BLM approves Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility Project
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PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management has approved a right-of-way grant for continued operation of the existing Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility in Riverside County. The facility could recharge up to 511,000 acre-feet of water annually from the Colorado River and provide drinking water to 300,000 people in the Coachella Valley.
Coachella Valley Water District owns and operates the Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility in north Palm Springs that is partially located on approximately 690 acres of BLM-managed public lands. Coachella Valley Water District applied for an authorization to operate, maintain, and decommission the existing facility and recharge up to 511,000 acre-feet of water annually for 30 years.
Whitewater River Groundwater Replenishment Facility is one of the main facilities that supports groundwater replenishment within the Coachella Valley. The project supports the Biden-Harris administration’s goal to meet the urgent demands of the climate crisis by helping state and local agencies continue to manage critical groundwater supplies in the West for domestic, commercial, agricultural, and industrial users.
Information about the project, the Record of Decision, and other documents are available online at: https://go.usa.gov/x6KsM. The BLM’s issuance of the Record of Decision initiates a 30-day appeal period. For more information, please contact BLM project manager Brandon G. Anderson at 760-422-9120, or by email at bganderson@blm.gov.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.