needs. We must continue making smart investments to repair subsidence damage to our water infrastructure to meet our state’s water needs and deliver on the promise of clean, affordable water for all – especially as we adapt to our new climate reality.”

“We appreciate Senator Hurtado’s fierce advocacy and leadership in delivering critical funding to help the Central Valley achieve the water security our communities and growers need,” said Jacob Villagomez, Director of State Governmental Affairs, California Citrus Mutual.  “There is certainly more work to be done and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Senator Hurtado for years to come.

“Today’s presentation of the second $100 million dollar installment to fortify and improve the Friant-Kern Canal is significant. These are the imperative investments that the State of California must continue to make, to ensure a secure water future for all Californians. The California Fresh Fruit Association remains grateful for the significant work done by Senator Melissa Hurtado to secure these important funds,” – Ian LeMay. President, California Fresh Fruit Association.

In a historic move, Senator Hurtado secured $200 million (over 2 years) in the California Budget in 2021. Four projects will receive funding under the California Budget Act of 2021. Construction on the Friant Kern Canal began in January, and funding for the Delta-Mendota Canal, San Luis Canal, and the California Aqueduct was allocated over the last 2 years.

Last spring, DWR released $29.8 million to repair the Friant-Kern Canal, and $3.3 million to repair the Delta-Mendota Canal. The Friant-Kern Canal delivers water to one million acres from Fresno to Bakersfield, and serves more than 250,000 Californians. The Friant-Kern Canal has lost more than 60 percent of its original conveyance capacity due to subsidence. The Delta-Mendota Canal conveys water over 116 miles from its head works in Byron to its outlet in Mendota that supports 1.2 million acres of farmland in the San Joaquin, San Benito and Santa Clara valleys.  It also delivers water to more than 2 million Californians and approximately 150,000 acres of wetlands that support the Pacific Flyway.

The Friant-Kern Canal, the Delta-Mendota Canal and major portions of the California Aqueduct, have degraded and are losing water as a result of subsidence – the actual shrinking of land. For example, repair of these facilities will benefit Valley cities such as Fresno and Bakersfield, as well as cities throughout Southern California. The Delta-Mendota Canal delivers water to 1.2 million acres of farmland across the San Joaquin, San Benito and Santa Clara Valleys, delivering water to more than 2 million Californians. Additional funding will be released to repair the San Luis Canal and the California Aqueduct.

Senator Hurtado’s bill--Senate Bill 559—The State Water Resiliency Act of 2021—as introduced would have allocated $785 million to repair vital water delivery systems that provide drinking water to communities throughout California and to sustain the state’s leading agricultural economy. The funds would have gone to fixing the Friant-Kern Canal, the Delta-Mendota Canal and major portions of the California Aqueduct, all of which have degraded and are losing water as a result of subsidence – the actual shrinking of land. Congressman Jim Costa and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein have companion legislation in Congress.

In his 2021 May Revise, Governor Gavin Newsom proposed $200 million to help repair the canals. In the budget ultimately adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, $100 million was allocated to fixing the canals. An additional $100 million has been secured in this year’s budget.

About Senator Melissa Hurtado

Senator Melissa Hurtado represents a new generation of Latina leaders as the youngest woman ever elected to the California State Senate and a product of immigrant parents. Senator Hurtado represents the 14th Senate District and focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard — access to clean air and water, food insecurity and poverty, inequities in environmental policies, agriculture and access to health care. In July 2020, she was appointed to the national Biden Latino Leadership Committee alongside former Labor Secretary and current Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis – the only two California Latinas on the Committee.

For more information, visit Senator Hurtado’s Website here or find her on Twitter at @Senator_Hurtado

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