Permit No. 20095 – Chowchilla Subbasin Recharge Project 2

The Central Valley Flood Protection Board is seeking to construct a flow diversion system through the Chowchilla Eastside Bypass levee to enable groundwater recharge in the Chowchilla Subbasin. The project involves excavating a channel from the bypass to near the waterside levee toe, leading into a fish screen intake system that directs water through a 100-foot-long, 36-inch-diameter buried concrete culvert. The flow then reaches a gate control box equipped with a slide gate to allow for positive closure, ensuring precise control over water movement. The system continues through the levee to the landside, terminating at a concrete pump box where water is lifted into a distribution pipeline for targeted recharge. This engineered solution is designed to safely and efficiently channel excess surface water into aquifers while protecting aquatic life and maintaining levee integrity. The project is identified under Permit No. 20095 and is forecasted for public notice with a posted date of August 3, 2026. Primary contact points include Jennifer Calles, Senior Environmental Scientist at the Central Valley Flood Protection Board, and Stephanie Anagnoson, Director of Water and Natural Resources for Madera County. The work will take place in California, specifically within the Chowchilla Subbasin, and is part of broader efforts to enhance regional groundwater storage and flood management. No set-aside provisions or NAICS codes have been specified, and the initiative reflects a collaborative approach between state and county agencies to address water resource sustainability in the Central Valley.