News Release Archive

Reclamation awards $1 million in CALFED grants to improve water reliability, enhance environment

Media Contact: Jeff Hawk, 916-978-5100 (O) 916-204-2348 (C), jhawk@usbr.gov

For Release: October 16, 2019

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a total of $1 million in CALFED Water Use Efficiency grants to two California projects that will conserve around 4,000 acre-feet annually and improve infrastructure for fiscal year 2020. Combined with local cost-share contributions, these projects are expected to implement about $2.7 million in water management improvements during the next two years.

The two selected projects are described below:

Shafter-Wasco Irrigation District $500,000 grant. The district will install a new 27-inch pipeline along a 1.5-mile alignment in Shafter, connect a pipeline to an existing neighboring district pipeline and then bank this water for future drought. This available water will help mitigate the district’s on-farm groundwater pumping and alleviate some of the groundwater basin overdraft. Annual water savings will conserve around 3,000 acre-feet (or about 978 million gallons); lifetime water savings will be 144,000 acre-feet (or about 46.9 billion gallons) over the project’s 50-year life. Project cost is $1,559,787 with a federal cost-share of $500,000.

South San Joaquin Municipal Utility District $500,000 grant. The district will construct 40 acres of spreading ponds and install a recovery well within its boundaries to provide district operational flexibility and absorb surface water when available for recharge and irrigation recovery in peak-demand months or dry periods. Annual water savings will conserve around 1,100 acre-feet (or about 358 million gallons); lifetime water savings will be 55,800 acre-feet (or about 18 billion gallons) over the project’s 50-year life. Project cost is $1,162,926 with a federal cost-share of $500,000.

These projects will contribute to CALFED Bay-Delta Program’s objectives of improving ecosystem health, water supply reliability and water quality. California and federal agencies are partners in the 30-year program (2000-2030). Reclamation’s competitive selection process prioritized projects that addressed statewide CALFED goals.

Fiscal year 2020 CALFED funding is available through Funding Opportunity Announcement BOR-MP-F002. Applications are due by Dec. 2, 2019, through www.grants.gov. Contact Anna Sutton for more information on the Water Use Efficiency Program at asutton@usbr.gov or 916-978-5214 (TTY 800-877-8339).

# # #

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.