Media Contacts: Nancy Lungren, Deputy Secretary of Public Affairs, (916) 531-3039, nlungren@cdfa.ca.gov, Steve Lyle, Director of Public Affairs, (916) 654-0462
Event scheduled for February 13, 2007
SACRAMENTO, February 9, 2007–Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura will join Resources Secretary Mike Chrisman at the World Ag Expo on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. for a public forum on the Schwarzenegger Administration’s Water Bonds: Propositions 1E and 84. Panelists will include Jason Peltier, deputy assistant secretary for water and science at the U.S. Department of the Interior and Luana Kiger, special assistant to the state conservationist from U.S. Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service. The event will be held at the International Agri-Center Heritage Complex Theater, 4500 South Laspina Street, Tulare, CA 93274
“Protecting our water supply, levies and infrastructure is very important to farmers and ranchers,” said Secretary Kawamura. “With the population of California growing significantly, we need to be good stewards of our water in order to sustain agriculture.”
“As we recognize the rapidly changing dynamics of our planet, and the challenge that global climate change presents, the way we manage our water infrastructure must also change,” Chrisman said. “Thanks to Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership, we are securing a safe and reliable water supply, protecting people and property from flood and ensuring the state’s productive agricultural harvest.”Governor Schwarzenegger introduced the water bonds last year. They were both approved by voters in the November 2006 General Election. Proposition 1E addresses the need for sufficient funding for disaster preparedness and flood prevention. Proposition 84 addresses water quality, safety and supply; flood control; natural resource protection and park improvements.
Following the forum, Secretaries Kawamura and Chrisman will tour the show grounds and interact with visitors and exhibitors at the 40th anniversary of the world’s largest agricultural exposition. The event attracts more than 1,600 exhibitors and 100,000 attendees from around the world, and boasts cutting edge technology from the farming, ranching and forestry industries.
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