Secretary Salazar, Senior Administration and Congressional Officials Hold Town Hall Meeting on California Water Shortage

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and members of the California Congressional Delegation hosted a town hall meeting in Fresno, California Sunday June 28 to announce multiple steps the Obama Administration is taking to alleviate the heavy toll on Californians resulting from the ongoing water shortage. Among the actions taken, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, in conjunction with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, will be charged with overseeing and coordinating the federal response to short-term and long-term water supply and environmental challenges that are affecting the State of California.

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    “This community has my commitment, and the commitment of the Obama Administration, that we will work with state and local officials to address continuing conflicts associated with transporting water from northern California through the Bay Delta – that includes fisheries-related conflicts and other deteriorating environmental conditions in the Bay Delta,” Secretary Salazar told the audience. Pictured left to right are Secretary Salazar, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor and California Secretary of Resources Mike Chrisman. At the table on the right are California Congressional Representatives George Radanovich, Dennis Cardoza, Devin Nunes and Jim Costa. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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    Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor addresses a question from the audience. On his left is Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes, and to his right, California Secretary of Resources Mike Chrisman. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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    More than 800 hundred people came to the town hall held at California State University, Fresno. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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    Comedian Paul Rodriguez owns 40 acres of nectarines is head of the Latino Water Coalition. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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    The panel took many questions and comments from the audience addressing all sides of the issues involved. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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    Secretary Salazar made several key announcements including appointing Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes as lead official for the Interior and the Obama Administration to coordinate the federal response to California's water supply issue. [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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    Secretary Salazar with Representative Jim Costa (left) and Representative Dennis Cardoza (right). [Photo Credit: Tami A. Heilemann DOI]

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