Oeste Basin Groundwater Recharge Project

The Oeste Basin Groundwater Recharge Project, managed by the Mojave Water Agency, involves the construction of two recharge basins, each approximately 4.5 acres, on a 10-acre vacant parcel in Victorville, San Bernardino County. The project scope includes the excavation of approximately 80,409 cubic yards of soil and the installation of piping within a 0.03-acre area located in the Department of Water Resources right-of-way. The site is situated approximately 0.4 miles west of Oasis Drive, bounded by the California Aqueduct to the south and Cayucos Drive to the north. To facilitate this development, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife issued Incidental Take Permit No. 1927-ITP-2024-069-06 under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act and the California Endangered Species Act. This permit authorizes the incidental take of 201 western Joshua trees. Approval of the project is contingent upon the implementation of additional mitigation measures and a formal Mitigation Reporting or Monitoring Plan adopted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The project was officially approved on January 7, 2026, with a determination that it will not have a significant environmental effect within the jurisdiction of the responsible agency.