CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - On March 17, 2022, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) announced the award of $2 million in grant funding to Carmichael Water District (CWD) to help fund the construction of the Engle/Garfield Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Well Project. 

CWD’s new well is one of ten additional projects selected for funding as part of Reclamation’s Drought Resiliency Project grants. Reclamation's Program is part of WaterSMART, a program that provides water agencies financial assistance to implement projects that build long-term drought resiliency. 

Over the past decade, climate change driven drought conditions have severely affected CWD’s surface water supplies through State Water Resources Control Board (Board) curtailment orders in 2014/2015 and most recently in 2021. The Board’s curtailment orders resulted in a 100% reduction in surface water supply for CWD. 

With a need for investment in additional groundwater supplies, CWD was compelled to seek partnerships in funding to enhance its current conjunctive use program. The addition of an ASR well will greatly improve the CWD’s ability to sustainably manage its groundwater supplies and better manage its previously banked water. The project supports co-equal goals of building long-term resilience to drought and reducing the impacts of emergency response actions on customers.

The support of U.S. House Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), was essential in securing the drought resiliency funding for CWD. “Sacramento County is in the midst of a historic drought and over the last few years has faced both severe flooding and dry periods, impacting our residents and our economy,” said Representative Bera. “I’m proud to help secure over $2 million in grant funding to assist the Carmichael Water District in construction of the Engle/Garfield Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) Well Project. I will continue to fight for additional funding to ensure our region has access to a safe and reliable water supply.”

“Grant funded projects such as this are tremendous examples of CWD’s commitment to addressing water supply challenges through conjunctive use water management,” said President of the CWD Board of Directors Jeff Nelson.  “Joining with Representative Bera and through financial partnerships with Reclamation, we demonstrate our commitment to work together in developing solutions that address both long-term water reliability and customer water affordability.”

The addition of the ASR well to CWD’s portfolio will provide an average annual benefit of 605 acre-feet per year of additional recharge and allow access of up to 1,210 acre-feet previously banked groundwater.