The Desert Water Agency (DWA) has announced that the Delta Conveyance Project and the Sites Reservoir project have achieved significant milestones, indicating imminent commencement of construction. The DWA emphasizes the importance of these projects in replenishing the groundwater basin.
As per a post on the DWA website's blog, in December, the California Department of Water Resources released the final environmental impact report for the Delta Conveyance Project. Once certified, construction will commence. In contrast, last month saw both the Bureau of Reclamation and Sites Project Authority certify the final environmental impact report for the Sites Reservoir project. Construction is set to begin in 2024 with an expected completion date in 2030.
According to information on the DWA website, this non-profit organization oversees approximately 23,000 domestic water connections. These connections provide water services to nearly 72,000 individuals residing in western Coachella Valley area, including Palm Springs and Cathedral City.
The DWA blog post reveals that it is one among 30 state water project contractors entitled to water piped from northern California via the State Water Project. This expansive water system consists of canals, pipelines and reservoirs. The Delta Conveyance Project aims to "modernize the State Water Project to make it more reliable and resilient." The project includes constructing an underground tunnel through the California Delta to enhance how the system captures, stores and transports water.
In another post on its blog, DWA explains that the Sites Reservoir project involves creating an off-river storage basin in Maxwell, located north of Sacramento. This basin will accumulate water during high precipitation years from stream run-off and rainfall which will then be supplied during low precipitation years. It is also noted that Sites Reservoir will operate alongside other state reservoirs.