The Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) announced a $35 million investment in six small surface and groundwater storage projects in California and Utah.
“These small surface and groundwater storage projects will boost water storage opportunities and increase resiliency and flexibility for communities in the West,” said BOR Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton.
As part of Utah’s Ash Creek Project, approximately $7 million will be allocated to construct a new pipeline connecting the Ash Creek Reservoir to the Chief Toquer Reservoir. Once completed, the Chief Toquer Reservoir is expected to hold 3,638 acre-feet (an acre-foot is 325,851 gallons) of water at total capacity, providing approximately 1,760 acre-feet annually.
Other projects announced include $9.1 million for the Pauba Valley Groundwater Banking Project by the Rancho California Water District in California, $7 million allocated for the Upstream Reservoir Storage Project by the Imperial Irrigation District in California, and $6.7 million designated for the Accelerated Drought Response Project by the San Benito County Water District in California.
