This agreement provides funding to arvin-edison water supply district to implement its project to maintain groundwater and make surface water more available

EPA Region 9 awarded $3.25 million in a cooperative agreement to Arvin-Edison Water Storage District on April 1, 2026, under the Congressionally Mandated Projects program (CFDA 66.202) to construct a surface water conveyance pipeline that will reduce the district's reliance on groundwater extraction.

The award funds project construction and implementation activities including mobilization, site preparation, construction, performance testing, and demobilization of the surface water conveyance pipeline. Deliverables include conformed contract documents, semi-annual progress reports, a draft and final project report, the completed pipeline, and post-construction on-site project review by EPA or its delegate. The expected outcomes are increased groundwater available for disadvantaged communities within the district's service area through reduced irrigation groundwater pumping, reduced decline in groundwater levels, and enhanced or preserved groundwater quality for all groundwater users.

The award provides full federal funding with no recipient cost share required; EPA approved the recipient's cost-share waiver on August 4, 2025. The period of performance runs from April 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with work performed in Arvin, California. No sub-recipients are included in this assistance agreement.

Activities include the construction of surface water conveyance pipeline that will help stop the district's reliance on groundwater as directed in the 2024 consolidated appropriations act or as identified in an approved technical correction if one has been approved for this project. This agreement provides full federal funding in the amount of $3,250,000. The recipient's cost share waiver request has been approved by EPA on 8/4/2025. Refer to terms and conditions. Activities:the activities to be performed include project construction and implementation activities, mobilization and site preparation, construction, performance testing, and demobilization. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include conformed contract documents, semi-annual progress reports, draft and final project report, construction of the surface water conveyance pipeline, and post-construction on-site project review by EPA (or delegate). The expected outcomes include increased groundwater available for the surrounding disadvantaged communities due to reduced irrigation groundwater pumping, reduced decline in groundwater levels, enhance or preserve groundwater quality for all groundwater users, and increase the groundwater available for the entire district. The intended beneficiaries include those residents within the service area of arvin-edison water supply district.