Emergency Berm construction at Milepost 88.3 of the San Luis Canal

Emergency Berm construction at Milepost 88.3 of the San Luis Canal

The California State Water Project is a water storage and delivery system of reservoirs, aqueducts, power plants and plumping plants. Its main purpose is to store water and distribute it to 29 urban and agricultural water supplies throughout California. The California Aqueduct within the San Luis Field Division fall under both the State Water Project (Aqueduct) and the Federal Central Valley Project (San Luis Canal). While most of the construction was done by the Federal Program, the Aqueduct is maintained and operated by the California Department of Water Resources. The San Luis Canal (California Aqueduct) has been leaking at Milepost 88.3 for over 8 years. A number of different methods have been used to try and spot the leaking and protect the Aqueduct and surrounding land, but it continues to leak. In order to prevent a failure in the Aqueduct, to protect surrounding land and water deliveries another method is being proposed. A stability berm with drainage will be constructed next to and on top of the existing berm. It will be constructed from about 300 feet south and 500 feet north of Milepost 88.30 for a total length of 800 feet. The berm will extend about 40 feet east from the toe of the existing embankment and will lay about 40 to 50 feet on top of the existing embankment. Some material will be stock plied at the site. By managing this leak, DWR can further protect water quality and water deliveries for downstream municipal and agricultural water users.

Los Banos

Merced