“I am pleased that the Bureau of Reclamation awarded these important water projects funds to help our state and our Valley use water in a more efficient manner,” Costa said.  “Improving the way our water districts, cities and counties can transfer, store, or pump water is critical in times of drought.  These funds will allow infrastructure to be built today which will allow our region to weather periods of drought by conserving water through important projects such as groundwater banking both now and into the future.”

The Challenge Grants leverage Federal funding by requiring a 50 percent non-Federal cost-share contribution.  Grants are available to States, tribes, irrigation and water districts, and other entities with water or power delivery authority.  Typically, these grants are awarded to projects which allow the transfer of water to other users to meet critical needs, increase operational flexibility, and reduce pressure on groundwater aquifers.

Delano-Earlimart Irrigation District, Turnipseed Groundwater Bank - Phase II

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $1,000,000               Total Project Cost: $2,002,700

The District’s project will expand an 80-acre groundwater bank through installation of additional recovery wells, deepening existing recharge basins, and raising basin levees to improve storage and delivery capability. The purpose for the project is to reduce local and regional water conflicts through groundwater banking and reduce the District's dependency on the Federal Central Valley Project water. The proposed project would improve water reliability to the District, market water for other uses, provide groundwater banking for other districts, and preserve groundwater resources.

Lower Tule River Irrigation District, Tule River Intertie Project

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $2,143,533               Total Project Cost: $4,287,067

The District’s project will improve 1 mile of existing earthen canal and associated control structures and construct 2.5 miles of new earthen canal and associated control structures, allowing the District to minimize the amount of water lost to seepage and improve flow measurement. The proposed project would  make available approximately 16,210 acre feet of water per year for water banking in the area or water marketing to other water users., aiding  Federal Central Valley Project users by decreasing competition for surface water. The District derives much of its surface water from the San Joaquin River watershed, an area of significant water conflict, where competition for supplies by urban, agricultural and environmental users is at an all-time high.

North Kern Water Storage District, Calloway Canal to Lerdo Canal Intertie

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $5,000,000               Total Project Cost: $13,867,515

The District’s project will construct a bi-directional water conveyance connection to enhance the District’s ability to divert and deliver wet-year Federal Central Valley Project water to recharge the underlying groundwater and thereby support groundwater levels. The project is located in the Southern San Joaquin Valley, an area of significant water conflict, where competition for supplies by urban, agricultural and environmental users is at an all-time high.

Semitropic-Rosamond Water Bank Authority, Antelope Valley Water Bank Initial Recharge and Recovery Facility Improvement Project

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $5,000,000               Total Project Cost: $10,850,000

The Authority’s project will add new facilities to a water bank to provide a mechanism for existing and potential water bank users to buy/sell/lease/exchange water to meet existing and future water requirements. The project includes improvements to an existing recharge basin, development of an expanded delivery system (new pipelines), installation of four new recovery wells, a new recovery basin, new collection and recovery system, and a turnout. The project is located in the Antelope Valley region of southern California. The region is experiencing water crises for numerous reasons including climate change, drought, and a faltering economy. The project aims to address these concerns by creating opportunities for exchange, diversification of water resources, and flexibility and sustainability to current and future users.

Semitropic Water Storage District, Pond-Poso Spreading and Recovery Facility

Reclamation ARRA Funding: $2,220,659               Total Project Cost: $8,672,372

The District’s project will complete the District's spreading works (recharge facilities), which will add up to 65,000 acre-ft per year of direct recharge and 66,000 acre-ft of recovery capacity from the District's groundwater bank. Work includes construction of recharge ponds and ditches, interbasin structures, pumping plant, 15 wells, 11 casing path wells and 6 shallow wells. Currently, Semitropic operates a Groundwater Bank, providing long term storage of water for use in times of need. This project is located in the Poso Creek region of California.