The Valley got some good news on the water front this week, when the House passed a bill by Rep. George Radanovich that authorizes -- and partially funds -- a giant water banking project in Madera County. Sen. Dianne Feinstein has introduced a companion bill in the Senate; if it passes as well, and President Bush signs the bill, the Madera Irrigation District would get $22 million in federal dough to help build the $90 million project.

Here's our editorial today on the subject.

Water banking is a no-brainer. When we have wet years -- if we ever have wet years again -- water would be stored underground for later pumping in dry years. The proposed water bank at Madera Ranch would store as much as 250,000 acre feet of water at capacity. With population growing and demand for water increasing, and with the uncertainties of climate change ahead, we need to begin every sort of measure to add water supplies to the Valley and the state.