Casa Loma Siphon No. 1 and San Jacinto Pipeline Protection Project

The Casa Loma Siphon No. 1 and San Jacinto Pipeline Protection Project, managed by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, involves the permanent engineering reinforcement of critical water infrastructure in Riverside County. The project focuses on protecting pipelines from flotation, exposure, erosion, and seismic activity within the San Jacinto River. Specifically, the scope includes the concrete encasement of approximately 320 feet of the CRA Casa Loma Siphon No. 1 Pipeline and 295 feet of the San Jacinto Pipeline. These encasements will be reinforced with horizontal and vertical steel rebar, with the Siphon No. 1 encasement measuring 16 feet wide by 13 feet deep, and the San Jacinto Pipeline encasement measuring 12.5 feet wide by 10.7 feet deep. The project will not introduce new aboveground components or alter existing operation and maintenance conditions. The project is subject to rigorous environmental compliance and regulatory oversight, as detailed in an Initial Study-Mitigated Negative Declaration. Extensive biological assessments have been conducted to protect special-status species, including the San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Least Bell's Vireo, western burrowing owl, and various rare plants and bat species. The project site, covering approximately 6.7 acres, is located between Soboba Road and State Street. Contractors must adhere to strict standards regarding noise control, hazardous materials storage, and the protection of cultural and paleontological resources. The project was officially approved on April 14, 2026, following a public review period and coordination with agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.