Yucaipa Subbasin project receives $3.1 million from Riverside County

San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD) and South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) are building strong regional partnerships through the County Line Recharge Basin and Turnout Project, a joint endeavor to increase water supply in the Yucaipa Subbasin and deliver reliable water access to 18,000 people.

Due to prolonged drought conditions over the past decade, the Yucaipa Subbasin has depleted groundwater levels and lacks supplemental water supplies. In response, the County of Riverside approved $3.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to stabilize the over-drafted Yucaipa Subbasin through the County Line Recharge Basin and Turnout Project.

“Through true teamwork, multiple agencies have come together to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Calimesa groundwater basin and Yucaipa area,” SGPWA Board President Mickey Valdivia said. “Our partners at SBVMWD and SMWC are committed to protecting the vitality of our region-wide water systems, and we are proud to join them in that goal.”

Located in the north-central portion of the City of Calimesa, the project will facilitate the movement of State Water Project (SWP) water to a future recharge facility on 4th Street and recharge up to 479 million gallons per year. The development reuses the existing abandoned pipeline and connects directly to the SWP.

“The community is strengthened when we come together to safeguard our water supply,” SBVMWD Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Heather Dyer said. “Residents throughout multiple counties will benefit from increased water security thanks to this collaboration.”

All Yucaipa Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency members — including SGPWA, SMWC and SBVMWD — can import and store water through the project pipelines. Wet year storage can increase the sustainable yield of the Yucaipa Subbasin, allowing SGPWA flexibility during droughts to direct imported supplies to other communities within their service area including Beaumont, Banning, Cherry Valley and the Banning Bench. The pipelines will bring imported water to SMWC’s service area for the first time.

Increased water access is vital to support a growing population, including many disadvantaged communities impacted by the water shortage risks during dry spells. Construction is expected to break ground at the end of 2024 or early 2025 and be completed by the end of 2025. The County Line Recharge Basin and Turnout Project will support the Yucaipa Groundwater Sustainability Plan, advance drought resiliency and fortify emergency water resources.

“Access to safe and clean drinking water is a fundamental human right that should not be determined by wealth, status, or location. We need to invest in projects that diversify and improve the resilience of our water supply to better serve our communities, especially the disadvantaged,” said Fifth District Riverside County Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez. “And so, I am proud to see that we are working together on projects like the County Line Recharge Basin and Turnout Project with the goal of increasing access to this basic human need.”