Semitropic and Bard receive more than $1.5 million in agricultural water conservation grants

Semitropic Water Storage District and Bard Water District have been selected as the two recipients of the Agricultural Water Use Efficiency Grant Program for fiscal year 2020 by the Bureau of Reclamation.

The award of $1.65 million combined with contributions from Natural Resources Conservation Service support and local cost-share, will provide approximately $5 million in water efficiency improvement projects during the next two years.

Semitropic Water Storage District will receive $1,000,000 for its B369 System Extension Project. Located in Kern County, the project will add about 3.5 miles of piping to extend the existing B369 System. The extension project will convey supplemental surface water to areas where farmers are currently dependent on groundwater. Along with other system improvements, the project will aid in groundwater recharge and increase water supply reliability during drier periods. The total project cost is $3,693,596.

Bard Water District is to receive $658,870 for their Mohave Canal Bard Unit F Project. The project is to  line one mile of the Mohave Canal with concrete. Lining the earthen canal section will save 4,258 acre-feet of water annually. The new lining will also raise the canal sides, thereby reducing operational losses associated with spillage in this section. The total project cost is $1,317,741.