U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) this week commended the March 4 release of a new timeline by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete the $74 million Success Reservoir Enlargement Project (SREP), which will reduce flood risks and improve his constituents’ water supply.
“In another major step forward, the Army Corps recently announced a timeline for completion of the enlargement project, with construction expected to be finished in 2023,” Rep. McCarthy said on March 5. “Raising and widening the spillway is vital to the safety of Porterville’s nearly 60,000 residents and the protection of thousands of acres of farmland below Success Dam.”
The Army Corps plan calls for widening the existing spillway and raising it 10 feet to increase the capacity of the reservoir by 28,000 acre-feet.
“Increasing flood protection to Porterville and Tulare County from Lake Success has been a top priority of mine in Congress,” the congressman said. “That is why I brought senior Army Corps officials to Porterville in 2016 to tour Lake Success and meet with community leaders to advocate for the enlargement project.”
Rep. McCarthy last year worked with the Army Corps to secure full federal funding for the project.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the Army Corps and our community to ensure the project remains on track,” he said.
Local community leaders joined Rep. McCarthy in support of the Army Corps’ timeline.
“The Success Reservoir Enlargement Project began nearly 40 years ago and, after numerous interruptions, the Tule River Association is pleased the Army Corps has released a timeline to completion,” said Richard Schafer, Tule River Watermaster. “I want to thank Congressman McCarthy for his continued efforts to advance the Success Reservoir Enlargement Project to completion to help Porterville and Tulare County, and all other works that he performs for the nation.”
Dennis Townsend, 5th District Tulare County (Calif.) Supervisor, said there’s now “a sense of urgency” to get this project completed. “There is a heightened emphasis on water storage and the need to get this done on the quickest possible timeline,” he said.
Martha Flores, mayor of the City of Porterville, Calif., said the project “will have tremendous benefit to the community and broader region both in terms of flood protection and water storage.” She also thanked Rep. McCarthy and the stakeholders of the Tule River Improvement Joint Powers Authority for their continued support “for this long-needed project.”