KERN COUNTY, Calif. (KERO) — Central Valley Congressman David Valadao and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, sent a letter to the president and the governor to increase the amount of water available to farmers in the area.

The letter asks the governor and president to issue a federal and state emergency declaration related to the drought and recent storms here in California.

The local lawmakers want restrictions on the delta water pumps lifted. They say water from any additional storms would then help farmers who have had to reduce their water usage due to the ongoing drought.

Meteorologists with the National Weather Service have previously said that the storm that broke records across the state did little to help pull California out of its dry conditions.