About the Project

The Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project will increase Bay Area and Central Valley water supply reliability, develop water supplies for wildlife refuges, and improve water quality while protecting Delta fisheries and providing additional Delta ecosystem benefits.

When completed, it will increase the Los Vaqueros Reservoir capacity from 160,000 acre-feet to 275,000 acre-feet and add new and modified conveyance facilities to provide environmental, water supply reliability, operational flexibility, water quality, and recreational benefits.

PROJECT BENEFITS

Water for Wetlands

Reliable water for South of Delta
wildlife refuges

Water for Communities

Reliable water supply for 11M
Californians

Regional Integration

High potential for regional water
system integration

Economic Growth

Anticipated creation of up to
20,000 jobs

Funding

Federal funding from Congress

Supports wildlife refuges
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

State funding from the California Water Commission

Supports wildlife refuges, emergency response, and recreation

Local funding from partner agencies

Supports regional water supply reliability
LV JPA is seeking a low-interest, federal loan*

Total project cost as of September 2023: $1.377B

Since November 2014, inflation has increased construction costs by more than 40%**

* Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act
** Engineering News Record Index

JPA MEMBER AGENCIES

2024 - Phase 2 Expansion
Capacity: 275,000 acre ft.
Dam Heigh: 281 ft.

2012 - Phase 1 Exoansion
Capacity: 160,000 acre ft.
Dam Heigh: 226 ft.

1998 - Original DAM Construction
Capacity: 100,000 acre ft.
Dam Heigh: 192 ft.

Project Timeline

July 2018
Preliminary California Water Commission (CWC) eligibility and funding decisions
2020-2023
Permitting, agreements, and design
February 2020
Final Supplement to the Final EIS/EIR
August 2020
Final Federal Feasibility Report
October 2021
Formation of Joint Powers Authority
2023-2024
Final agreements and California Water Commission (CWC) funding award
2025-2031
Construction
2025
Construction begins on Transfer-Bethany Pipeline
2026
Construction begins on Los Vaqueros Dam Expansion

New JPA
Creates
Unique
Partnership

Established in October 2021, the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Joint Powers Authority (JPA) is a unique and diverse regional partnership of eight Member Agencies working to improve water supply reliability for Californians and their environment. The JPA is responsible for the governance and administration of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir Expansion Project.

JPA Members Serving Diverse Beneficiaries