Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 2010 Project Requests

CITY OF RIALTO (3 Requests):

1. City of Rialto: $4,000,000 Design Project for flood damage reduction and groundwater recharge, Lytle Creek. Ref: SEC 4019, Public Law No: 110-114, REPORT 110–280, WRDA 2007 – A feasibility study was authorized for this project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 and the City of Rialto is seeking assistance to proceed with the next step of designing improvements to the Lytle Creek Basin.  Recharge is a process by which excess surface water is directed into the ground to replenish an aquifer. When water is returned to the ground, it contributes to a sustainable groundwater supply.  The proposed improvements will reduce the potential for flood damage in the area by taking rain water and directing it into a water recharge basin in an area that is being impacted by a severe draught.  Improvements planned are estimated to cost $4 million. 

2. City of Rialto: $1,000,000 Authorization of construction project for the ultimate improvements to the Rialto Flood Control Channel for flood damage reduction. The City of Rialto is seeking assistance to complete much needed improvements to the Rialto Flood Control Channel.  These improvements will reduce the potential for flood damage, such as the damage that occurred in Rialto when heavy rains washed out a portion of the Channel, two street crossings and numerous residential backyards in 2004.  Specific improvements planned include improvement to five (5) street crossings and lining the existing dirt channel with concrete.   Design of the desired improvements has been completed by San Bernardino County Flood Control District (SBCFCD) and the project is estimated to cost $10.2 million to construct.  The City of Rialto is requesting $1,000,000.  This funding, combined with our local match, will enable us to partner with SBCFCD on the project and possibly expedite the schedule.

3. City of Rialto: $500,000 Water Supply. Reference: SEC. 4023, Public Law No: 110-114, REPORT 110–280, WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2007 - The City of Rialto is seeking assistance to proceed with the next step and complete the design stage for a project to improve our local water supply.  Specifically, the City is seeking to partner with our neighboring water purveyors on a project to enhance our existing recycled water system and/or process contaminated recycled water to supplement existing water supplies.  A feasibility study was authorized for this project in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.   For this project, the City of Rialto is requesting $3,000,000.  This funding, combined with our local match, will assist us in providing safe drinking water to our community.

COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO (8 Requests):

1. City of Colton:  $21,000,000 The San Bernardino County Flood Control District is coordinating with the City of Colton on funding for the construction of the Comprehensive Storm Drain Plan 3-5/3-8 flood protection project.  The City has already construction Phase I and is finalizing the design, environmental and right-of-way acquisition for Phases II and III of this project.  The City is looking at using storm drain assessment fees to fund Phases IV and V.  The entire system is estimated to cost $21 million.  This system protects residences, commercial properties and major transportation corridors including main routes to the regional hospital.  Localized street flooding currently disrupts emergency access to the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.  This project would work in conjunction with existing nearby flood control facilities to reduce that localized flooding.

2.  City of Fontana: $30,200,000 The West Fontana flood protection, water quality and water conservation project protects commercial and residential neighborhoods from flooding. The channel also parallels railroad lines, which carry passenger trains including the Metrolink Rail into Los Angeles. Numerous times the rail lines have been flooded causing commuter delays and rerouting of trains.  This project is also just north of the California Speedway which holds NASCAR and other large events.  The project consists of construction of an open-channel storm drain within the San Bernardino County Flood Control District right-of-way and easements from the Banana Basin easterly to Juniper Avenue. The project included a concrete-lined open channel, associated catch basins with connector laterals, future drain stub outs, culvert crossings at street intersections, necessary appurtenant work inlet structure at the easterly side of Juniper Avenue and outlet facilities in the Banana Basin. The project also includes a basin for water conservation and water quality.

3. City of Rialto: $16,400,000 Effort is underway to improve the Rialto Channel System in several phases to its ultimate condition to accommodate the increased flows conveyed by the Cactus Channel, north of the new I-210 Freeway. The Rialto Channel in existing condition has numerous road crossings and channel sections that cannot handle the sudden concentrated increased run off. In October 2004, the system experienced severe flooding which damaged private property walls and fences along the channel downstream of the basins and destroyed two road crossings cutting off secondary access to residences.  The project includes the channel improvement including upgrade road crossings from Etiwanda Avenue to Willow Avenue and improvement of the channel at Riverside Avenue. The channel improvements at Riverside Avenue are shovel ready and could go out to construction with a minor environmental update and adequate funding. The potential for additional damages along this system make funding this project more crucial.

4.  City of Rialto: $10,600,000 The Cactus Basin #3 flood protection, water quality and water conservation project is one phase of the Rialto Channel System improvements. This basin is crucial due to the sudden increased run off concentrated into the system from the I-210 Freeway and Cactus Channel project. In October 2004, the system experienced severe flooding which damaged private property walls and fences along the channel downstream of the basins and destroyed two road crossings cutting off secondary access to residences.  The basin improvements will include a riparian revegetation area using native plant material.  The basin will also be available to the San Bernardino Municipal Water District to use as a water recharge area.  Construction has in part been delayed due to a lack of funding. Basin #3 is critical to flood prevention and contains water quality, water conservation and ecosystem restoration elements.

5. City of San Bernardino: $2,700,000 The Twin Creek flood protection project in the City of San Bernardino is intended to improve the existing levees in response to the FEMA levee certification project.  The channel is currently not able to be certified and needs the improvements in order to gain certification.  The improvements would not only allow the facility to be certified but would take a number of existing commercial and residential areas, including a wastewater treatment plant, out of a floodplain. Furthermore, the District has received a letter from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ stating there are deficiencies with the levees that consistent with those determined as part of the FEMA levee certification project.  Consequently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ has deemed Twin Creek "unacceptable" had is now precluded from receiving PL 84-99 rehabilitation assistance following a disaster.   The preliminary cost estimate is $2.7 million.

6. City of San Bernardino, City of Colton: 10,000,000 The Lytle-Cajon and Warm Channel flood protection project was originally built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in approximately 1948. Based on USACE inspection comments and field reviews the concrete inverts in Lytle-Cajon Channel and Warm Creek Channel need to be repaired. This Federally built infrastructure repair project is extremely important since the damage to the invert will continue with each passing storm and the year round nuisance flows. The channel was originally designed and built by a method where the channel walls are dependent on the invert for support. If the invert fails in a storm, the channel walls could be damaged or collapse.  Additionally, the San Bernardino County Flood Control District would like the USACE to study the use and function of the inlet gate on the channel and provide a project to help reduce or eliminate future damage. 

7. City of San Bernardino:  $9,000,000 The Del Rosa Channel flood protection project is located in the City of San Bernardino and unincorporated areas. The channel protects numerous residences and businesses in the area. The current channel is an interim facility with inadequate capacity that is experiencing failures. The project would consist of building a vertical concrete channel within the existing right-of-way. The project consists of three sections. The first is improving the existing rail and wire channel between Highland Avenue and Date Street in San Bernardino. The second is rebuilding the channel from Foothill Drive to Daley Basin, which experienced a wall failure in 2006. The third section is between Pacific Street and Del Rosa Drive.  The cost of ongoing maintenance problems and potential additional wall failures necessitate the expedition of this project’s construction.

8. City of San Bernardino: $20,000,000 Cable Creek is located in the north San Bernardino area.  The Cable Creek flood protection and water conservation project is intended to improve the existing interim rail and wire channel in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) levee certification project.  In October of 2008, the levee system at Cable Creek was evaluated and was found that it did not meet freeboard or erosion requirements necessary to obtain FEMA certification.  The improvements would not only allow the facility to be certified but would take a number of existing commercial and residential areas out of a floodplain. The design of the improvements would allow for soft bottom so groundwater recharge can occur. Several alternatives has been studied and the District is currently awaiting on further evaluation before proposing an ultimate solution.  Based on its nature and size, it is estimated that mitigation project will cost approximately $20 million to construct.   

SAN BERNARDINO VALLEY MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT (1 Request)

1. City of Colton:  $22,000,000 The Project is an endeavor by Riverside and its Project partners, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD), Western Municipal Water District (WMWD), and the City of Colton. The Project is primarily a storm water capture project that will enhance local water supplies and improve groundwater quality.  The project will construct an inflatable rubber dam across the Santa Ana River just south of Interstate 10.  When the rubber dam is inflated, it will re-direct the flow of the river into new groundwater recharge basins that will be constructed as part of this project.  In addition to recharging storm water, the project will also be able to recharge water from the California State Water Project through a new pipeline that will be constructed as part of this project.  In addition to the water supply and water quality aspects, the project also includes other important features such as:  (1) a community park (includes passive recreational trails, water features, (2) a pedestrian bridge over the Santa Ana River) (3) a 32-foot wide utility corridor across the Santa Ana River (contained within the rubber dam footprint), (3) the realignment of Fogg Street, and (4) reservation of right of way for an eventual railroad line realignment.

CITY OF FONTANA (2 Requests)

1. City of Fontana: $100,000 Vulcan Flood Control and Aquifer Recharge Basin Project – Reconnaissance Study.  This project is a study of an existing mined pit for flood damage reduction, storm water capture and recycled water recharge. The existing mined site sits adjacent to a major storm water conveyance facility (West Fontana Channel) in the City of Fontana.  The conversion of this site will serve to protect or mitigate the possibility of down stream flooding. The project will also study the need to line the earthen flood control channel to prevent erosion and continual bank restoration. Not only will this project provide downstream flood control but the storm water diverted to the site will be blended with recycled water to provide a renewable, reliable water source for the Chino Basin through groundwater recharge. 1.2 million people will directly benefit by the enhanced recharge in the Chino Basin groundwater aquifer that serves an area of approximately 235 square miles. The Chino Basin aquifer underlies approximately 70% of the 43rd Congressional district. The recharge of this aquifer reduces the regions dependence on imported state and federal water sources.

2. City of Fontana: $11,000,000 (Project partly in Rep. Calvert’s district) Declez Flood Control and Aquifer Recharge Basin Expansion Project.  Expansion of an existing flood control facility to accommodate both flood control and aquifer recharge of storm water and recycled water. The City will serve as lead agency for the project with support from Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, Inland Empire Utilities Agency, Chino Basin Water Master, and San Bernardino County Flood Control.  Not only will this project provide downstream flood control, but the storm water diverted to the site will be blended with recycled water to provide a renewable reliable water source for the Chino Basin through recharge. More than 1.2 million people will directly benefit by enhanced recharge in the Chino Basin aquifer of which 80% underlies the 43rd and 44th Congressional Districts. This aquifer covers an area of approximately 235 square miles. The recharge of this aquifer will reduce the regions dependence on imported state and federal water sources. The Declez Flood Control and Aquifer Recharge Basin Expansion Project includes construction of a recycled water conveyance and distribution pipeline with the capacity to deliver up to 1200 acre feet of water annually.  This conveyance system will deliver water directly to the recharge basin as well as for direct re-use.

WEST VALLEY WATER DISTRICT (1 Request)

1. City of Rialto: $3,000,000 The project involves designing and building a biological treatment system for perchlorate and nitrate that will represent the first full-scale permitted drinking water system using this specific technology to treat perchlorate.  This type of treatment is well suited for higher concentrations of perchlorate and has been extensively tested.  The treatment system will be designed to treat 2,000 gallons per minute of water from two high-impact drinking water wells that have been discontinued from use as a result of contamination.

CITY OF COLTON (1 Request)

1. City of Colton: $ 11,000,000 The ultimate goal of Storm Drain Project 3-5 is the construction of storm drains, channels and basin improvements to collect and control storm water. The Storm Drain Project 3-5 will provide tremendous benefits to economic development in the region as well as enhancing the public safety around the Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. These needed storm drainage infrastructure will connect the existing basins and safely transfer the storm water produced within the San Bernardino County Flood Control System Zone 2, Project Areas 3-5 and 3-8 to the Santa Ana River.  Water captured in the Project Areas 3-5 and 3-8 will be conveyed to the Santa Ana River for surface discharge. Storm Drain Project 3-5 has three purposes: 1) it will provide a permanent flood control drainage conduit to transport flood water from north of Valley Boulevard to the Santa Ana River; 2) it will relieve surface flooding of Valley Boulevard and Meridian Avenue that presently impairs access to the Medical Center during heavy rains; and 3) significantly decrease the level storm water contamination which is currently surface flowing on local streets to the Santa Ana River.