- California has completed a $55 million water infrastructure program in Southern California.
- The improvements will help water agencies store water underground during wet years.
- The program can store up to 137,000 acre-feet of water.
- New facilities include pipelines, groundwater wells, and habitat restoration projects.
- Regional water agencies will work together to make stored water available during droughts.
Thursday, November 12, 2026 — Southern California water agencies have completed a series of projects designed to save water during wet years and make it available when drought returns.
The California Department of Water Resources
announced the completion of the $55 million Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program on November 9, 2026.
The program brings together several water agencies in the Santa Ana River watershed to improve groundwater storage, strengthen water delivery systems and restore natural habitats.
State and regional water officials gathered in Riverside on November 9 to recognize the projects’ completion.
Saving Water Underground for Dry Years.
One of the program’s main features is its ability to store water underground when supplies are plentiful.
Rather than relying entirely on reservoirs and other surface storage facilities, participating water agencies can move water into underground groundwater basins for later use.
The process is called groundwater recharge. It allows water to enter underground storage areas, where it can be saved until needed.
The Santa Ana River program uses a water management approach called conjunctive use. This means managing surface water and groundwater together to make better use of available supplies.
Water agencies throughout the San Bernardino Valley now have improved facilities that allow them to capture and store up to 137,000 acre-feet of water during wet years.
The stored water can then be accessed during dry periods.
What the $55 Million Paid For.
The California Department of Water Resources provided $55 million in grant funding through Proposition 84 to the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority and its regional partners.
The funding supported planning, design and construction of water infrastructure throughout the Santa Ana River watershed.
Completed improvements include:
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New pipelines and connections that move water between facilities.
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More than a dozen groundwater wells.
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Infrastructure that allows agencies to coordinate groundwater storage and water exchanges.
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Several projects that restore and improve natural habitats.
The new connections and wells provide participating agencies with more ways to manage water supplies across different groundwater basins.
The improvements also support environmental restoration within the watershed.
Preparing for Longer Droughts.
California water officials say the projects are particularly important as changing weather patterns make water supplies less predictable.
Longer droughts, irregular precipitation, and extreme weather can make it difficult for communities to rely on rainfall and other water sources.
Groundwater storage provides another way to manage those changes.
“As climate change contributes to longer droughts, more unreliable precipitation, and extreme weather, groundwater is critical for California’s water supply,” said Tom Gibson, director of the California Department of Water Resources. “This program’s collaborative approach helps communities prepare for dry conditions while building a more resilient water future for Southern California.”
Regional Agencies Working Together.
The Santa Ana River Conservation and Conjunctive Use Program is a regional effort involving the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority and several local water agencies.
The participating agencies have worked together to improve connections between water systems and expand the ability to store and exchange water across groundwater basins.
That coordination is an important part of the program because water stored in one area can be managed as part of a broader regional supply system.
The completed facilities will help participating agencies manage water during wet and dry periods while supporting groundwater sustainability and habitat restoration.
The California Department of Water Resources described the completed program as an example of how state funding and local partnerships can address water supply challenges.
The projects are now complete, providing Southern California water agencies with infrastructure intended to support long-term groundwater storage and regional water management.
Image via California Department of Water Resources News Release: Aerial photo of new facilities in the Santa Ana River Watershed constructed as part of SARCCUP, a multi-agency, watershed-wide conjunctive use program.
