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Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the climate crisis and federal drought prevention efforts at the Tujunga Spreading Grounds

Federal, state and local leaders gather to discuss the future of water system infrastructure.

By Jason Goode
Kamala Harris at the Tunjunga Spreading Grounds on Friday, January 20, 2023.
(Photo by Jason Goode)

The mid-afternoon sunlight danced across the watery blue basin of the Tujunga Spreading Grounds in Sun Valley, California on Friday. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the Spreading Grounds to spotlight successful efforts by the Biden-Harris administration to secure funding for local infrastructure projects.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the administration plans to extend $12 billion to western water system infrastructure projects. “This funding will help build diversified water projects like the Tujunga Spreading Grounds in communities across the West, increasing drought resilience and protecting water resources,” a White House official said.

Harris stressed the importance of building infrastructure to withstand droughts and floods and multilateral cooperation from federal, state and local governments to maximize and preserve clean potable water for the future.

Harris talked about how the Tujunga Spreading Grounds are a model for the future development of water systems. “Work that is happening in this facility and in California [is] an example of what can and should be happening throughout our country and around the world,” Harris said.

Harris’ motorcade arrives at the Tujunga Spreading Grounds at 1:30 p.m., where she discussed federal efforts working to mitigate the effects of drought and floods.
Harris’ motorcade arrives at the Tujunga Spreading Grounds at 1:30 p.m., where she discussed federal efforts working to mitigate the effects of drought and floods. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Harris said a major goal for this funding is to “build up resilience and adaptation [by] investing in smart ways to store water so that we will have that water in times of crisis.”
Harris said a major goal for this funding is to “build up resilience and adaptation [by] investing in smart ways to store water so that we will have that water in times of crisis.” (Photo by Jason Goode)

After Harris spoke, Wade Crowfoot, the California Natural Resources Secretary, discussed the weather turmoil in California in recent weeks after nine successive atmospheric river storms slammed the state. “We have recently pivoted from the driest three-year period since 1896 to the wettest three weeks on record,” he said. “This weather whiplash is challenging us and challenging our infrastructure as never before.”

“We need to understand how to capture all of the precipitation that falls in the set of storms, like that which we just had, for extended dry periods which we continue to face,” Crowfoot said.

This spring, the California Natural Resources Agency will focus on how to acquire and maintain the water from mountain snow melt that creates high river flows and gather it into reservoirs, and more importantly, into the ground for future use.

Crowfoot, standing in front of Harris, Senator Alex Padilla, and Congressman Tony Cardenas, explains that a key step in the future of water maintenance is to recycle drinking water. “Science tells us that hotter temperatures mean that we'll lose about 10% of our water supply by 2040 … so we need to supplant or replace that water supply. Some of that is through groundwater recharge. A lot of that is through water recycling, using water molecules more than once,” Crowfoot said.
Crowfoot, standing in front of Harris, Senator Alex Padilla, and Congressman Tony Cardenas, explains that a key step in the future of water maintenance is to recycle drinking water. “Science tells us that hotter temperatures mean that we'll lose about 10% of our water supply by 2040 … so we need to supplant or replace that water supply. Some of that is through groundwater recharge. A lot of that is through water recycling, using water molecules more than once,” Crowfoot said. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Mark Pestrella, the director of Los Angeles County Public Works, explains the spreading grounds system employed at Tujunga.
Mark Pestrella, the director of Los Angeles County Public Works, explains the spreading grounds system employed at Tujunga. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Padilla listens to Harris as she explains how federal funding will be used to support projects that can have a substantial impact on improving the state's water infrastructure.
Padilla listens to Harris as she explains how federal funding will be used to support projects that can have a substantial impact on improving the state's water infrastructure. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Cardenas points out the storage capabilities and a level of water containing 18 feet of water. “That means the spreading grounds and over time are going to make enough water to sustain millions of people for generations to come,” Cardenas said.
Cardenas points out the storage capabilities and a level of water containing 18 feet of water. “That means the spreading grounds and over time are going to make enough water to sustain millions of people for generations to come,” Cardenas said. (Photo by Jason Goode)
Harris stayed at the event for 25 minutes. After leaving, Padilla, Horvath, and Cardenas further spoke about local collaboration and the Biden administration’s demonstrated commitment to California.
Harris stayed at the event for 25 minutes. After leaving, Padilla, Horvath, and Cardenas further spoke about local collaboration and the Biden administration’s demonstrated commitment to California. (Photo by Jason Goode)


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