The Friant Water Authority has inked a deal with the Bureau of Reclamation to restore capacity that has been lost to subsidence for the Friant-Kern Canal. The cost-share agreement secures nearly $400 million for the project.
“Although challenging, it was important for Friant contractors to continue financing their portion of the Friant-Kern Canal repairs together, as a family, irrespective of being north or south of the pinch point,” said Friant Water Authority Chairman Cliff Loeffler.
The announcement coincided with new legislation in Congress proposing more than $600 million to fix California’s canals. Senator Dianne Feinstein and California Reps. Jim Costa, along with John Garamendi and Josh Harder, are leading the effort.
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Federico Barajas, director of the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority, praised the bill. He said that “this year’s low water allocations… only reinforce the need to focus investments in two key areas—increased water conveyance and increased water storage.”
The bill notably prohibits any of the money to be used for adding new storage or enlarging canals.
