The money is intended to help farmers, farm workers and rural communities.
Mr. Obama held a roundtable in Firebaugh, about 45 minutes west of Fresno. Valley Public Radio's Rebecca Plevin spoke with a fourth-generation farmer there today and says money isn't enough.
"They don’t need financial aid right now; what they need is water. And he says that in the short term, they need to start pumping water from the Delta; and in the long term, they really need more water storage," reports Plevin.
The President is also visiting a farm in Los Banos this afternoon.
Joining him on the trip are California Governor Jerry Brown, U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer and Congressman Jim Costa.
![0217 obama P 0217 obama P](/media/1225291/0217-obama-P_600x450.jpg)
President Barack Obama speaks to the media on California's drought situation Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 in Los Banos, Calif. (Wally Skalij/ AP Photo, Los Angeles Times)
![In 2021, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts. Andrew Nixon / CapRadio; Associated Press, file](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12262257/012622climatewhiplash-p.png)
January 28, 2022Last year, California saw everything from intense drought to torrential rain. Researchers and water agencies say that the future of the state’s drought depends on adapting to these shifts.
![Snow geese fly over the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge complex in Willows on Oct. 6, 2021. Photo by Nina Riggio for CalMatters](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12261318/110221-birds-drought-nr-cm-517-p.jpg)
November 11, 2021As the drought dries up California’s wetlands, traveling birds such as ducks, geese and eagles are struggling to survive and breed. “This drought is bad. The odds are against us,” a state expert said.
![In this Sept. 23, 2013 file photo, water flows through fish diversion louvres at the John E. Skinner Delta Fish Protective Facility from the Clifton Court Forebay on its way to the Harvey O. Banks pumping plant, near Tracy, Calif. AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12257099/021221_california-water-drought-p.jpg)
June 23, 2021Drought resilience depends on location but also extraordinary engineering — determining which California places are running out of water this year and which remain in good shape.
![Boaters fish on the Sacramento River outside of Isleton. Water supplies from the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta are insufficient, so the state has warned thousands of users to halt pumping. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12259071/061521_sanjoaquinsacramentoriverdelta_aw_sized_01_061721-p.jpg)
June 17, 2021About 4,300 users were issued notices to halt diversions from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
![Kayakers make a long trek to the water's edge at a drought-stricken Lake Mendocino, currently at 29% of normal capacity, in Ukiah, Calif., Sunday, May 23, 2021. California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency for most of the state. Josh Edelson / AP Photo](/cdn-cgi/image/format=auto,width=186,height=140,fit=crop/media/12258863/060521_droughtkayakersweb-p.jpg)
June 5, 2021Experts say the current drought is hotter and drier than previous ones, meaning water is evaporating faster.
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