Our modeling analysis determined that recharge capacity was sufficient to make the Bank a financially viable business venture.

Antelope Valley-East Kern Water Agency

Location: Los Angeles and Kern Counties, California
M&A provides support for a California agency that supplies imported water to more than 20 municipal providers in the Mojave Desert.

OVERVIEW

M&A has been integral in the development of the High Desert Groundwater Bank for AVEK, which aims to improve water supply reliability and generate revenues to offset costs to its customers. In 2019, we subcontracted to Stantec to assist in the High Desert Groundwater Bank development.

SERVICES

Water Supply & Recharge

  • Conducted a recharge feasibility assessment to estimate the recharge capacity of the project
  • Evaluated the efficacy of obtaining funding under California’s Water Storage Investment Program (WSIP)
  • Monitored and evaluated the hydrologic effects of a 2017 pilot recharge project
  • Prepared a proposal to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for a WaterSMART grant to support additional hydrogeologic investigations to improve confidence in the HDWB performance
  • Conducted a comprehensive field exploration program to characterize site conditions for groundwater modeling
  • Characterized vadose zone lithologic and hydraulic conditions in coordination with the geotechnical investigation
  • Developed technical specifications and managed the construction and testing of a deep monitor well, multiple vadose zone piezometers, and 20 high-capacity recovery wells
  • Prepared the Water Storage Agreement for the Antelope Valley Watermaster
  • Analyzed groundwater data from early recharge activities to assist in operational optimization and assess the potential effects of recharge on local infrastructure

Groundwater Modeling

  • Evaluated the U.S. Geological Survey MODFLOW model of the Antelope Valley
  • Developed a groundwater model to aid in project design and operation and to provide a high degree of confidence that the High Desert Water Bank will achieve client goals
  • Calibrated the model to site-specific groundwater level and quality data
  • Used calibrated model to estimate recharge and recovery capacity, aid in recharge design, and to design the recovery wellfield