Growers got up to speed on several infrastructure projects in the Central Valley after the Water Association of Kern County’s first annual Water Summit.

Water Association President Jeanne Varga says the message of Wednesday’s event in Bakersfield is that the drought is still here, despite the recent heavy rains. Attendees also heard about stricter groundwater drafting targets that are coming in 2020.

Speakers urged local water districts to fund their own infrastructure projects to avoid future drought emergencies.

Kelli Forsch