For Immediate Release
Contact: Elizabeth Jonasson
(559) 241-6233
Westlands Water District Statement on the One Year Anniversary of President Trump’s Executive Order 14181
Fresno, Calif. —Today, the Department of the Interior issued the approval of the Record of Decision for the Sites Reservoir Project, an important milestone in advancing new water storage for California. The decision includes a funding commitment of up to 25% of the project cost. The federal action coincides with the one‑year anniversary of President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order 14181, which directed federal agencies to expand water supply reliability, improve system operations, and expedite critical infrastructure.
The Sites Reservoir Project’s ability to store high flows during wet years for use during dry periods aligns directly with the goals of EO 14181 and complements recent operational improvements under Action 5, which have delivered significant water supply gains for communities and farms, while protecting our environment.
“Today’s announcement represents meaningful progress in modernizing California’s water system and underscores that we can do big projects in California” said Allison Febbo, General Manager, Westlands Water District. “Investments in new storage like Sites Reservoir, combined with operational improvements like Action 5, are essential to building a resilient water supply that can withstand the extremes of drought and flood. Westlands appreciates the Department of the Interior’s commitment to advancing infrastructure and management policies that strengthen reliability for the families, farms, and ecosystems that depend on a stable water supply.”
Over the past year, implementation of Executive Order 14181 and favorable hydrology have enabled Reclamation to make more than 200,000 acre-feet of additional water available to the Central Valley Project. This water historically would have flowed through the system unused.
Westlands Water District has long advocated for investments in infrastructure that improve the resiliency of California’s water system. Advancing Sites Reservoir builds on those gains by adding dedicated new storage capacity, but more is still needed. Increased surface water storage, conveyance modernization, groundwater sustainability, and operational flexibility are all necessary tools to ensure we can continue feeding the nation and support a robust regional economy.
“California’s water challenges require durable, adaptive, science-driven solutions, and we appreciate the administration’s leadership in advancing practical solutions ” Febbo added. “As the state continues to face the impacts of changing hydrology, meaningful progress on projects like Sites Reservoir positions California to capture and store water when it’s available and to reliably deliver it when it’s needed most.”
Westlands will continue collaboration with federal, state, and local partners as on projects and management practices that advance improvements in California’s water supply.
Read the full Press Release here:
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About Westlands Water District
Westlands Water District is recognized as a world leader in agricultural water conservation and has served the farmers and rural communities on the west side of Fresno and Kings counties for more than seven decades. As stewards of one of California’s most precious natural resources, Westlands continually invests in conservation and champions farmers deploying innovative irrigation methods based on the best available technology.