Richard Pombo: “I thank the gentleman; and with regard to the second project known as the Farmington Groundwater Recharge Demonstration…”

“I thank the gentleman; and with regard to the second project known as the Farmington Groundwater Recharge Demonstration Project, let me point out that the Stockton East Water District and its neighbors pump from a critically overdrafted groundwater basin in my district. The district also faces saline intrusion of up to 100 feet per year from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. This pending environmental disaster threatens the drinking supply of 300,000 residents and the $1.3 billion agricultural economy of my district. The Farmington Groundwater Recharge Demonstration Project addresses this problem. It is important for my colleagues to know that the WRDA of 1996 authorized a study to look at converting Farmington Dam into a storage facility for Stockton East Water District. Further, WRDA of 1999 authorized $25 million for conjunctive use and groundwater recharge projects within the Stockton East Water District. This study concluded that a demonstration project should be the next step. I support the efforts of the Stockton East Water District, and I am requesting the gentleman's support of up to $2.5 million in fiscal year 2002 for the project.”