3 Projects. 1 Goal.
Capture more surface
water for people and
places of Fresno County.
The Fresno County Stream Group Flood Protection and Water Supply Project includes 3 key project components that together will increase water supply capture, bring greater sustainability, and enhance the environment for the people and places of Fresno County.
Every person, family, and organization relies on a secure and sustainable water supply as a foundation for community and economic development.
While drastic swings between wet and dry periods are becoming the new normal, the Stream Group is investing in projects that build drought resilience and improve the lives of those who call the Fresno region home.
The Project benefits over 1 million people who live in the area and contribute to essential industries including healthcare, agriculture, education, manufacturing, government, and more. It serves a predominantly disadvantaged area, recognized by state Department of Water Resources data to include both Disadvantaged Community (DAC) and severely Disadvantaged Community (sDAC) census tracts.
Reoperate Big Dry Creek and Fancher Creek Reservoirs
Recharging the aquifer is at the forefront of the Stream Group’s project investment strategy. Improving the Big Dry Creek and Fancher Creek reservoirs for reoperation increases the Fresno region’s groundwater recharging potential by increasing surface water storage capacity by 15,000 acre-feet during wet years.
Winter storm water captured in the reservoir makes its way into the region’s extensive system of groundwater recharge basins during the spring and summer months, ensuring sustainable groundwater use over time and building drought resiliency for the residents, businesses, industries, agriculture, and private well owners who rely on the aquifer’s supply.
Improve Big Dry Creek Channel
Improvements to the Big Dry Creek channel offer multiple benefits to the Fresno region including flood protection, groundwater recharge, environmental enhancement, and public recreation. Expanding capacity to move water through the regional network of channels reduces flood risk by creating new avenues for flood flows, while ongoing channel maintenance creates the right conditions for native species to flourish and for groundwater recharge through the creek bed. A rare urban creek, the channel embankment is maintained as an ideal public access trail for local recreators.
Build Friant-Kern Canal Turnout
The benefits of using the improved Big Dry Creek Channel cannot be realized without the construction of a water diversion point from the Friant-Kern Canal. A new turnout will enable surface water delivery from the Friant-Kern Canal into the Big Dry Creek Channel in wetter years to ease pressure on the Central Valley Project (CVP) Friant contractors by reducing flood risk in the wettest years.
Located northeast of the City of Clovis, the turnout will also yield groundwater recharge within the Big Dry Creek Channel to directly benefit a rural residential area with declining groundwater levels and no access surface water supply.
Project Benefits
Climate
Resilience
Increased water supply capture for flood protection in wet years, especially during extreme precipitation events, to reduce flood risk for downstream Disadvantaged Communities and create a water supply reserve for drought preparedness.
Groundwater
Sustainability
Improved groundwater conditions for all beneficial uses and users, including agricultural producers, local industries, Disadvantaged Community residents, and private well owners.
Environmental
Enhancement
Creek channel improvements and water flow during the summer months to provide the right environment for native species and habitat to thrive.
Community
Recreation
Improving the creekside public access experience along a rare public urban creek trailway to increase recreational opportunities for the diverse populations that live in the community.
Latest Updates
US Army Corps of Engineers agreement propels Fresno County Stream Group project efforts
In February, the Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Fresno County Stream Group’s Redbank and Fancher Creek Reservoir Reoperation project. This agreement allows the members of the Fresno...
Congressional Staff Tour Big Dry Creek Reservoir Project to Discuss Improvements
On October 23, General Manager Bill Stretch represented FID during a Big Dry Creek Reservoir project tour led by Brent Sunamoto, Assistant General Manager & District Engineer for @Fresno Metropolitan Flood Control District. Also on the tour was Joshua Babcock from...
Fresno County Stream Group
