Concord – The US Bureau of Reclamation allocated $82 million for the expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir. The allocation is part of $203 million dollars of total requested federal investment for expanding the reservoir to provide regional water supply reliability and environmental benefits.
“We are pleased that Congress and Reclamation have recognized the value of years of cooperative planning to expand Los Vaqueros Reservoir as a 21st-century water project to meet our needs in an uncertain future,” said Board Chair Angela Ramirez Holmes. “Our partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation has been immensely valuable in developing the project to this point. This next round of funding will help us across the finish line.”
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project received the largest portion of $210 million allocated to seven projects in the western United States as part of federal water storage funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law approved by Congress in November 2021.
“We are extremely grateful to our federal partners for this important funding milestone as we move from planning to construction for the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project,” said Taryn Ravazzini, Executive Director of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority. “The funding demonstrates the critical importance to the nation of reliable water supplies for people and the environment. The expansion of Los Vaqueros Reservoir will improve water management for our federal, state, and local partners.”
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Project was previously authorized for federal funding under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN)Act of 2016.
The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority (JPA) provides governance and administration for the Phase 2 Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project (Project).
The JPA was formed in October 2021 to govern the Project. The Project will increase Bay Area and Central Valley water supply reliability, develop water supplies for wildlife refuges, and improve water quality while protecting Delta fisheries and providing additional Delta ecosystem benefits. When completed, it will increase the Los Vaqueros Reservoir capacity from 160,000 acre-feet to 275,000 acre-feet and add new and modified conveyance facilities to provide environmental, water supply reliability, operational flexibility, water quality, and recreational benefits.
The Project has been approved for $477 million from California Proposition 1 funds and $136 million for construction from federal appropriations to date. The remainder of project costs will be covered by additional federal funding and JPA Member contributions. Construction is expected to begin in 2023, pending necessary reviews and approvals, and would continue through 2030
