This project will directly help with the districts drought resiliency and help increase access to groundwater supplies by providing an additional 3,466-acre feet per year, representing a 6.1% increase…

This $2,684,222 federal Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation under the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief program (CFDA 15.514) will support the Cawelo Water District in Bakersfield, CA to enhance the region's drought resiliency and increase access to groundwater supplies.

The key project components include the construction of a 33-acre-foot capacity reservoir and a 24-acre recharge facility, as well as the installation of a pipeline connecting the two facilities. These infrastructure improvements are expected to provide an additional 3,466 acre-feet per year, representing a 6.1% increase in the total annual average water supply for the region. The project aims to directly address drought challenges and increase water supply reliability for agricultural, municipal, and environmental water users in the area. The grant award was made on April 14, 2025, with a targeted ultimate completion date of December 31, 2027.

This project will directly help with the districts drought resiliency and help increase access to groundwater supplies by providing an additional 3,466-acre feet per year, representing a 6.1% increase in the total annual average water supply.activities to be performedthe major components of the project include but are not limited to: construction of a 33 acre-feet capacity reservoir construction of a 24 acre recharge facility installation of a pipeline between the two facilitiesoutcomewith the passage of the inflation reduction act (IRA), reclamation is able to offer an opportunity that provides up to 100 percent of the cost for the planning or design of domestic water supply projects that benefit disadvantaged communities or households that do not have reliable access to domestic water supplies. Beneficiary: the public