San Joaquin Valley water projects on Wednesday, including a long-proposed Madera Water Bank, secured $6.8 million in additional federal funding.

The Bureau of Reclamation funding provides $1.5 million for the water bank, which is designed to store up to 250,000 acre feet of water for the region. The water bank opened for business last August, southwest of the town of Madera.

The new funding will also assist with pumping plant maintenance, water conservation and environmental studies. Democratic Rep. Jim Costa of Fresno praised the funding as a sign that the Bureau of Reclamation is "thinking outside the box to guarantee an adequate water supply for our Valley."