College Lake: $68 Million Water Supply Project COMMUNITY

On June 9, the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency hosted a groundbreaking for the $68 million College Lake water supply project at 76 Holohan Road, Watsonville.

The most visible aspect of the project will be construction of a 6-mile, 30-inch pipeline to transport treated water from the new water treatment plant to more than 5,500 acres of farmland via PV Water’s coastal distribution system.

On June 12, crews began open trenching for the pipeline. Construction is expected to last 18 months and will cause traffic impacts for Watsonville residents, as well as commuters.

The goal is to develop College Lake as a new water supply for the Pajaro Valley and achieve sustainable water resources.

The project is designed to reduce groundwater pumping, reduce groundwater overdraft and seawater intrusion, and improve habitat for the endangered South-Central California coast steelhead.

The water treatment plant will have two pumps pulling water from the lake.

A new weir will be adjustable to not increase or change flood conditions at College Lake. The weir will have a fish passage allowing fish to enter and exit College Lake during migration and out-migration periods.

The water treatment plant includes a ballasted flocculation/sedimentation function, a materials storage area, a treated water pump station, sediment drying beds and a treatment support building.

The groundbreaking featured remarks by U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Mateo), PV Water Board Chair Amy Newell, board member and former general manager Mary Bannister, and General Manager Brian Lockwood.

Bids were solicited for the treatment plant and for the pipeline.

Mountain Cascade of Livermore won both contracts.

“Mountain Cascade built portions of our infrastructure two decades ago,”