Tag Archives: water supply

ECOS Water Committee presentation: the RiverArc Project

The Water Committee will be hosting a short presentation and discussion regarding a major regional water supply project for our region – RiverArc – at its August 12 meeting from 5:30 until 6:30.

Join us by Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155 to learn more about the project and then join in on a discussion of what important topics/issues we believe need to be addressed in the project’s environmental impact analysis. The Project proponents and consultants will be available to discuss both the project and our environmental concerns.

RIVER ARC PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The RiverArc partners (City of Sacramento, Placer County Water Agency [PCWA], City of Roseville, and Sacramento County Water Agency (SCWA) are proposing the RiverArc Project to support water supply and environmental benefits in the Sacramento Region.

The proposed project would shift a portion of existing and planned regional water demand from the Lower American River to the Sacramento River. To accomplish this shift, the proposed project would divert water through the existing NMWC Pritchard Lake Diversion intake facility at RM 75.15 on the Sacramento River, deliver the river water via a new raw water pipeline to a new regional Water Treatment Plant, and distribute the treated surface water east and south through new and existing pipelines to service areas of the RiverArc partners. See more details here: https://www.riverarcproject.com/

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will include a project-level analysis for the initial construction and operation phase of the proposed project (Phase I) and a program-level analysis for later project expansion phases (Future Phases). This approach allows for the initial phase to proceed through the permitting process and to construction in the near future, whereas the program-level analysis will appropriately reflect the more preliminary level of design pertaining to the future expansion phases. See the Notice of Preparation (NOP) here: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/content/dam/portal/dou/utilities/projects/RiverArc_NOP_Final.pdf

ECOS Comments on scope and content of the EIR for the RiverArc Project

On May 23, 2025, ECOS submitted a letter containing our comments on the scope and content of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the RiverArc Project.

Below is an excerpt.

Given the critical importance of developing a sustainable water supply under increasingly unpredictable environmental conditions, we support improving regional water resource coordination through such coalitions as the Water Forum. ECOS Water Committee supports the concept of environmental benefits to the Lower American River intended through implementation of this project.

Click here to read the letter in full.

Status of the Cosumnes Groundwater Subbasin 7/27

Thursday, July 27, 2023

Presentation/Discussion of the Status of the Cosumnes Groundwater Subbasin and Related Matters 6:10 – 7:10 by Austin Miller, Sloughhouse RCD Executive Director

The ECOS Water Committee invites you to join us in a presentation/discussion of the sustainability of the Cosumnes Groundwater Subbasin (CGA). This subbasin is the source of groundwater providing a significant amount of the water used by agriculture, rural residents, and small urban areas in the south county and western portions of Amador County that are located south of the Cosumnes River.

Austin Miller, Executive Director of the Sloughhouse RCD coordinates the management of the subbasin and will present the latest condition of the subbasin as reflected in the annual subbasin sustainability report recently submitted to the state. Austin will also brief us on interactions with the other subbasin GSAs, neighboring subbasins, and the Regional Water Authority on the development of a Regional Water Bank. Finally, Austin will discuss the ability of the Cosumnes Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agencies to implement the Subbasin’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) given the loss of grant funds and other limitations and what is planned to deal with these impediments. The effective implementation of the GSP is made more important given plans by local water purveyors to expand conjunctive use, the Regional Water Authority’s plan to operate a Regional Water Bank in the North and South American Subbasins, and the potential impacts these activities may have on the sustainability of the Cosumnes Subbasin. Bring your questions and be prepared for a thoughtful presentation and discussion.

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155

Click here to view the full meeting agenda.

Sustainability of the South American groundwater subbasin 6/28

The ECOS Water Committee invites you to join us on June 28 from 6:00 until 7:00 to take part in a presentation/discussion of the sustainability of the South American groundwater subbasin. This subbasin is the source of groundwater providing a significant amount of the water used by the urban areas and agricultural areas south of the American River. John Woodling, Executive Director of the Sacramento Central Groundwater Authority (SCGA), the agency that coordinates and manages a major portion of the subbasin, will be presenting the latest condition of the subbasin as reflected in the annual subbasin sustainability report recently submitted to the state. He will also describe efforts to protect Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems, shallow wells, and improve the subbasin’s monitoring and modeling programs. All of these actions are important given the plan by the Regional Water Authority to operate a water bank in the area overseen by SCGA. We are all interested to learn how SCGA plans to interact with the proposed Regional Water Bank. Bring your questions and be prepared for a thoughtful presentation and discussion.

Link to join: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6656164155
To phone in: 669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 665 616 4155