MLRP Basin Project

MLRP Basin Project

The Project, located on an approximately 60-acre site north of the community of Ivanhoe adjacent to Cottonwood Creek, includes construction of a multi cell recharge basin facility. The Project would assist the EKGSA in expanding its groundwater recharge efforts ultimately supporting the goals of SGMA. The Project would include two turnouts and pump structures with capacity of approximately 30 cubic feet per second each. The proposed turnout facilities would allow the EKGSA to divert surface water from Cottonwood Creek into the proposed basin area to increase groundwater storage. Diverted water would consist of Central Valley Project water diverted into Cottonwood Creek upstream of the Project site. The proposed facilities would consist of cast-in-place concrete turnout structures, control gates, trash racks, and related appurtenances. One turnout facility would be located at the northeast edge of the proposed basin cells along the west bank of Cottonwood Creek and the other would be located at the southeast edge of the proposed basins cells along the west bank of Cotton Creek. The turnout structures would connect to a pump box structure through approximately 250 linear feet (LF) each of reinforced concrete piping (likely 36-inch diameter), equipped with a metered connection, lift pump(s) and would discharge into a distribution channel. The turnout and pump structures’ excavation depth would be up to 15 feet below ground surface. Approximately six (6) interbasin connection structures would also be constructed to connect the distribution channel to the proposed basin cells. Each connection would be equipped with two structures (in both delivery channel and basin cell), rip rap, and 90 LF of piping. The Project would also include a conservation space area that would be pedestrian accessible. Conservation space would be in the form of terraced grading within the basin cells with flatter side slopes (i.e. 6:1 or flatter) to facilitate plantings for native habitats and provide varying water depths such as areas with 3 feet of water depth, areas with 1.5 feet, and areas with 6-9 inches of water depth. There would also be graded dirt walking paths around and between the basin cells. In addition, a graded dirt parking area would be constructed to accommodate vehicles traveling to the site. The dirt parking area is expected to be, at maximum, 90,000 square feet. The proposed facilities would be owned and operated by the EKGSA. Construction would include equipment mobilization, excavation of earthwork for the recharge basin cells and structures, construction of basin perimeter berms, and grading on the outer portion of the berms for the purpose of providing pedestrian-accessible conservation space and parking. The Project site would contain temporary staging areas for construction equipment lay-down. Basin components would include constructing ponds/cells within the basin, as well as performance testing and demobilization. Excavated material would be used on site for berm construction along the basin perimeter and between each proposed cell. Any excess material would be exported off site. New berm construction would not exceed six (6) feet in height, measured from the exterior toe to the top of new berm. The maximum depth of ground disturbance for the basin would be as much as eight (8) feet. The proposed multi-cell recharge basin is anticipated to recharge approximately 1,000 acre-feet (AF) in years when water is available, assuming a recharge rate of 0.75 AF per acre across approximately 45 acres of wetted area, and 30 days of surplus surface water availability.

Ivanhoe

Tulare

Southern California

Tulare