Feds announce $84 million for drought resiliency projects

California Construction News staff writer

The Department of the Interior has announced $84.7 million for 36 communities throughout the West. Projects include groundwater storage, rainwater harvesting, aquifer recharge, water reuse, ion exchange treatment, and other methods to stretch existing water supplies.

“As climate change exacerbates drought impacts throughout the Western United States, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is advancing our work to invest in innovative, locally-led water infrastructure projects and provide clean, reliable water to families and communities across the country,” said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo.

“Funding will assist our local partners as they work to build drought resilience and improve water security for their community.”

“Drought resilience is more important now ever as the West is experiencing more severe and longer droughts,” added Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in locally-led projects will help solidify community’s water supplies and allow families and farmers to respond to the challenges posed by drought.”

Funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which allocated $8.3 billion for Reclamation water infrastructure projects over the next five years to advance drought resilience and expand access to clean water. Work will repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, complete rural water projects, and protect aquatic ecosystems.

The following grants were approved for projects across California:

• $2 million – Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, AEWSD Drought Recovery Wells and conjunctive use modeling tool
• $1.5 million – California Land Stewardship Institute to create long-term water supply resiliency for the communities of Ukiah Valley and the Upper Russian River
• $5 million – Cawelo Water District for a reuse produced water project
• $1.6 million – City of Big Bear Lake for Wolf Reservoir boosters and pipeline project
• $2 million – City of Rialto for City 3A groundwater well treatment facility project
• $2.4 million – Delano for Earlimart Irrigation District for Turnipseed Water Bank repairs
• $2 million – Fresno Irrigation District for Carter-Bybee Recharge Basin project
• $2 million – Goleta Water District for Airport Well Treatment project
• $2 million – Pixley Irrigation District, Phase I – Lateral #4 expansion project
• $460,891 – Porterville Irrigation District for northwest service area groundwater recharge project
• $1.4 million – San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District for cactus basins connector pipeline project
• $5 million – Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency for improvements at treatment & disinfection facilities
• $500,000 – Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District for recharge facility and conveyance Improvements
• $1.3 million – Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District for Kimberlina pipeline conveyance improvement project
• $600,000 – Stockton-East Water District for recovery well rehabilitation
• $1.5 million – Trout Unlimited, Inc., for Portola Redwoods State Park drought resiliency project
• $5 million – Western Municipal Water District of Riverside County for regional well installation and water quality treatment project