[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 127 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1074]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING BYRON-BETHANY IRRIGATION DISTRICT

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                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 27, 2017

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
Byron-Bethany Irrigation District for being awarded the Association of 
California Water Agencies' 2017 Excellence in Water Leaders Award.
  Byron-Bethany Irrigation District serves crucial farming communities 
in California's Central Valley including the city of Tracy, which is 
located in my district. The water they distribute allows their 
customers to cultivate successful farmland that both promotes a 
successful economy and feeds the world.
  This award is in recognition of BBID's bold actions in defending the 
water rights of the farming communities within their area of service. 
In the face of the California drought, the State Water Resources 
Control Board issued curtailment orders for the local community that 
would drastically affect the crucial farmland that BBID serves. The 
District General Manager, Rick Gilmore, and the district's seven member 
Board of Directors launched an effective legal effort to protect the 
water rights of local farming communities. They argued that the state's 
analysis of available water was inaccurate. The state's dismissal of 
the case against BBID in 2016 was a victory for small farming 
districts, and cemented the water rights that serve as a foundation for 
BBID's community.
  The Excellence in Water Leaders Award is presented annually by the 
Association of California Water Agencies to an individual or group that 
has made a visible contribution to California water. ACWA is a 
statewide association of public agencies and their members are 
responsible for about 90% of water delivered in California. ACWA's 
recognition of Byron-Bethany Irrigation District's impact on the water 
rights for small farming communities is an immense honor.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending the Byron-
Bethany Irrigation District for receiving this impressive award and for 
their exuberance and dedication to our local farming communities within 
California's Central Valley.

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