Kern County&

Groundwater Banking/Storage

Projects

A Discussion of POTENTIAL

KCWA SWP MEMBER UNITS1,000,000 AF

CVP FRIANT-KERN DISTRICTS312,000 AF

CVP SHASTA SYSTEM DISTRICTS128,000 AF

KERN RIVER DISTRICTS740,000 AF

Sources of Supply

Kern County Water Districts

4 0 4 8

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

43

119

99

166

55

184

43

46

33

58

58

33

46

178

Delano-Earlimart ID Rag Gulch WD

Kern-Tulare WD

Southern San Joaquin MUD

North Kern WSD Cawelo

WDShafter-Wasco ID

Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSDKCWA Improvement District No. 4

Olcese WD

Arvin-Edison WSD

Tehachapi-Cummings CWD

Tejon-Castac WD

Kern Delta WD

Wheeler Ridge-Maricopa WSD

Henry Miller WDWest Kern WD

Semitropic WSD

Lost Hills WD

Berrenda Mesa WD

Devils Den WD

Belridge WSD

Lake Isabella

Kern River

Lebec CWD

California Aqueduct

Friant-Kern Canal

BakersfieldCross Valley Canal

Total "Contracted" Supply =2.2 MAF

4 0 4 8

Delano-Earlimart ID

Rag Gulch WD

Kern-Tulare

WD

Devils Den WD Lake Isabella

5

5

5

5

5

43

5

43

Rosedale-Rio Bravo WSD

KCWA Improvement District No. 4

Wheeler Ridge-

Maricopa WSD

West Kern WD

Semitropic WSD

Belridge WSD

Bakersfield

Southern San

Joaquin MUD

Shafter-Wasco

ID

North Kern WSD Cawelo

WD

Kern Delta WDHenry

Miller WD

Cross Valley Canal

Lost Hills WD

Berrenda Mesa WD

Arvin-Edison WSD

Kern County Water Agency

Recharge Water Sources and Facilities

Water recharged into the banking projects can come from the Kern River, Friant Kern Canal, or California Aqueduct.

California Aqueduct Kern River

Friant Kern Canal

Kern County & Groundwater BankingKern County Water Management

•Water short region•Progressive water management

•Significant groundwater banking projects•Local & state wide benefits

Why Groundwater Banking in Kern?•Multiple Water Supplies 

•Access to high‐flow supplies•Favorable Geology• Inexpensive 

•compared to development of new surface supplies• Infrastructure •Mitigation of surface supply shortages (increased reliability)

Kern County & Groundwater Banking

Kern Groundwater Banking/Storage Models

•Water Supply Centric•2:1 Programs  ‐ Emphasis on Water Supply • Infrastructure provided by Banker 

•Revenue/Infrastructure Centric•Fees – Investment in Infrastructure

•Both generate water supply benefits to basin

YESTERDAY

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Quick comparison of RRB Groundwater Project vs. Storage in Isabella Reservoir

•RRB Pond Acreage – 1,600 acres•Estimated Isabella Reservoir Acreage – 11,000 acres

•RRB annual recharge capacity – 300,000 acre‐feet (AF)

•Isabella Reservoir Capacity – 365,000 AF

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Quick comparison of RRB Groundwater Project vs. Storage in Isabella Reservoir

•RRB Annual Storage Losses ‐ 0 AF•Isabella Reservoir Storage Losses – 38,000 AF

•RRB Groundwater Storage Capacity – 1.5MAF•Isabella Storage Capacity – 365,000 AF

•RRB cost analysis favors groundwater recharge/storage

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Quick comparison of RRB Groundwater Project vs. Storage in Isabella Reservoir

•RRB groundwater recharge basins are farmed when not in service.•KWB & others provide habitat 

•Isabella Reservoir provides recreational activities (boating/fishing etc.) 

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Should groundwater storage become part of California’s water infrastructure investment? 

•1989/90 State Groundwater Storage Concept•Kern Fan Element

•State vs. Local Control•Kern Water Bank 

•New Dynamics:•Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”) •Reductions in SWP & other surface supplies

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Should groundwater storage become part of California’s water infrastructure investment? 

•The Central Valleyhas done an excellentjob in creating groundwater storage space. 

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Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Should groundwater storage become part of California’s water infrastructure investment? 

•California water policy/management should maximize the use of surface and groundwater resources

•Surface reservoirs are checking accounts•Groundwater storage are savings accounts

Both are needed for address water supply variability

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of PotentialThe question of public benefit

•Groundwater storage projects have been proven to enhance water supply reliability •Any improvement in water supply reliability will have a public benefit

•Groundwater storage projects can be more cost effective and environmentally friendly than surface storage alternatives.•Any water supply project that minimizes cost and environmental impacts while maximizing supply reliability will have a public benefit. 

Groundwater storage projects 

Groundwater Storage – Discussion of Potential

Final Thoughts

•Surface and groundwater resources should be managed conjunctively. 

•Neither surface or groundwater storage will improve supply reliability unless conveyance constraints are addressed 

•The aquifer is waiting………….