John Duarte thinks the water troubles bedeviling California’s Central Valley are human-caused. But he doesn’t blame climate change. “No, I think the water strains in the West are completely tied to policy choices we’ve made,” says the farmer and freshman Republican.
Riparian rights, water allocations and reservoir capacity are all big issues in the 13th District, home to some of the most productive agricultural land in the nation. And it’s personal for Duarte: Several years ago, he was ordered to pay a $2.8 million fine for violating the Clean Water Act by clearing some wetlands for wheat fields, which turned into a cause célèbre among conservatives. Duarte eventually settled for $1.1 million without admitting liability.
Earlier this month, he brought other members of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries to his district for a field hearing focused on California’s water challenges.
