[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 166 (Friday, October 21, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT

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                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 21, 2022

  Mr. VALADAO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
achievements of the Westlands Water District on their 70th Anniversary.
  Located on the west side of Fresno and Kings Counties, the Westlands 
Water District is home to some of the most fertile and productive 
farmland on the planet. On September 8, 1952, per the request of 
farmers on the westside of the San Joaquin Valley, the Fresno County 
Board of Supervisors officially announced the creation of the Westlands 
Water District. Initially, the district encompassed approximately 
400,000 acres of land. After merging with West Plains Water District in 
1965 and purchasing Broadview Water District in 2007, the district 
reached its current size of approximately 615,000 acres. On average, 
the district and its farmers provide for over 35,000 jobs and generate 
over $4.7 billion in economic activity each year.
  One distinct aspect of the Westlands Water District is that it 
remains one of the only water districts in the world that distributes 
irrigation water exclusively through a highly efficient system of 
pressurized pipe. With approximately 1,100 miles of buried pipe 
throughout the district, they are able to track every drop of surface 
water delivered in the district--from the moment the water enters the 
system to the moment it reaches the field. Additionally, the district 
and its farmers have invested millions of dollars each year in its 
water infrastructure system so the system can continue serving all of 
the district's water users for future generations.
  For seven decades, even while battling droughts, unpredictable 
climates, and changing regulations, the farmers within the Westlands 
Water District have been leaders in implementing cutting-edge water 
conservation technologies and efficient irrigation practices through 
their hard work, innovative technologies, and commitment to continuous 
improvements. The district and its farmers have been, and will continue 
to be, an essential part of developing a robust water infrastructure 
throughout the Central Valley.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
join me in honoring the achievements of the Westlands Water District on 
their 70th Anniversary.

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