By WUD Legislative Affairs Team

SACRAMENTO, CA – WUD CEO Anja Raudabaugh joined leaders from across the Central Valley on Monday morning to speak in support of Senator Melissa Hurtado’s effort to fully fund the repairs necessary to restore the capacity of the Friant–Kern Canal. Senator Hurtado, also joined by her legislative colleagues, Assemblymembers Devon Mathis and Jim Patterson, is urging the chairs of the legislative budget committee to invest $300 million in California’s water infrastructure to help combat the water storage and conveyance issues plaguing the state, which have been amplified as a result of the current, historic drought conditions persisting in 2022.

“85% of all of CA’s school lunch program comes from south of Fresno County, 70% of the nation’s affordable protein is produced from Merced County South, and 100% of the world is touched by the food we grow…” Said Raudabaugh in her remarks, “We can’t afford any more recreational outrage. We have to have rural community leaders, like Senator Hurtado, coming together to support solutions we can call get behind, regardless of political preference.”

“As communities across the state face water restrictions for health and safety needs, and drought profiteering is at an all–time high, it’s critical we invest in our water infrastructure,” said Senator Hurtado. “31 million people rely on the California water conveyance systems to get clean, reliable water from the State Water Project and others, including 6 million in Southern California localities. Without these investments today, the consequences will be bad for us all.”

The full press conference can be viewed at https://youtu.be/–ByOHXX9J5s . Senator Hurtado represents the 14th Senate district and focuses on rural community issues that often go unheard. Those interested in supporting her efforts on water or other issues can reach out to WUD’s Legislative Affairs team at [email protected].