North Canal Spreading Works Expansion Project

North Canal Spreading Works Expansion Project

The proposed Project would construct up to 160 acres of new groundwater recharge basins and modify 35 acres of existing groundwater recharge basins to meet the goals of the Project. Soils onsite would be excavated to construct basins which would be gravity filled. The excavated material would be used to create berms between basin cells as needed. Currently, the corners on the northwest and southeast side of the Project are "emergency" buffer cells that are normally operated with low water levels, with some available capacity to be used for operational upsets. Berms would be added across the middle, so that the portion upstream of the proposed berm can then be used for spreading works instead of only for emergency spill. The recharge basins would consist of a series of embankments up to six feet high from the existing grade. Basins would be connected by interbasin structures, accessed by new berm dirt roads for operation and maintenance activities, and protected by new perimeter fencing and gates. The proposed Project would connect to the existing gravity pipeline infrastructure along the northern portion of the site and divert available surface water via proposed connections to existing pipeline tees located on the existing AEWSD DiGiorgio Unit 48-inch gravity pipeline. The proposed Project would be located on AEWSD property and bounded by AEWSD owned property to the north and east. Currently, the Project site is vacant except one existing Ag irrigation well on site that will be operated for by the previous owner for five years and then utilized as a monitoring well in the NE corner near Thewalt Ave. There are two additional existing recovery wells that are off site to the east and an oil well that was abandoned 10 feet below ground surface recently. The site would be enclosed by perimeter fencing and gates. On average, the annual recharge benefit is expected to be 5,200 acre-feet per year AFY with an additional benefit of approximately 500 AFY due to the land use change from irrigated agriculture, vineyards and almond orchards, to recharge basins.

Arvin

Kern

Southern California

California Air Resources Board (ARB), California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Central Region 4 (CDFW), California Department of Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation, District 6 (DOT), California Department of Water Resources (DWR), California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES), California Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), California Natural Resources Agency, California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Valley Fresno Region 5 (RWQCB), Central Valley Flood Protection Board, Office of Historic Preservation, State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Rights

Other (Recharge Basins)

Recharge Basins

Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Tribal Cultural Resources