June 11, 2005

Alliance Members Rally For More San Joaquin River Water Storage During House Resource Committee Field Hearing

(Fresno, California): A coalition of local elected officials, business, labor, agriculture and resource interests which make up the Valley Water Alliance held a rally today prior to the House Resource Subcommittee on Water and Power field hearing which addressed finding new water storage on the San Joaquin River. The Valley Water Alliance was formed as a result of the devastating economic impacts any water loss on the San Joaquin River would have on the region. Members of the coalition spoke out today regarding the need for additional San Joaquin River water storage to meet the competing demands being made for Central Valley water supplies.

"It is incumbent upon each and everyone of us here today to remind our friends, neighbors and business associates about the importance of San Joaquin River water to the economy of our region," said Dale Brogan, Secretary/Treasurer of the Valley Water Alliance. "We are rallying and providing testimony because this is an issue of critical importance to our future. We appreciate Congressman Radanovich and the entire Central Valley Congressional delegation's willingness to provide this field hearing where we can remind others of the importance of new water storage to our region."

"Interests such as the Natural Resource Defense Council will continue to compete for water we have legally relied upon for more than a half century, and we must work together to find a viable solution. The Alliance will continue to be a strong voice for all Friant water rights holders so the NRDC is reminded it is our water and our future which they are threatening."

"Water equals jobs in my county," said Supervisor Phil Larson of Fresno County, "without water we do not have jobs and the same goes for our neighboring counties as well. We must find a way to develop a critical, transparent evaluation method to explore all opportunities for enhanced storage in the region. We need water to fuel the jobs that fuel our economy, which means we need more storage. That is why business, labor, agriculture and resource interests have come together at this hearing today to remind all of us about the importance of water resources to our economy."

The Alliance was organized in response to efforts to re-establish water flow in portions of the San Joaquin River benefiting once native fish habitat. The water required would come from the communities, businesses and farmers along the eastern portion of the San Joaquin Valley who have relied on this resource for more than a half-century. The economic impacts of taking significant water releases from these communities, businesses and farmers would be devastating to the entire region.

A non-profit organization, the VWA board of directors includes elected officials and business owners from Merced to Kern Counties who recognize our water is our future. A partial list of members of the board of directors include representatives from each county board of supervisors, Mayor of Fresno Alan Autry, Mayor of Lindsay Ed Murray, Mayor of Orange Cove Victor Lopez, Richard Kuckenbecker of Kuckenbecker Farm Equipment, Larry Mapes of Farm Credit West, Bob Keenan of Building Industry Assoc. of Tulare/Kings, Tim Razzari of Razzari Ford, Fred Ruiz of Ruiz Foods, Lionel Pires of TF Tires and Service and Robert Silva of Silva Ford.