Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif) today released the following statement on the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed today between the San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure JPA and the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the feasibility analysis of the Temperance Flat reservoir:

“I’m pleased to see the Bureau of Reclamation and San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure JPA agree to this memorandum of understanding, which takes them one step closer to completing the feasibility study on the proposed Temperance Flat reservoir.

“This year’s disappointing El Niño highlights the importance of investing in projects to store water across the state from the wet years for use in the dry years. That’s why the $2.7 billion for storage in the state water bond, paired with $600 million in the bill I’m working to pass in Congress, is so important. But in order to spend those funds, we need these storage projects ready to go as soon as possible, and today’s action is a key step toward that goal.”