A ribbon-cutting dedicates Carmichael Water District's La Sierra Aquifer at Garfield Avenue, Carmichael. The district's General Manager Cathy Lee wields scissors. She is joined by legislative representatives, District board members and staff. Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner

CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) – “It’s good to be Carmichael,” said Matthew Ceccato, district director for Rep. Ami Bera.

City and state representatives, along with Kiwanis Club of Carmichael and members of the community gathered on the morning of April 10 to celebrate the opening of Carmichael Water District’s La Sierra Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well, located on the corner of Garfield Avenue and Engle Road.

The project promotes long-term water sustainability and combats ongoing drought challenges in the region according to Kathy Lee, Carmichael Water district’s general manager who fronted the project and secured funding from agencies such as the Bureau of Reclamation.

According to the Department of Water Resources, who also helped fund the project, groundwater supplies approximately 40 percent of California's total water supply in average water years, and in some regions of the state, up to 60 percent in dry years.

The amount of water in Carmichael’s aquifer is comparable to having the entirety of Lake Folsom underneath us said Mark R. Emmerson, Carmichael Water District board president. When water banks from the Sierras or the American River are unreliable, access to this groundwater ensures that Carmichael’s water supply remains steady for generations to come.

Carmichael Water District General manager Cathy Lee tests water from the newly commissioned groundwater well at Garfield Avenue. With a capacity of 1800 gallons per minute, the La Sierra Aquifer will augment water supplies when droughts curtail drawing from the American River. VIPs include legislators and Water District board members. Photo by Susan Maxwell Skinner

An additional three groundwater wells were recently placed in Antelope by the Sacramento Suburban Water District, whose service communities include Carmichael.   

As rain clouds threatened to bring on a downpour, legislators congratulated the district, emphasizing the significance of the well site and its impact on the entire region.

Carmichael is a pioneer in groundwater management, and a leader for the rest of the state of California according to Senator Roger Niello. This sentiment was echoed throughout the celebration as Supervisor Rich Desmond, Mark Cullum representing Assemblyman Josh Hoover and Ceccato presented the Carmichael Water District with certificates of recognition.

Partners of the $6 million project include the Bureau of Reclamation, California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and Regional Water Authority (RWA).

Representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Regional Water Authority (RWA) emphasized the power of collaboration in making the project possible. The well site sits on land owned by San Juan Unified School District, where the district’s enrollment center is located.

Following the ceremony, attendees filled glasses with groundwater and raised a collective “cheers” to a project that will benefit Carmichael for generations.