Byron, CA (August 19, 2026) – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-09) visited Byron-Bethany Irrigation District to announce $3 million in federal funding toward replacing the century-old Wicklund Cut Pump Station, an important step toward securing reliable water deliveries for local agriculture.
Built in 1918, the station supplies irrigation water to more than 6,500 acres in and around Tracy. Aging equipment, electrical failures and seismic vulnerabilities have made replacing the facility a priority for BBID.
“If these pumps go dry, farms go dry,” Harder said, underscoring the station’s importance to the region.
The federal investment will help advance environmental review, planning and permitting, along with purchases of equipment that can take years to arrive. BBID continues to pursue the remaining funding, with a goal of bringing the replacement station online for the 2029 irrigation season.
Watch the video below for highlights from Harder’s visit and a closer look at what this investment means for BBID’s growers.
