Wednesday December 1, 2021
Department of Water Resources —
Today, the California Department of Water Resources initiated a $100 million funding program to restore capacity to portions of the California Aqueduct, San Luis Canal, Delta-Mendota Canal, and Friant-Kern Canal lost to land subsidence occurring during the last several decades.
“Fixing these canals is an important foundational piece to ensure a reliable and climate resilient water supply for California,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “It enables us to move water during very wet conditions, which will be essential to adapting to more extreme weather. Restoring capacity in our existing infrastructure provides a critical link in diversifying water supplies by supporting groundwater replenishment throughout the Central Valley and water recycling projects in Southern California. It’s a prudent investment in our water future.”
In its first year, the program will provide up to $37 million to the State Water Project’s California Aqueduct and San Luis Canal (jointly operated by DWR and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation), $39.2 million to Friant Water Authority for the Friant-Kern Canal, and $23.8 million to San Luis Delta-Mendota Authority for the Delta-Mendota Canal. Recipients will use program funds to pay for planning, permitting, design, and construction of near-term subsidence rehabilitation projects. Agencies with funded projects will need to investigate the risk of subsidence and how to prevent continued subsidence. DWR will work with fund recipients to ensure all program requirements are met and funding agreements are executed to support these projects.