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New Delta Protections Part Of House Water Infrastructure Bill
harder district

Members of the House of Representatives last week voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA). Area Congressman Josh Harder successfully fought to include four critical Central Valley water programs in this bipartisan legislation, including $200 million for water infrastructure in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and new requirements for the Army Corps of Engineers to protect the Delta from harmful algal blooms.

“Since day one I’ve been fighting to make the Valley’s voice heard when it comes to water, and today I’m proud to say Washington has heard us loud and clear,” said Rep. Harder. “The bill we passed in the House includes $200 million in new funds for our Valley water infrastructure, brand new efforts to clean and protect the Delta’s ecosystem, and the long-term planning we need to support a whole new generation of water projects in our community. Now it’s time for the Senate to act and the President to pass it into law. As we stare down the barrel of another historic drought, we don’t have a second to lose.”

Specifically, Rep. Harder successfully included the following four provisions in the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 (WRDA):

• Authorizing $200 million in new environmental infrastructure funds for San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties to build water projects related to water supply, water conservation, wastewater treatment, and storm water retention;

• New requirements for the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta from invasive species including harmful algal blooms;

• Language to reauthorize the National Levee Safety Initiative to allow the US Army Corps of Engineers to continue building and maintaining San Joaquin County’s levees through 2026;

• Language requiring the US Army Corps of Engineers to study incorporating water resiliency and recharge methods in its projects. Local multi-benefit projects like Paradise Cut and Three Amigos projects exemplify this approach by providing flood prevention, wildlife habitat, and groundwater recharge benefits to the region.