A groundwater banking program in Central California gets a $1 million boost in funding.
Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) has announced $1 million in WaterSMART grants for the Southwest Groundwater Banking Program. The funding, which comes from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will allow the Fresno Irrigation District (FID) to develop a new 60 acre groundwater recharge basin as part of the District’s Southwest Groundwater Banking Program. This project will enable the FID to capture approximately 4,200 acre-feet per year in flood flows at the new basin site and also allow an additional 1,300 acre-feet of storm water to be conveyed to James Irrigation District to be stored in their existing recharge basin sites.
“It is great news that the Fresno Irrigation District has received federal funding for the Southwest Groundwater Banking Program. Recharging our groundwater supply will not only help to address the overdraft in the region, but will assist in the management of surface and groundwater supplies,” said. Rep. Costa. “In the midst of one of the worst droughts that California has experienced, it is imperative that we continue to develop methods to effectively meet water demands and reduce the impacts of this and future droughts on the people of the Valley.”
“Fresno Irrigation District appreciates our project selection by the Bureau of Reclamation for the award and the efforts of Congress to allocate funds to help assist with local projects that address groundwater overdraft in the region”, said Gary Serrato, General Manager of Fresno Irrigation District.
More information on the funding can be found on the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s website, here: http://www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/weeg/docs/FY2014WaterSMARTWaterandEnergyEfficiency%20Grants.pdf