State Assemblyman Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) and State Senator Andy Vidak (R-Hanford) have joined together to author a new storm water bill.

Assembly Bill 1649 urges Governor Brown to speed up water storage projects in the state, which is funded through the $7.12 billion Water Bond approved by voters in 2014. Salas and Vidak say the state is missing an opportunity to capture rainwater from the coming El Nino storms, which could help ease the severe drought California has experienced in recent years.

The legislators also say the Temperance Flat Dam near Auberry and the Sites Reservoir in Northern California have the best opportunity for proper water storage.

Kelli Forsch