REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
June 23, 2026
FROM
NOEL CASTILLO, Chief Flood Control Engineer, Flood Control District
SUBJECT
Title
Revenue Agreement with West Valley Water District to Spread Treated Water in Cactus Basin No. 2
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Flood Control District, approve Revenue Agreement with the West Valley Water District, to authorize water spreading at the rate of 800 acre-feet per year in Cactus Basin No. 2, at a compensation rate of $20.00 per acre-foot of treated water, for a term of June 23, 2026 through June 22, 2027.
(Presenter: Noel Castillo, Chief Flood Control Engineer, 387-7906)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). Under the previous Agreement No. 16-256, the San Bernardino County Flood Control District (District) received annual payments at the rate of $20.00 per acre foot of treated water for West Valley Water District’s (WVWD’s) use of District’s Cactus Basin No. 2 (Basin 2) for water spreading activities. Agreement No. 16-256 expired on May 24, 2026. The proposed Agreement maintains the same compensation rate and is anticipated to generate annual revenues of approximately $16,000 based on the authorized maximum spreading volume of 800 acre-feet per year. Revenues have been included in the District’s 2025-26 budget (1920002522) and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On May 24, 2016 (Item No. 189), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved Agreement No. 16-256, authorizing WVWD to spread water on an ongoing basis in Basin 2, with an initial amount of 400 acre-feet during the start-up phase and an annual amount not to exceed 128 acre-feet per year. At a compensation rate of $20.00 per acre-foot of treated water for a 60-month term, expiring on May 24, 2021.
Because Basin 2 is located near the western edge of the perchlorate groundwater plume associated with the Rockets, Fireworks, and Flares Superfund Site, (RFFSS), the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board (SARWQCB) reviewed the WVWD’s water spreading proposal for Basin 2 in February 2016 and determined that such additional water spreading activity by WVWD in Basin 2 would not adversely affect the movement of contaminated groundwater.
On June 13, 2017 (Item No. 119), the Board approved Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 16-256, which increased the allowable quantity of water to be spread to 1,200 acre-feet for the period from June 27, 2017 to December 31, 2017. The compensation rate remained unchanged at $20.00 per acre-foot of treated water. This period represented the startup period for the Fixed-Bed Bioreactor perchlorate treatment process which treated contaminated groundwater from the RFFSS and discharged into Basin 2. The amendment also authorized spreading an amount not to exceed 800 acre feet per year from January 1, 2018 to May 24, 2021. The USEPA and the SARWQCB reviewed the proposed new quantities of water to be spread under Amendment No. 1 and, in letters dated April 26, 2017, indicated that they had no objections.
On March 2, 2021 (Item No. 50), the Board approved Amendment No. 2 Agreement No. 16-256, authorizing WVWD to continue spreading up to 800 acre-feet of water per year in Basin 2 for an additional five-year period from May 25, 2021 to May 24, 2026. The compensation rate remained unchanged at $20.00 per acre-foot of treated water. WVWD temporarily suspended spreading activities following the expiration of the agreement pending approval of the proposed new agreement.
The proposed Agreement authorizes WVWD to continue water spreading activities in Basin 2 at the current rate of 800 acre-feet per year for a one-year period, from June 23, 2026, through June 22, 2027, under the same terms and conditions as Agreement No. 16-256. This Agreement is a cooperative effort between the District and WVWD to facilitate water conservation and water quality, therefore, it is consistent with County goals and objectives of working with other agencies.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on June 10, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Dalton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5005) on May 26, 2026.