WRD Lauds Congress for Enacting WRDA Act $15 million authorized for WRD's Groundwater Optimization Project

The Board of Directors of the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD) praised Congress for its unprecedented override of the President's veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The U.S. House of Representatives' 361-54 veto override was delivered on November 6 and, two days later, the U.S. Senate voted 79-14 to enact the bill.

"It has been seven years since Congress passed legislation to authorize critical Army Corps of Engineers projects," noted WRD General Manager Robb Whitaker. "Given the drought conditions throughout our nation and global climate change, it is critical that investments are made on projects and programs to develop and protect local water supply resources."

More than $1 billion in water projects in California will be authorized under WRDA, including $15 million for WRD's Groundwater Optimization Pipeline Project. The District's Optimization Project will allow for the capture of an additional 17,000 acre-feet per year (over 5.5 billion gallons annually) of stormwater that would otherwise be lost to the ocean -- enough water for 170,000 people each year. Championed by the late Representative Juanita Millender- McDonald, the WRD Groundwater Optimization Project consists of a series of extraction wells near the vicinity of the spreading grounds with a connecting pipeline distributing the water to purveyors.

"WRD is particularly grateful for the efforts of Representative Laura Richardson in continuing to champion the District's Groundwater Optimization Project and of Representative Grace Napolitano for her support as a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee," added Whitaker. "The District also thanks Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein for their votes on the bill."

WRD has been actively engaged with members of Congress in seeking passage of the $23 billion water resources bill. Just last month, District officials met with leading members of the California delegation to discuss the importance of the Groundwater Optimization Project in WRDA. Created by voters in 1959, WRD is a regional groundwater management agency that protects and preserves the quantity and quality of groundwater supplies for nearly four million residents in southern Los Angeles County. These groundwater basins provide nearly 40 percent of the total water demand used by the 43 cities in WRD's service area.