The west side’s communities are surrounded and supported by a strong agricultural economy. Many of them are disadvantaged and rely on groundwater. Water storage for west side agriculture helps restore and sustain groundwater for our communities including Dos Palos, Firebaugh, Grayson, Gustine, Los Banos, Mendota, Newman, Patterson, and Westley.
Food production is dependent on water. Without a reliable supply, agriculture cannot survive. Droughts, climate change, and competing uses of existing water sources make it difficult to keep supplies flowing when needed. Storage provided by Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir is a vital component to addressing this challenge.
Agriculture is a key driver to the area’s economy and quality of life, pumping $7.15 billion into the Stanislaus County economy alone in 2017 (more than $19 million per day.) Among the gifts of the land: fruits, nuts, vegetables, livestock, poultry, dairy, and other products, many of which carry the organic label.
Employees engaged in agriculture numbered more than 34,000 in 2017, holding nearly one in eight jobs in Stanislaus County alone. Total agricultural employment in the region is in excess of 100,000 employees.
Water for the Environment
Wildlife refuges south of the Delta support a rich array of birds, animal species and plant life, all of which depend on water. These refuges lack adequate water for habitat and food production. The primary refuges include the Kern and San Luis National Wildlife Refuges; Los Banos, Mendota, North Grasslands, and Volta Wildlife Areas; and Grassland Resource Conservation District. Expanded storage space within Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir creates potential for the refuges to become future contracting partners and receive more robust, reliable flows.
Managing Del Puerto Creek flood flows in a more controlled way allows for habitat and fisheries improvements and groundwater recharge along a riparian corridor east of Interstate 5.
Additional water storage and releases from the Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir will help sustain these ecosystems.
Storage for the Future
Flood Safety: Typical of west side streams, Del Puerto Creek can flood adjacent lands when runoff occurs during high rainfall events. This flooding impacts orchards, farm structures, roads, residential areas, and commercial developments. The Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir will capture flood flows, which can be stored and released to minimize flood risks, while increasing groundwater recharge and maintaining natural habitats in the creek.
Groundwater Management: Increasing the availability and reliability of surface supplies will reduce groundwater pumping and stabilize groundwater levels. This improved groundwater management benefits all the communities in the area that rely on groundwater, including Dos Palos, Firebaugh, Gustine, Los Banos, Mendota, Newman, and Patterson. Many of these are disadvantaged communities with limited resources to secure new supplies. In addition, continued groundwater recharge in Del Puerto Creek will protect for future water supplies in the region.
