Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner John Keys will present a Water 2025 Challenge Grant Award to the Tulare Irrigation District (District) during a ceremony in Tulare, California, on Friday, December 2, 2005. 

The $300,000 grant will allow the District to install a system to remotely monitor key facilities and to modernize the control and measurement of water at major canal structures and regulation basins.  These improvements will provide for a higher level of service to users while improving water management at the District level.

The District serves the agricultural community surrounding Tulare, covering about 65,000 acres of productive farmland.  The District owns and maintains about 330 miles of canals, ditches, and other facilities to serve some 240 family farms.

WHAT:           Award Ceremony
WHEN:           Friday, December 2, 2005, at 2 p.m.
WHERE:        Heritage Complex @ International Agri-Center
                        4500 S. Laspina Street, Tulare, California

The Water 2025 Challenge Grant program funds activities that will make more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation, efficiency, and water marketing projects.  More information about the Water 2025 program can be found at http://www.doi.gov/water2025/.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Donna Potter at 916-978-5103.