DINUBA – In a landmark effort to combat water scarcity, the Alta Irrigation District has purchased land to fulfill the region’s agricultural and residential water needs.
Announced in a press release on March 25, the Alta Irrigation District (Alta), headquartered in Dinuba, finalized the purchase of 80 acres to develop the London West Pond recharge basin, located at Avenue 384 and Road 56. The future basin will be next to the existing London Pond recharge site in London, California.
“We are excited to give our growers greater access to water, while also making strides toward groundwater sustainability,” Alta’s General Manager Chad Wegley said via press rlease.
According to the release, just last summer the district purchased 40 acres to develop Traver North Basin on the junction of Avenue 376 and Road 44. Both groundwater recharge sites are the largest property acquisitions by the district in 50 years.
The two groundwater recharge basins will help Alta achieve its goals to divert more surface water and contribute to groundwater sustainability efforts in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, said the release.
Not only that, but the release goes on to say the basins will ultimately increase available water supply during dry years for growers, while bolstering the water table to operate sustainably. The projects will also support nearby residents reliant on groundwater for drinking water.
Construction on London West Pond is projected to start in 2026 and the total project cost is an estimated $8.5 million, including the land purchase, project design and construction costs. The land purchase was made possible by local investment through assessments. Alta will complete the London West Pond with a low-interest loan from the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program (IBank).
Traver North basin closed escrow in summer 2024 and is expected to begin construction in winter 2025. The Traver North basin is funded in part by a $1 million award from Congressional Representative Jim Costa’s Community Project Funding Requests. The total project cost is estimated at $4.5 million.
