When you have an emergency and need cash quickly, it helps to have money saved up. Same with water.
Can provide 15% of IRWD water demands though a three-year shortage
IRWD water banks are located in Kern County, California
IRWD’s water-banking partner is Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District
To be ready for a severe drought or emergency water interruptions, IRWD owns and operates water banks.
Deposits are made in wet years, as surplus water is captured in ponds built by IRWD. The water percolates into vast aquifers and banked there without risk of evaporation. (Picture it down there, earning interest.)
Then, when urgently needed, the water can be withdrawn.
It’s an investment that supports the community, the economy, and the environment. Like money in the bank.
Water banking is an important water management tool, but opportunities for groundwater banking in Southern California are limited. In contrast, Kern County's extensive groundwater basins provide ample opportunities for water storage partnerships.
IRWD has entered into a 30-year water banking partnership with the Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District in Kern County. IRWD's partnership with Rosedale provides long-term equity ownership of water banking capacity, rather than the typical contract or lease arrangements employed by other agencies.
As part of the agreement with Rosedale, IRWD can store up to 50,000 acre-feet in the water bank and may recover up to about 17,500 acre-feet in any single year. IRWD has priority rights to use the recharge ponds when Rosedale is not recharging Kern River floodwaters and has first priority rights to the use of the recovery facilities. Rosedale has a second priority use of the facilities. However, the water that Rosedale stores on its own behalf does not count against the 50,000 of storage dedicated to IRWD. IRWD has contracted with Rosedale to manage the water bank on its behalf.
IRWD has negotiated terms and obtained Board approval for a coordinated operating and exchange agreement with both the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Municipal Water District of Orange County. This agreement will facilitate the recovery and delivery of water from the water bank in Kern County into IRWD’s service area in Orange County.
IRWD is pursuing additional sources of water for the water bank. Pursuant to IRWD’s contract with Rosedale, Rosedale will divert a portion of its entitlement to floodwater flows in the Kern River to the District-owned storage ponds for recovery in dry years. IRWD is entitled to 20% of all Kern River floodwaters recharged with the district’s recharge ponds.
In addition, IRWD has entered into pilot program agreements that provide for the storage of water on behalf of both the Central Coast Water Authority and the Buena Vista Water Storage District in return for 50% of the water stored being left behind in the Water Bank for the District’s use.
IRWD bought high-quality groundwater recharge land that overlays the Kern County regional groundwater basin and is part of the Rosedale Rio Bravo Water Storage District.
IRWD built 502 acres of groundwater recharge ponds on the property.
On July 24, 2018, the California Water Commission voted to conditionally award the Kern Fan Project $67.5 million. IRWD and Rosedale are now working to complete additional requirements outlined in the program regulations in order to execute a final funding agreement and receive funds.
On October 21, 2019, IRWD and Rosedale submitted a draft feasibility report to the United States Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for review.
View the Draft Feasibility Report and
