SCH Number 2013041028

Project Info

Title

Mendota Pool Group 20-Year Exchange Program

Description

Under the proposed project, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation would issue a series of exchange agreements with the Mendota Pool Group over a 20-year period to allow up to 25,000 acre-feet per year of Central Valley Project water to be conveyed via the San Luis Canal to MPG farmlands within the Westlands Water District. In exchange, MPG would introduce an equivalent amount of suitable groundwater to the Mendota Pool (plus 5% "leave-in" quantity of water) that would be used by Reclamation to satisfy CVP contractual obligations to other users of the Mendota Pool. The exchange of water would be subject to annual agreements, management mechanisms (design constraints), a monitoring and reporting program, new groundwater recharge components, and a Warren Act contract with Reclamation to provide MPG with storage in San Luis Reservoir, dependent on available capacity. Under a No Project Alternative, the 25,000 AFY of CVP water to be exchanged with MPG under the proposed project would instead be delivered via the Delta-Mendota Canal to the Mendota Pool to satisfy existing contractual obligations. MPG would disband and groundwater pumping would not be subject to the management and reporting of the proposed project. A second alternative (alternative 2) is also being evaluated that includes all actions of the proposed project, but would also construct, maintain, and operate an 85-acre groundwater recharge basin west of the Mendota Pool. The River Ranch Recharge Basin under this alternative would function solely for the purpose of recharging the local groundwater aquifer and would not be used as a water bank.

4 documents in project