News Release Archive

Reclamation Awards $2.8 Million in Grants for Water Use Efficiency Projects in California

Media Contact: Jeffrey S. McCracken, 916.978-5100, 09/08/2006 15:05

For Release: September 08, 2006

The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded $2.8 million in CALFED Water Use Efficiency (WUE) grants for projects located throughout California. As a participating agency in the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, Reclamations Mid-Pacific and Lower Colorado Regions worked in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, State Water Resources Control Board, and CALFED to award WUE projects that had a defined relationship to the Bay-Delta. When the matching contributions of non-Federal partners are included, the selected projects represent a combined investment of more than $6.5 million towards enhancing water management throughout the CALFED focus area.

The CALFED WUE Grants program funded agricultural and urban projects that focused on improving ecosystem health, water supply reliability, or water quality of the Bay-Delta. Cost sharing was provided for system modernization improvements, measurement devices, seepage reduction, leak detection, landscape incentives, and weather-based irrigation controllers. Following is a list of the selected projects:

Reclamation District 108: Construction of 20 long-crested weirs for water-level control and 30 ramp flumes for measurement.

San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority: Add system modernization to eight check structures between San Luis and Mendota.

Firebaugh Canal Water District: Canal lining.

Yolo County Flood Control & Water District: Dam gate installation for better flow control on two small diversion dams.

Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority: Measurement device replacement for accuracy improvement at district diversions.

Richvale Irrigation District: Measurement devices installed for system control. The project provides initial basis for measurement of district operations.

Panoche Water District: Canal seepage reduction through soil compaction.

Solano Irrigation District: System modernization to monitor spill at eight sites.

Contra Costa Water District: Residential Landscape Survey Program to reduce chemical run-off and increase customer awareness.

Santa Clara Valley Water District: Residential Irrigation System Hard Water Rebate Program to install updated irrigation systems for residential sites previously identified as high-water use.

East Bay Municipal Utilities District: Aqueduct lead detection study to provide in-service leak detection on large raw and treated water aqueducts.

San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: Water loss reduction program to install electronic leak detection devices throughout the water transmission and distribution system to reduce water loss through leak detection and repair time.

Eastern Municipal Water District: Landscape incentive program for new developments will install California-friendly landscapes in front yards of model and production homes and will incorporates recommendations from California Assembly Bill 2717.

Olivenhain Municipal Water District: Pilot weather-based irrigation controller rebate program for residential, multi-family, and commercial, industrial, and institutional customers.

City of Newport Beach: Watershed rehabilitation and protection program to upgrade irrigation systems for residential, commercial, and community landscapes in high water-use and high run-off areas.

The selected entities will work with Reclamation to implement their cooperative agreements. The anticipated duration of the projects is 24 months. For additional information on Reclamation's Water Conservation Program, please visit the WaterShare website at http://www.usbr.gov/mp/watershare or contact Ms. Lucille Billingsley at 916-978-5215.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

WaterShare website