Introduction
The City of Riverside is committed to responsible water resource management, which encompasses the stewardship of both our natural resources and the sustainable operations of the utility and all City Departments. The City is primarily in the Santa Ana River Watershed. The Santa Ana River watershed spans 2,650 square miles across parts of San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange County. Given its extent, numerous water districts and local government agencies collaborate to maintain the health of the watershed and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Enhancing the Role of the Santa Ana River in Riverside
Over the past three decades, Mayor Lock Dawson has played a significant role in prioritizing the conservation of the Santa Ana River for Riverside and the region. She led the Santa Ana River Partnership, a regional coalition comprising three counties, twenty-four cities, and various nonprofit organizations across Riverside, San Bernardino, and Orange counties, to maintain the river's integrity. In 2014, she was instrumental in crafting legislation to establish the Santa Ana River Conservancy, solidifying state-level efforts to preserve the river.
Important Link: Putting the River Back in Riverside | riversideca.gov
San Bernardino Water Basin
Seven Oaks Dam Enhanced Groundwater Recharge
Riverside sources approximately 65% of its water from groundwater aquifers in the San Bernardino basin. While these aquifers have provided a significant source of clean drinking water for the region, increasing demand and prolonged droughts are placing stress on this resource. Riverside has partnered with the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, Western Municipal Water District, and other regional agencies to improve storm water capture and groundwater storage capacity at the base of Seven Oaks Dam.
Once completed, the project will be capable of diverting and recharging up to 80,000 acre-feet of water in a single wet year. This will help stabilize groundwater levels in the San Bernardino basin and ensure a long-term water supply for the city of Riverside and its regional partners.