Groundwater Recharge Program

Groundwater recharge occurs naturally as water percolates from the surface through the soil and into the underground aquifer.

Planned groundwater recharge also occurs through the teamwork of the cities of Fresno and Clovis, the Fresno Irrigation District (FID), and the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District. During summer months, portions of the cities’ water entitlements from the San Joaquin and Kings rivers are transported by FID canals to selected District basin sites for percolation to the aquifer.

An annual average of 30,000 acre-feet of water is restored to our area’s aquifer each year through this interagency cooperation. Even more is recharged by the cities and FID through other programs. An acre-foot of water is over 325,000 gallons and is enough to cover a football field with one foot of water and is estimated, depending on usage, to be enough to supply a family of four with all of the water they need for a year.

Groundwater Recharge Reports: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

The Fresno-Clovis area’s urban storm drainage system controls storm water runoff to prevent flooding, as shown above. A secondary but very important function is replenishment of the groundwater aquifer, which is our primary source of drinking water. Many basin sites are also used as recreational areas, as shown below.