The San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority is urging farmers and other people in the Valley to attend the Dec. 13 California Water Commission meeting in Sacramento to help rally support for construction of the Temperance Flat Dam.

“The Valley’s quest to develop Temperance Flat Dam on the San Joaquin River near Fresno has reached a critical point,” states press release from the authority.

The state water commission likely will decide next year whether to earmark up to $1.3 billion to help pay for the dam from the $7.5 billion raised through the Prop. 1 water bond passed by California voters in 2014.

The dam, with an estimated cost of about $3 billion, would be built on the backside of Millerton Reservoir in Friant. It essentially would create a new reservoir upstream of the existing reservoir capable of holding more water in wet years than the single dam currently can hold.

Many in the Valley’s agricultural community see the Temperance Flat Dam — which also would be funded with federal and private-sector dollars — as crucial to helping farms and communities in the Valley have water available in drought years.

The San Joaquin Valley Water Authority, representing Fresno, Madera, Kings, Tulare and and Merced Counties, is the applicant for the state funding.

The largest portion of the Prop. 1 money, $2.7 billion, will go to fund water-storage projects, and Temperance Flat is going up against 11 other proposed projects for portions of that money.

“During the meeting, Valley water leaders will be making a formal informational presentation about Temperance Flat DaM and its proposed 1.3 million-acre foot reservoir,” the press release continues.

“It is vital that Valley resident turn out to show commissioners that more surface water storage is crucial to everyone in the San Joaquin Valley.”

The meeting will start at noon in the first-floor auditorium of the State of California Resources Building, 1416 North St.

Local farm bureaus are arranging bus transportation to the meeting.