San Luis Reservoir Low Point Improvement Project
Reclamation, along with the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Authority) and Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD), is preparing a Feasibility Study for the San Luis Reservoir Low Point Improvement Project (Project). In Public Law (PL) 108 361, Section 103(f)(1)(A), the Secretary of the Interior was authorized to conduct feasibility studies of San Luis Reservoir. The San Luis Reservoir Low Point Improvement Project is proposed to maintain a high quality, reliable, and cost-effective water supply for SCVWD and other contractors of the Bureau of Reclamation's San Felipe Division to ensure that these contractors receive their annual Central Valley Project contract allocations at the time and at the level of quality needed to meet water supply commitments. Project objectives are to: (1) resolve the water quality problems associated with the San Luis Reservoir low point; (2) improve the reliability of deliveries to the San Felipe Division; (3) increase the operational flexibility of the San Luis Reservoir; and (4) provide opportunities for project-related environmental improvements. The study area includes San Luis Reservoir and the service area of the Authority. The study area encompasses approximately 2,100,000 acres within the western San Joaquin Valley and portions of San Benito and Santa Clara counties. San Luis Reservoir, part of the San Luis Unit of the West San Joaquin Division, is located near Los Banos in Merced County about 80 miles southeast of San Francisco.
The authorization directed that for San Luis Reservoir, “Funds may be expended for feasibility studies, evaluation, and implementation for the San Luis Reservoir Low Point improvement project, except that Federal participation in any construction of an expanded Pacheco Reservoir shall be subjected to future congressional authorization.” This authorization is under the CALFED Bay-Delta Program, California Water Security and Environmental Enhancement (CALFED Bay-Delta Authorization Act). It is included in a section that provides New and Expanded Authorization for Federal Agencies for involvement in conveyance projects.
July 20, 2006