While the dust was still settling from the Nov. 6 mid-term elections, on Nov. 13-15, board Chair Richard Santos led a water district delegation to Washington D.C., to advocate for the board’s and water district’s interests with the administration and Congress.
Under the chair’s leadership, the water district advocated for several high-priority projects and initiatives in more than 20 meetings with the water district’s congressional delegation, elected and appointed officials, agency leadership and congressional committee staff.
These priorities included securing funding for the feasibility study on Phase II of the South San Francisco Bay Shoreline Project; continued support and funding for the Upper Guadalupe River Flood Protection Project; construction funding for Phase II of the Upper Llagas Creek Flood Protection Project; and funding and support for the proposed Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project. The delegation also advocated for increased Title XVI funding, which is an important source of funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for the water district’s recycled and purified water projects.
The water district makes two annual trips to Washington D.C., to advocate for priority projects and programs. These trips are significant opportunities for the water district’s board members and leadership to meet directly with federal appointed and elected officials and advocate for the water district’s important projects and initiatives that benefit the people and environment of Santa Clara County. In addition, these trips provide opportunities for federal officials to hear from board members and water district leaders about the importance of continued federal support for the water district’s critical flood protection, water supply and environmental stewardship efforts.
The board will lead the water district’s delegation on its next trip to Washington in the spring.
Valley Water News 