A historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed recently between the Water Blueprint for the San Joaquin Valley (Blueprint) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan). The purpose of the MOU is to establish collaboration to identify, develop, and implement projects in the San Joaquin Valley (Valley) for managing water supplies, including storage and recovery.
The MOU was signed by Blueprint Executive Director Austin Ewell and Metropolitan General Manager Adel Hagekhalil at the Association of California Water Agencies Conference on May 8 in Sacramento.
Many areas in the Valley suffer from water shortages and lack funds for infrastructure. Metropolitan, however, has been successfully banking water in Kern County for decades and is interested in pursuing opportunities to improve water supply reliability during California’s increasingly volatile wet and dry cycles.
Facing periodic drought and potential water rationing, Metropolitan is exploring surface and groundwater storage opportunities in the Valley to increase supply reliability. With Metropolitan’s desire for collaboration and ample water supplies in wetter years, the potential exists to develop programs with Valley water agencies to partner on needed water and infrastructure. In return, Metropolitan would exchange wet year water for reliable supplies during dry years, thereby helping to improve their water supply reliability.
The MOU between Metropolitan and the Blueprint sets a framework for collaboration, potentially identifying suitable areas for water banking and additional conveyance facilities. Terms for potential projects, such as size and duration, and storage and recovery amounts would be negotiated between interested San Joaquin Valley water agencies and Metropolitan.
Adel Hagekhalil, General Manager of Metropolitan, emphasized the aim of connecting water supplies, building conveyance, and uniting people behind a common vision. The MOU represents a significant step towards bringing needed water resources to the Valley and ensuring water supply reliability in southern California.
