PV Water Celebrates College Lake Water Supply Project by Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency Aug 12, 2025 Member Submitted News WATSONVILLE — On Friday August 8th, about 100 people, including the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water), elected officials, and community members, celebrated the College Lake Water Supply Project, a major milestone in the region’s effort to achieve sustainable groundwater resources, during a ribbon cutting ceremony. Speakers at the event included State Senator John Laird, CA State Water Resources Control Board Member, Vice Chair Dorene D’Adamo, PV Water Board Chair Stephen Rider, Board Member and former General Manager Mary Bannister, and General Manager Brian Lockwood, as well as Jule Rizzardo, Financial Assistance Branch Manager, from the Department of Water Resources (DWR), and Director Jennifer Lucceshi from the Department of Conservation (DOC). DWR and the DOC collectively provided approximately $11.8 million in grant funds to support the $80 million project through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) Implementation Grant ($7.6 million), the Proposition 1 Round 2, Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Implementation Grant ($1.8 million), and the Multibenefit Land Repurposing Program ($2.375 million), respectively. The Project establishes College Lake as a new water supply source to reduce groundwater overdraft and seawater intrusion, while supporting habitat for the endangered South-Central California coast steelhead. The Project includes three major components: a water intake facility with fish passage, a water treatment plant located at 76 Holohan Road, and a 6-mile, 30-inch treated water pipeline that conveys treated water to approximately 6,300 acres of farmland through PV Water’s 23-miles of conveyance pipeline known as the Coastal Distribution System. The new facilities feature two pumps to draw water from the lake, an adjustable weir with fish passage, a ballasted flocculation/sedimentation treatment process, sediment drying beds, chemical storage, a treated water pump station and a treatment support building. Groundwater provides more than 90% of the Pajaro Valley’s water supply. Long-term over pumping has caused water levels to drop below sea level, resulting in seawater intrusion, degraded water quality and reduced groundwater storage. The College Lake Water Supply Project represents the largest new source of supplemental water developed in the region since the 2009 completion of the Watsonville Area Water Recycling Facility, which is a joint project between PV Water and the City of Watsonville. Learn more about the College Lake Water Supply Project by visiting: https://www.pvwater.org/college-lake-project. ABOUT PV WATER The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) is a state-chartered water management district, and a Groundwater Sustainability Agency, formed to efficiently and economically manage existing and supplemental water supplies to prevent further increase in, and to accomplish continuing reduction of, long-term overdraft. PV Water works to provide and ensure sufficient water supplies for present and future anticipated needs within its boundaries, generally the greater coastal Pajaro Valley. For more information, visit www.pvwater.org or follow PV Water on Facebook or Instagram.
