Congressman Fong Tours Pine Flat Dam, Highlights Need to Accelerate Federal Feasibility Study for Dam Raise Project

SANGER, Calif. — Last week, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) toured Pine Flat Dam and met with officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the Kings River Conservation District (KRCD), and the Kings River Water Association (KRWA) to discuss ongoing water conservation research and long-term infrastructure needs critical to the Central Valley.

The tour, held Monday, November 10, at the USACE Pine Flat Dam Headquarters in Sanger, provided an in-depth look at current water operations, reservoir management, and the advanced modeling work underway to support potential improvements at the dam. During his visit, Congressman Fong received briefings on efforts to raise the Pine Flat spillway by 12 feet – an infrastructure upgrade that would add roughly 120,700 acre-feet of new storage to the reservoir’s existing one-million-acre-foot capacity. 

The project was authorized for initial study in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024 but requires a federal feasibility study to be conducted. Congressman Fong is actively pressing to launch that study without delay. In June 2025, he led a bipartisan letter with Reps. Gray, Valadao, and Costa urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin the Pine Flat Dam feasibility study well before FY 2028, citing the urgent need for additional storage and stronger flood protection across the region.

“Pine Flat Dam remains one of the most important water infrastructure assets in the Central Valley. Ensuring we have the storage capacity and flood protection needed for the future is essential to our communities, our farms, and our economy,” said Congressman Fong (CA-20). “I appreciated the informative tour and opportunity to hear directly from the Army Corps of Engineers, KRCD, and KRWA on this important project. I will continue pushing for an expedited federal feasibility study so we can break ground as soon as possible. When it comes to water in the Central Valley, delays are simply not an option.”

During the visit, KRCD General Manager David Merritt also briefed Congressman Fong on KRCD’s planned Unit 4 hydroelectric expansion and how recent federal energy funding decisions impact the district. The upcoming $5 million project will add new generating capacity at the Pine Flat Hydroelectric Facility, enabling it to capture flows during low-water periods and continue producing power even in dry conditions.