SCH Number 2004051071

Project Info

Title

N1 Regulating Reservoir Expansion Project

Description

The Arvin-Edison Water Storage District (AEWSD or District) proposes to expand the existing 36-acre N1 Regulation Reservoir located near the beginning of the District's North Canal. The proposed project (Project) will involve constructing approximately an additional 30 acres of regulation/recharge ponds. The N1 regulation/balancing reservoir provides canal regulation capabilities, access to stored water for power or load management and water recharge benefits. The original design of this facility was primarily for regulation purposes, but the percolation rate has turned out to be comparable to the District's other water banking facilities. As a result, the District has benefited from this facility in more ways than one. Since water is stored in the existing N1 Regulation Reservoir nearly year round (over an 11-month period) there are groundwater recharge benefits on nearly a continuous basis. Annually, the existing and the proposed reservoirs will have the capability of recharging over 5,000 acre-feet into the groundwater aquifer. By increasing the acreage on this site, more water is able to infiltrate into the groundwater aquifer. An added benefit of the Project is the flexibility it allows in regulating flows in the North Canal. In addition to reservoir expansion, four (4) groundwater recovery wells are being proposed for construction on the site of the existing and proposed reservoirs. Annually, water recovered from the proposed wells is projected to average approximately 1,200 acre-feet with a maximum one-year recovery of 11,600 acre-feet. The amount of water recovered (extractions) will be less than the amount of water recharged. Thus, there is a net positive benefit to the groundwater aquifer from the Project. The District developed a 50-year analysis using DWR methodology to forecast groundwater banking operations and activities. Recovery wells would discharge into the N1 Regulation Reservoir for return to the North Canal. The District is committed to balancing recharge and well recovery volumes, with more water recharged than recovered over time in order to help mitigate any groundwater overdraft occurring within the District. With this project, both groundwater levels and groundwater quality are predicted to improve. The District would recover water from these wells during periods when irrigation demands cannot be met from limited surface water supplies.

2 documents in project