Seaborn Reservoir
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENHANCEMENT/EDUCATION
WATER SUPPLY
FLEXIBILITY/RELIABILITY
GROUNDWATER
SUSTAINABILITY
FLOOD
PROTECTION
SEABORN RESERVOIR SPECS
• 260 acres
• 7,000 acre-feet storage capacity
• 250 cubic feet per second (CFS) intake
capacity
• 100 - 150 CFS capacity for water leaving
reservoir to use within the local area
SEABORN RESERVOIR WATER RESILIENCE OPERATIONS AND BENEFITS The Seaborn Reservoir project repurposes an old mining operation with the development of a 260 acre reservoir to store Kaweah River water for:
• Flood control to protect downstream communities and agricultural land • Surface water reregulation to improve groundwater recharge timing and increase Central Valley Project Federal water availability on a 1:1 basis • Surface water capture to offset groundwater use for SGMA sustainability • Native habitat restoration, providing nearby community residents and students with recreation and environmental education
• Contribute to drinking water supply enhancement for neighboring communities, including Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
Aaron Fukuda
General Manager,
TULARE IRRIGATION DISTRICT
[email protected]
ABOUT TULARE IRRIGATION DISTRICT
The Tulare Irrigation District (TID) in Tulare County operates with the purpose to obtain and deliver a surface water supply for agricultural irrigation and groundwater recharge. The Districts’ 65,000-acre service area encompasses 200 local farms, 360 miles of water conveyance, and 1,300 acres of groundwater recharge and regulation basins.
TID is partnering with the Consolidated Peoples Ditch Company, an organization representing private farmers with water rights on the Kaweah River, on the development and operation of this project.
TID’s DISTRICT FACILITIES VISION
Operate and maintain a reliable and efficient distribution system and support facilities for the delivery of surface water for irrigation needs, groundwater recharge activities, and flood control purposes.
SEABORN RESERVOIR W ATER RESILIENCY PROJECT
FUNDING NEED
T
otal project cost: $35M
Feasibility study: $1M
PROJECT PARTNERS
• Consolidated People’s Ditch Company (Private Party Partner)
PROJECT BENEFICIARIES
Disadvantaged and Severely Disadvantaged Community residents, local farmers, educators, students, the environment, drinking water, and recreation
PROJECT STATUS
• Engineering conceptualization with technical team and agency staff • Initial biological evaluation of site and catalog of species present
PROJECT BENEFITS
• Flood Protection: Kaweah River flood water storage to protect downstream communities, city residents, and agricultural producers from flood risks including property damage • Recreation & Education: provide nearby residents, including local school districts in low-income areas, with recreational and educational experiences through public access to native habitat and environmental restoration
• Maximize Recharge: greater control over water availability timing so recharge basins in TID can operate at the highest efficiency and maximize the timing of water availability • Improve Water Sustainability: capture more surface water supply to reduce dependence on groundwater, improving sustainability under SGMA for communities and agricultural users • Increase Imported Supplies: import capacity of Central Valley Project (CVP) Federal water supply on a 1:1 basis thanks to additional storage during Kaweah River flood releases • 11,000 AF of Surface Water Storage: Complements the adjacent McKay Reservoir project, eventually providing 12,000 AF of storage between the two sites