San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

Celebrating Groundwater Awareness Week with Collaboration for a Sustainable Future!

Did you know that the storage capacity of our region’s groundwater basins is similar to the size of Lake Shasta and provides water for over 700,000 people?

Check out this recent What Matters Water TV and Podcast episode hosted by the Southern California Water Coalition, "Ripple Effect: The Power of Collaboration in Water" where Heather Dyer and Betsy Miller share how our agencies have partnered to make an impact on the region with successful groundwater projects like the Santa Ana River Enhanced Recharge Phase 1-B. As an added bonus, these General Managers highlighted the transformative impact of teamwork and dedication in water management.

The Santa Ana River Enhanced Recharge Phase 1-B Project is a joint effort with San Bernardino Valley, along with Western Water, Riverside Public Utilities, San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, and Bogh Engineering Inc., to enhance our region’s groundwater recharge efforts. While construction continues, a portion of the basins are actively replenishing our regional water supply.

#17 - Ripple Effect: The Power of Collaboration in San Bernardino Water Management Welcome to another insightful episode of What Matters Water TV + Podcast! In this eye-opening discussion, we dive into the world of water management in Calif...

Through the Decades – Honoring a legacy of water stewardship and community service spanning 70 years.

San Bernardino Valley took a moment to look back and celebrate seven decades of dedicated service, innovation, and success in water management. Like tree rings, each layer of our history represents the passage of time, enriched with experience, longevity, and service. From our early days of laying foundational pipelines to implementing innovative projects, we've come a long way. Our journey through the decades has been marked by groundbreaking projects, community partnerships, and unwavering commitment to ensuring a reliable water supply for our region.

Thank you to all who joined to celebrate our milestone.

The forecast shows more rain is on the way. Did you know that our new groundwater recharge basins are already capturing stormwater to recharge our local groundwater basin?

Since breaking ground last June, the Santa Ana River Enhanced Recharge Phase 1-B project has started actively recharging stormwater while construction continues. Perfect timing to capture some of the recent rain showers!

This collaboration with Western Water, Riverside Public Utilities, San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, and Bogh Engineering is benefitting our region. Together, we are building this innovative project that captures rainwater to contribute to our water supply resiliency. And we are doing it eight months ahead of schedule!

The ability to start recharging stormwater while construction continues highlights the benefits of strong partnerships that work together with an efficient and forward-thinking approach to water sustainability.

Western Municipal Water District San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District Riverside Public Utilities BOGH Engineering, Inc.

Join us for a conversation to help develop the vision for this unique property. The third of four information and public listening sessions for the Sunrise Ranch Master Plan is scheduled for:

March 6, 2024
5:30 pm - 7 pm
Ayres Hotel
1495 W. Renaissance Pkwy
Rialto, CA 92376

In 2022, the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District acquired 1,658 acres of undeveloped land, which we refer to as Sunrise Ranch. San Bernardino Valley has engaged a group of consultants specializing in urban planning, water supply infrastructure, architectural services, and nature-based solutions to work with the community and develop a Master Plan for this property.

For more information about the Master Plan process and future opportunities to provide feedback, visit the project webpage at sbvmwd.com/SunriseRanch

Yesterday, San Bernardino Valley participated in the American Association of University Women (AAUW) STEM conference at the University of Redlands. AAUW is a leading organization dedicated to empowering women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. San Bernardino Valley’s CEO/General Manager, Heather Dyer, delivered an insightful presentation highlighting Women In Water. She shared her passion, career path, and expertise as a Biologist in the water industry; inspiring young minds to pursue careers in STEM fields. Another great community event full of empowerment, collaboration, and encouragement!

Professionals from across Southern California joined the 2024 Santa Ana River Science and Conservation Symposium to share experiences in understanding and responding to the impacts of climate change. Our speakers shared insightful case studies, innovative projects, and detailed analyses, highlighting ongoing efforts to maintain a large-scale, resilient ecosystem in the Santa Ana River.

Statewide infrastructure projects require large-scale collaboration. San Bernardino Valley and San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency, with a history of collaborative projects dating back to 1963, came together for a joint Board meeting to approve supporting next steps for the Delta Conveyance Project. Highlighting the importance of this project for California’s water resiliency, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot shared remarks on our sustainable water future.


San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency
State Water Contractors
California Natural Resources Agency

The Planting California Natives Workshop was a Blooming Success at Louis Robidoux Parkland and Pecan Grove. Master Gardener, Marianne Hugo unveiled the secrets of a California Native garden and covered plant selection, native garden habitat, water efficiency with natives, the magic of mulch, and soil wisdom. Thank you to all who joined the workshop, embracing the beauty and benefits of California Native plants. If you missed out on this workshop, fear not! The LRPPG plans to host more events to promote eco-friendly gardening and water efficiency. Let's keep our region lush, lively, and eco-conscious!

The future of infrastructure requires vision and collaboration. Thank you Ochoa Bogh for the opportunity to participate on a panel at today’s Infrastructure Forum. Discussions like this to connect regional efforts with State legislation and regulations are key to long-term water supply planning and infrastructure projects. The panel spent some time talking about Senate Bill 366, sponsored by Senator Ochoa Bogh, a bill which sets out to establish statewide water supply goals aiming to ensure California Water for All. We look forward to continuing these critical conversations to ensure we have a resilient water supply to meet the changing needs of our region’s people and the environment.

San Bernardino Valley was honored to attend the 75th Anniversary celebration of the Chino Basin Water Conservation District.

Since 1949, CBWCD has been replenishing groundwater, doing its part to contribute to sustainable water management. Today they sealed a time capsule, symbolizing CBWCD’s commitment and promise to preserve water for future generations to be opened in another 75 years.

As fellow stewards, San Bernardino Valley is proud to support and applaud CBWCD’s 75 years of service. Moments like these reinforce our shared mission for a sustainable water future.

Welcoming CSUSB Fellows!

San Bernardino Valley hosted an inspiring group of five Fellows as part of our partnership with California State University San Bernardino's Institute for Watershed Resilience!

With a broad range of career goals and interests, San Bernardino Valley is providing opportunities for these students to bring skills from the classroom to life. Through this partnership, Fellows will be working alongside San Bernardino Valley's Environmental Team on regulatory permitting, habitat restoration, and data analysis. They will see first-hand how creating habitat for endangered species, collecting critical data to serve as a foundation for measuring results of future efforts, and working alongside project partners is critical to the success of current and future water infrastructure projects. Beyond the projects, San Bernardino Valley looks forward to sharing knowledge that will inspire and encourage these future leaders of our region.

As we step into 2024, our senior leadership team at San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District embarked on a dynamic training session to start the year on a high note! This year's focus? A singular, impactful goal that will drive our efforts and define our success in the months ahead. The training session was not just about skill enhancement but about aligning our vision and sharpening our strategies for 2024. We delved deep into our “One Thing” for 2024, identifying a habit or habits that each individual commits to in order to propel growth and development of our team.

High performing teams are always striving to be better! Follow us on this exciting journey in 2024 and see how our focused efforts bring positive changes to our operations and water management practices!

WIFIA Program’s Project-Bundling Flexibilities Accelerate Water Infrastructure Projects in California

By Jorianne Jernberg, Director WIFIA Management Division, U.S. EPA and Heather Dyer, CEO/General Manager, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program is a preferred source of supplemental financing for borrowers who want to advance their water infrastructure projects while saving money. But in addition to low interest rates and long loan terms, project bundling is one of the many appealing features of the program. Borrowers can indeed finance single, large, stand-alone projects — but they can also bundle related projects together into a single request."

Read the Full Article: https://news.csmfo.org/2024/01/10/wifia-part-3/

San Bernardino Valley attended the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District board meeting, followed by a very special celebration.

Join us in wishing a Happy 90th Birthday to Director David E. Raley of the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District! His commitment and years of service have greatly contributed to sustainable water management in our region.

Director Raley's wisdom and dedication have been instrumental in guiding water conservation efforts. It was an honor to be part of this memorable day, recognizing his significant milestone birthday.

Thank you to Director Raley for his inspiring leadership. Happy 90th birthday!

Working with local, state and federal partners is key to successful long-term planning. San Bernardino Valley recently welcomed Congressman Jay Obernolte for an Agency update. It was an opportunity to discuss key water management issues, San Bernardino Valley's initiatives, and highlight over $7 million of federal grant funding awarded in 2023 to benefit our region.

A big thank you to Congressman Obernolte and his staff for taking the time to discuss our region's efforts to build a resilient water future through partnerships and collaborations. Our region continues to serve as a model for how we can achieve more by working together.

Exciting news for San Bernardino Valley!
We’ve been recognized as one of the Inland Empire's Top Workplaces of 2023. This honor is a shining endorsement of our commitment to creating a people-centered organizational culture. Our success is built on the strength and dedication of our team. It is their passion and commitment that makes us a Top Workplace! With a diverse group of 37 professionals specializing in water resource planning, infrastructure operations, environmental sciences, and human relations, we've created an environment where every member feels valued and empowered. As we celebrate this achievement, we remain focused on our strategic objectives – employee satisfaction, innovation, and a resilient water future for our community.

Today DWR certified the Final Environmental Impact Report for Delta Conveyance and approved the project. It’s a great step forward in the effort to improve our state water reliability and resilience.

DWR has approved the Delta Conveyance Project, certifying the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and completing an extensive environmental review. DWR selected the “Bethany Reservoir Alignment” for further engineering, design and permitting. The Delta Conveyance Project would modernize the state’s water infrastructure and minimize future losses from climate-driven weather extremes and capture and move more water during wet seasons to better endure dry seasons.

In certifying the EIR and approving the project, DWR has determined the environmental review complies with the California Environmental Quality Act, and the Final EIR reflects public input and DWR’s independent judgment and analysis. The environmental review included a 142-day public comment period. DWR addressed more than 700 letters and 7,000 individual comments.

More info: https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2023/Dec-23/Department-of-Water-Resources-Approves-Delta-Conveyance-Project

Another accomplishment for our region. Congratulations San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District for the recent federal grant award and successful land exchange with the Bureau of Land Management supporting groundwater replenishment. We are proud to join local, state, and federal representatives attending today’s event with presentations by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, and Rep. Pete Aguilar highlighting federal dollars and collaboration at work in our region. Let’s continue to accomplish great things together!

We just wrapped up our 3rd Basin Optimization Workshop with local water agencies to discuss how we can maximize the value and sustainability of our shared water resources. This is a big-picture, regional approach to ensuring long-term water supply reliability for our community’s people and environment. The workshop was another step forward in our journey to continue planning and developing the key elements for a sustainable water future. By working together we achieve innovative solutions for complex challenges.

The Department of Water Resources today released the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Delta Conveyance Project, advancing an essential piece of the state’s strategy to protect water supply for millions of Californians. The proposed Delta Conveyance Project was redesigned following public input and Governor Newsom’s pledge of rightsizing the project to one tunnel to better support both environmental and water supply needs.

Learn more about the proposed Delta Conveyance Project Final Environmental Impact Report, https://water.ca.gov/News/News-Releases/2023/Dec-23/DWR-Releases-Final-Environmental-Impact-Report-for-Delta-Conveyance-Project

Exciting News in the Water World!

San Bernardino Valley is happy to share that the California Department of Water Resources has announced an initial allocation of 10% combined with our region's 50% carryover for the State Water Project. This robust start puts us in a commanding position as we kick off the water year that began in October.

Our region's commitment to investing over $1 billion in the State Water Project is making waves! These investments ensure water supply reliability for nearly 1 million people.

San Bernardino Valley is proud to collaborate closely with local water retailers to maximize the use of this precious resource. Together, we're working towards a resilient water supply and a healthy watershed for the well-being of future generations. Let's keep the momentum going and anticipate an increase in allocations as we welcome more rain and snow to California!

Stay tuned for more updates throughout the year, and join us on this journey to a sustainable future!

Set high goals… and deliver historic results. Today water agencies from across the San Bernardino Valley joined Raffael Stine of the US EPA for a joint press conference to highlight a success story where federal, state, regional, and local agencies have come together to construct what was once seen as an impossible project for the good of our watershed and the communities we serve.

What does that mean for our region?
• Watershed Connect has successfully received $151.2 million in loans for Phase 1 projects.
• Will create 1,067 jobs.
• Capture up to 80,000 acre-feet of stormwater per year.
• Recharge up to 23,000 acre-feet per year of recycled water.
• Restored 600 acres of critical habitat.
• Generate 7 megawatts of energy for the shared electrical grid.

Water supply reliability in California has reached a historical milestone!

Today, the Sites Project Authority certified the Final Environmental Impact Report/Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Sites Reservoir and officially approved the project. The vote today follows a months-long comprehensive review of potential impacts and mitigation measures and consideration of the costs and benefits of the generational infrastructure investment. Sites Reservoir, an above-ground water storage facility, will provide statewide water supply reliability and drought resilience by capturing water from major storms and storing it until it is critically needed during dry periods.

As one of the project partners, San Bernardino Valley supports the Sites Project Authority’s commitment to balance the need between environmental protections, affordability, and a reliable water supply to support the changing needs of Californians throughout the entire state.

For more information about Site Reservoir, visit https://sitesproject.org/.

Taking steps for a sustainable future at the NHCP Conference

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District had the honor of a being part of key discussions at the National HCP Coalition annual conference. This event brings together experts from across the country to share findings, success stories, and lessons learned over the last 40 years of Habitat Conservation Plans.

Habitat Conservation Plans are developed to allow water infrastructure, transportation, recreational activities, and residential housing projects to receive permits required by the Endangered Species Act for construction and operation. We continue efforts locally to develop the Upper Santa Ana River Habitat Conservation Plan which will allow for over 100 water infrastructure projects across the San Bernardino Valley.


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Exciting News From San Bernardino Valley!

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District is proud to be part of the visionary Sites Reservoir Project, recently propelled forward by Governor Gavin Newsom's announcement. This innovative project promises a smarter way to manage our water resources, capturing and storing up to 1.5 million acre-feet. Benefits of this project will support Northern and Southern California water users including agriculture, residential, and industrial, through a coalition of statewide water parties.

We’re committed to this project not only as a partner but as a proactive leader, ensuring our region benefits from the water stored in wet years, to be used in dry years.

THIS JUST IN … Governor Newsom Streamlines Sites Reservoir Project Your comprehensive source for California water news and information.

What a great example of statewide collaboration and cooperation for water resilience!

Newsroom | Bureau of Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation

"The local ‘Girls on the Run' crew visited the environmental experts at the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District. The girls participated in a hands-on environmental activity to catch a glimpse of local wildlife in action at the Sunrise Ranch property.

The 'Girls on the Run' team didn't just visit with the environmental experts, they also lent a helping hand! With guidance from the San Bernardino valley environmental team, these young explorers successfully located a spade foot toad, an endangered species and resident of our local ecosystem.

By blending education, nature, and community, we empower our youth and care for our environment. That's collaboration in action!"

Special thanks to the community members and local organizations that joined our Sunrise Ranch Master Plan Workshop 2. The event served as a great opportunity to hear feedback on the long-term potential of the Sunrise Ranch property. Our expert team gathered input on topics ranging from potential regional water infrastructure to community programming interest.

Be on the look out for our next event in early 2024 or visit sbvmwd.com/sunriseranch for project updates.

In 2022, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District acquired 1,658 acres of undeveloped land, which we refer to as Sunrise Ranch. San Bernardino Valley has engaged with a group of consultants specializing in urban planning, water supply infrastructure, architectural services, and nature-based building solutions to work with the community and develop a Master Plan for this property.