The October meeting of the California Water Commission included an update on the seven projects progressing through the Water Storage Investment Program. Program Manager Amy Young gave the update.
Proposition 1 of 2014 dedicated $2.7 billion for investments in water storage projects, which the California Water Commission administers through the Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP). Seven water storage projects were selected and must complete the remaining requirements, including final permits, environmental documents, contracts for the administration of public benefits, and commitments for the remaining project costs, before they receive the final funding award.
CHINO BASIN
The Inland Empire Utilities Agency is the project proponent for the Chino Basin Program. The project includes constructing an advanced water purification facility, so in advance of building that facility, IEUA plans to build an advanced water purification demonstration facility located on-site in an existing building. This facility will help optimize the design for the full-scale facility and serve as an educational facility.
IEUA is doing exploratory borings to generate recharge information, gather water quality samples, and determine injection rate information. They are working on the exchange agreements with Metropolitan and DWR for the pulse flows, preliminary design reports, and public benefit contracts.
The last quarterly report showed a shift in their schedule with the final award being now in 2027. That’s primarily due to the statutory requirements, such as the environmental documentation agreements and permits they need to start construction, not happening until around that time.
HARVEST WATER
The Harvest Water Program has already received its final funding award and is under construction. As of August, 6.6 miles out of 42 miles of pipeline had been constructed. Sac Sewer is pursuing other funding opportunities to cover the funding gap and recently received a USDA grant under the rural development program. They are working on agreements with landowners that will be using their treated water and they are working on a pilot project this year or early next year for crane habitat.
KERN FAN
The project proponent for the Kern Fan Groundwater Storage Project has been continuing construction on Phase 1 of their project. They have been continuing construction on the recharge basins at the West Enos location and continuing design on their Stockdale north property recharge basins, which is expected to start construction in 2025.
The design has also been started on three recovery wells, and staff is still expecting to hear about the location of the turnout, which would move the water from the aqueduct to the local facility by the end of this year. The water storage funding is targeted toward the extraction facilities and conveyance, which is Phase 2. The JPA is actively applying for federal funding to contribute to this project.
Ms. Young noted that the project proponent is the only applicant that’s not taken the opportunity to request early funding, but they are considering making a request in the near future.
LOS VAQUEROS
During his report, Executive Officer Joe Yun informed the commissioners about the Contra Costa Water District’s (CCWD) decision to exit the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project, following a directive from their board on September 18. Thirteen days prior, on September 6, the commission staff had sent a closeout letter on their early funding agreement.
In response to the unexpected board decision and lack of Commission staff’s awareness, a letter was sent on September 27 to rescind the closeout letter, allowing time to examine the grant more closely and protect the state’s interests. Yun emphasized that this action does not imply any issues with the project but is a precautionary measure.
The next step is for Contra Costa Water District to make a final decision at their board meeting, likely in November. Staff expects Contra Costa to come in to talk to the Commission early in 2025 to discuss their decision process.
PACHECO DAM
In June, Valley Water released an initial study mitigated negative declaration, a CEQA document for geotechnical work for the Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project. According to the quarterly report, the plan was to resume design activities when that concluded. However, Ms. Young noted that the notice of preparation was released for a full EIR for geotechnical work, so it’s unclear if that will affect the overall schedule.
“We have quarterly reports due again at the end of this month, so we should have an idea after receiving that, whether this will or will not affect the overall schedule. Otherwise, the schedule for this project has stayed pretty much the same.”
Valley Water plans on recirculating the project EIR and a federal environmental impact statement for the entire reservoir project in August of 202, concluding permitting in 27, and then a final EIR shortly after that.
SITES RESERVOIR
The water rights hearing process for the Sites Reservoir Project continues. They still have hearing dates scheduled through the end of January. The CEQA legal challenge was recently resolved. The project was included under the governor’s streamlining law, where courts had a period of time to decide on legal challenges; that process concluded in late September in favor of the Sites project.
The incidental take permit from the Department of Fish and Wildlife is expected in October. The final federal environmental document and record of decision is anticipated in early 2025. The current final award is still scheduled for mid-2026.
WILLOW SPRINGS
The Willow Springs Water Bank Conjunctive Use Project would be located along the East Branch of the SWP, near Lancaster and Palmdale, with a storage capacity of up to 1 million acre-feet.
In April 2024, the Commissioners requested an update from project proponents due to concerns that the project was not progressing. Project proponents updated the Commission at the October meeting as a separate agenda item. When announcing the agenda item, Vice Chair Fern Steiner noted that the Commission has the discretion to determine whether a project is not making sufficient progress in meeting the WSIP requirements and rescind its potential Prop One funding. Listing today’s agenda item as an action item means that the Commission may take action but is not obligated to do so.
Project proponents assured Commissioners that the project is progressing, pointing to an MOU between the project proponent (CIM Group) and the Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency, including key terms and processes for developing the water bank.
The water bank will have its own dedicated infrastructure funded solely by Willow Springs. AVEK staff will work with Willow Springs to provide input on design and scoping efforts to assist with securing things like easements and right-of-way and assist with obtaining a DWR permit for a turnout on the California Aqueduct. Through the MOU, Willow Springs will prepare an administrative and management plan, a capital improvement plan that defines how the State Water Project water will be distributed, stored, and moved through the facility, and lastly, an operations and maintenance plan. The MOU expires in December 2025 if both parties do not approve the plans, but it does allow for it to be extended.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more information on the Water Storage Investment Program, check out this new story map, and visit this page at the California Water Commission website.
