Construction Underway on East Ames-Reche Groundwater Recharge Basin Project August. 13, 2026

Description

13846 Conference Center Drive ♦ Apple Valley, California 92307 ♦ P: (760) 946-7000 ♦ F: (760) 240-2642 PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 13, 2026 Contact: Charlene Engeron, Public Information Officer (760) 946-7001 or cengeron@mojavewater.org Construction Underway on East Ames-Reche Groundwater Recharge Basin Project New facility will expand groundwater recharge capacity and strengthen long-term water reliability in the Morongo Basin APPLE VALLEY, Calif. — Construction is underway on Mojave Water Agency's East Ames-Reche Groundwater Recharge Basin Project, an approximately $6.6 million construction investment that will expand the Agency's ability to recharge imported State Water Project supplies in the Morongo Basin. The project will replace the existing Ames Recharge Facility, which has been in operation since 2014 but faces operational limitations including capacity constraints, weekend shutdowns, equipment access issues, and environmental permitting requirements. The new facility is being constructed on Mojave Water Agency (MWA) property and is expected to provide approximately 2,400 acre-feet per year of recharge capacity, giving the Agency greater flexibility to replenish local groundwater supplies when imported water is available. "The East Ames-Reche project represents a commitment made by a prior generation to secure the long-term water future of the Morongo Basin," said Marina West, President of the Mojave Water Agency Board of Directors. "Expanding our ability to recharge groundwater means we can make better use of available water supplies today while helping ensure those resources are there for the communities of Yucca Valley, Yucca Mesa, Landers, Flamingo Heights and Johnson Valley in the future." Approximately $480,000 in grant funding from the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is supporting the project through the Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant Program. The remaining construction costs are being funded by MWA. The project was designed by Ardurra Group, Inc., which is also providing construction management services. J/K Excavation & Grading Co., Inc. is the construction contractor. The new recharge facility will improve upon the operational capabilities of the existing Ames facility and provide MWA with additional capacity to put State Water Project supplies into the groundwater basin for future use.