The Agriculture Department announced $9.7 million in emergency water assistance grants for 25 rural communities in California, now in its third year of drought. The grant program is aimed at communities suffering a significant decline in the volume or quality of drinking water. Some 75,000 people will be aided by the funds, said USDA. As an example, USDA said Farmersville in Tulare County would receive a $500,000 grant for pipelines to connect its water system to the community of Cameron Creek Colony, where 10 percent of residents have no water because wells have run dry.
On the same day, USDA announced $262 million for planning, design or construction to rehabilitate 150 dams in 26 states. In addition, 500 dam sites will be assessed for safety through the Watershed Rehabilitation Program. For a list of the projects, in states from Arkansas to Wyoming, click here.