(March 15, 2008) Lakewood, CA – Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) receives the Groundwater Ambassador Award from the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) at its first Annual Groundwater Festival that takes place during National Groundwater Awareness Week. During the award ceremony, the water district officials thanked the congresswoman for her ongoing efforts to secure federal funding for its water projects, including funds for the construction of a groundwater monitoring well to protect groundwater quality in the region. Pictured in the photo presenting the congresswoman (shown second on right) with an engraved crystal water pitcher from left to right: the WRD’s Board of Directors Vice President Lillian Kawasaki; Treasurer Sergio Calderon; and President Rob Katherman. Four other groundwater ambassadors were also honored: Assemblyman Ted Lieu (53rd Assembly District); Assemblyman Curren Price (51st Assembly District); State Senator Ron Calderon (District 30); and former Metropolitan Water District Chairman Phil Pace.
The Water Replenishment District covers 420 square miles of service area and is the regional groundwater management for nearly four million residents in 43 cities in southern Los Angeles County. The District manages two of the state’s most utilized groundwater basins, providing nearly 40 percent of the drinking water supply for households and businesses within the district’s boundaries. In the congresswoman’s 34th Congressional District, WRD services the following communities: Bell; Bellflower; Bell Gardens; Commerce; Cudahy; Downey; Huntington Park; Florence; Maywood; Vernon; and Walnut Park.
The full text of the congresswoman’s acceptance remarks are as follows:
“I thank Lillian Kawasaki and the Water Replenishment District for the honor of being named “Groundwater Ambassador” and for holding this Groundwater Festival to highlight the importance of our precious groundwater resources in Southern California.
As you know, our state faces a severe water shortage brought on by several factors, one of which is that for many months, Southern California has had some of the driest spells on record in California. Also adding to the challenge of our water shortage is the court decision on endangered smelt in the Delta, which has significantly reduced the water from Northern California, and the eight-year drought along the Colorado River which has greatly reduced one of the major water suppliers to our region.
To address successfully these challenges, it is critical for us to work together to make water conservation a priority – by all Southern Californians – and to support new ways to recycle existing water sources.
The Water Replenishment District (WRD) is at the forefront of this effort and today’s Groundwater Festival is one example.
I commend WRD for the important role it plays in preserving our groundwater basin, enhancing our groundwater quality by pushing back the harmful intrusion of salt water, and for utilizing innovative techniques to replenish our existing supply of groundwater reserves.
I was happy that last year I was able to secure the federal dollars to support WRD’s groundwater monitoring wells, which, Lillian mentioned, and as you know, help to maintain the viability of our reserve system, essential to preserving water quality in our region.
Again, I sincerely thank the Water Replenishment District for their award. And I thank each one of you for your genuine concern for a most valuable California resource – our precious water, without which life simply is not possible. I also thank those of you who brought your families to WRD’s Groundwater Festival. By your presence here today, you are all Groundwater Ambassadors for you are teaching your children a very valuable lesson – that they must treasure, respect, and protect our valuable water resources if their children and the children of generations to come are to prosper and enjoy the beauty and quality of life we all share by living in Southern California.”
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