Reclamation awards Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency grants

The Bureau of Reclamation selected two California projects to receive $800,000 total for fiscal year 2022 under the Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency grants. Combined with local cost-share contributions, these projects are expected to implement about $1.6 million in water management improvements during the next two years.

The AWCE program is a joint program with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to promote district level water conservation improvements that facilitate on-farm water use efficiency and conservation projects. With NRCS support, Reclamation selected two projects for funding. The selected projects will increase district-level efficiencies and facilitate farm water conservation and water use efficiency. The projects will conserve an estimated 582 acre-feet of water per year.

This investment in water use efficiency is part of Reclamation’s continuing strategy to respond to drought. Reclamation is working with states, tribes, agriculture, power customers, municipalities, conservation organizations, and other stakeholder communities on projects and activities across the West to address drought conditions and impacts.

Reclamation made the selection of the following two projects through a competitive process:

Corcoran Irrigation District, $362,425

The Pipeline Conveyance-Converting Wide Canals to Pipelines Project will convert 4,100 feet of open canals to 18-inch PVC pipeline to increase water use efficiency and reliability, as well as reduce water losses due to seepage and evaporation. The Kings County project will save 424 acre-feet of water per year over the estimated 50-year life of the project. The total project cost is $724,850 and the federal cost share is $362,425.

Lost Hills Water District, $430,500

The Service Area Canal Reservoir Lining Project will line two reservoirs in the canal system with high-density polyethylene liner to reduce seepage and improve water reliability. The reservoirs to be lined are Reservoir 1-1A with an area of 3.1 acres and Reservoir 3 with an area of 1.13 acres. The Kern County project will save 158 acre-feet of water per year over the 50-year life of the project. The total project cost is $861,000 and the federal cost share is $430,500.

For more information on the AWCE Program, contact Anna Sutton at [email protected] or 916-978-5214 (TTY 800-877-8339).