WATER: Harder Announces $3 Million for Critical Repair Project at Tracy Pump Station
100+ year old pump station serves 6,500 acres of farmland, but pumps and generators are failing
Funding will help get pumps replaced, restore power reliability, and start project a year ahead of schedule
TRACY – Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced $3 million in federal funding that he secured for critical repairs to a century-old water pump station in Tracy. The Wicklund Cut Pump Station provides water to thousands of acres of farmland, but aging infrastructure is jeopardizing that mission. The funding will help get pumps replaced and restore power reliability, as well as start the project a year ahead of schedule.
The Wicklund Cut Pump Station is a lifeline for Valley water deliveries:
- Operated by the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District (BBID) and first built in 1918, the facility delivers water supplies through a series of pumps and canals to over 6,500 acres of farmland.
- The facility’s original design life was 50 years, but since then, pumps are struggling to lift water 20 feet in the air and a primary power failure has forced the facility to run on backup generators.
- Without a fix, this crisis will continue to grow worse and worse, threatening crucial water deliveries across the region.
“We cannot allow the Wicklund Cut Pump Station to fail,” said Rep. Harder. “Securing this funding is a crucial step towards getting repairs started ASAP, but we have more work to do to stop a shutoff from happening. I’m grateful for the hardworking team at the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District that keeps water flowing every single day, and I’m going to make sure that this project has the full support it needs from Washington.”
The restoration project will not only replace failing parts, but also support energy efficiency and water conservation, and help ensure water deliveries for both farmland and communities like Mountain House that depend on BBID for drinking water.
“This funding is a major step toward protecting reliable water deliveries for the farmers and communities we serve,” said BBID General Manager Ed Pattison. “We appreciate Congressman Harder’s leadership and support for this critical project, which will modernize aging infrastructure, improve efficiency and help ensure the Wicklund Cut Pump Station continues serving the region for generations to come.”
Harder was joined by elected officials from the City of Mountain House and representatives and staff from BBID.
ABOVE: Rendering of replacement pumps and new infrastructure
ABOVE: Harder tours the Wicklund Cut Pump Station and water infrastructure
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