East Branch Extension Phase II

PURPOSE

East Branch Extension is a State of California Department of Water Resources project. East Branch Extension was conceived by the Department of Water Resources (Department), San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (Valley District) and San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (Pass) to allow delivery of State Water Project water to the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency Service area and to the Yucaipa Valley and the Mill Creek areas within our district. Valley District contracted with the Department for a supply of water from the State Water Project in 1960 and the Pass contracted for a supply of water in 1962. Pass Water participated in construction of numerous facilities located within the Valley District to convey water easterly from Devil Canyon Powerhouse Afterbay toward the Pass service area which commences at the San Bernardino County, Riverside County line and continues along the San Gorgonio Pass area to the Whitewater River.

East Branch Extension Phase II: When the East Branch Extension Phase I was constructed, it was request that a portion of the existing facilities previously built by the Valley District, that were utilized to convey water in the Phase I project were limited and an alternative would be required in the future. Pass agreed at the time of construction for the East Branch Extension Phase I that a future project would be required to provide all the water the Pass currently is contracted to receive. The Department is currently in planning, design and environmental documentation for the construction of the East Branch Extension Phase II. The project consists of approximately three miles of large diameter pipeline to convey SWP water from Valley District’s Foothill pipeline near Cone Camp Road in the City of Highland to a proposed reservoir located south of the Santa Ana River Wash in the Mentone Area. A pump station and approximately three miles of large diameter pipeline will convey water from the proposed reservoir in Mentone to the existing Crafton Hills Pump Station. When complete, the Phase II project will allow for Valley District’s delivery of additional SWP water to the Yucaipa Valley area and delivery of the Pass’s full SWP water entitlement to the Pass’s service area.