Merced County leaders to voice need for water and more in D.C.

Water advocates and political leaders from around Merced County are set to board a plane early Monday on their way to Washington, D.C., where they will lobby for funding for water, transportation and economic development back home.

The annual trip will focus on are ways to increase water supplies and capacity in the region, as well as seek drought assistance.

The projects for which the contingent will seek funding came after an open call to all cities in the county, said Stacie Dabbs, spokeswoman for the Merced County Association of Governments.

Dabbs said the projects being pushed were chosen by consensus by the group of officials on the trip. “It’s actually a very collaborative process,” she said.

Some projects include a $6 million water plant in Dos Palos, a $1.5 million feasibility study for the Black Rascal Creek Flood Control Project in Merced and a change to the Exchequer Dam spillway to increase storage.

A few officials from the Merced Irrigation District will be part of the delegation. Spokesman Mike Jensen said MID will be advocating for its own efforts to expand the storage capacity of Lake McClure, as well as participating in conversations about the general effects of the drought in the region.

“The water supply in eastern Merced County is at a crossroads,” he wrote in an email. “Although we are experiencing a fourth year of drought, numerous interests from beyond the community continue seeking to divert more water away from our region.”

He said the Merced County officials will discuss those challenges with lawmakers.

Merced City Councilman Josh Pedrozo said the state’s drought has been well publicized, so it’s up to the Merced County leaders to approach the nation’s lawmakers with specific plans on how each can help the county.

The contingent’s projects regarding transportation and economic development are related, at least for the city of Merced. The city continues to seek a $10 million grant for the construction of the second phase of Campus Parkway, a four-lane expressway that has been billed as vital to UC Merced’s success.

The funding has not come through in the past two years of the grant process.

Pedrozo, who has been on the trip before, said the annual effort is important because it reminds lawmakers about Merced County. “(It’s good) to let them know that this is not just written words on a piece of paper, but that these are real people that you’re affecting by not supporting this stuff,” he said.

Also during this trip, Los Banos continues to seek funding for the $230 million Los Banos Bypass, and Gustine has its eyes on a $7.4 million revitalization of the city’s downtown. Several other projects are also on the list.

Other officials participating in the trip are Merced Mayor Stan Thurston and Councilman Mike Murphy; Gustine Councilman Joe Oliveira and Councilwoman Ellen Hasness; Livingston City Councilman Gurpal Samra; Merced County Supervisors John Pedrozo and Daron McDaniel; UC Merced Office Of Governmental Relations Executive Director Cori Lucero and several others.

This story was originally published May 16, 2015 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Merced County leaders to voice need for water and more in D.C.."