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<br />NORMAN E. PEHRSON <br /> <br />Now, I will briefly describe how we integrate the operation of our flood control reservoirs <br />with water spreading. We believe the proper reservoir operation for flood control can and does pro- <br />vide opportunities to improve spreading and subsequent ground water recharge. Ground water re- <br />charge is enhanced to the extent that floodwaters are reduced in peak and discharged over an ex- <br />tended period of time. Ground water recharge is enhanced' by the seepage that is inherent in reservoir <br />pools. . <br /> <br />In the LACDA project, we operate five reservoirs, as I mentioned before, in close coordination <br />with the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. We restrict releases, when possible, to the down- <br />stream recharge capacity of the spreading facilities. Typical of the spreading grounds used in this op- <br />eration are those downstream from Hansen Reservoir, which encompass an area of about 200 acres. <br />Also typical of the spreading grounds used in this operation are those downstream from Whittier Nar- <br />rows Reservoir, which cover an area of about 600 acres. At Santa Fe Reservoir, a substantial part of <br />the reservoir area itself is reserved for operation of ground water recharge basins. Surface flows en- <br />tering the reservoir are diverted from the San Gabriel River and into extensive spreading grounds. <br />When the San Gabriel River Freeway is extended through'the Santa Fe Reservoir, part of the spread- <br />ing grounds will be displaced by freeway fill. Therefore, plans are being made to extend the spread- <br />ing grounds into the spillway channel downstream from the dam. <br /> <br />In the Santa Ana River Basin and Orange County project, we also operate our reservoirs to in- <br />sure maximum utilization of floodwaters. For example, operation of San Antonio Reservoir is coor- <br />dinated with spreading activities conducted by local water agencies. Construction of San Antonio Dam <br />involved the restoration of surface water diversion facilitie~ to preserve the ground water supply of the <br />Pomona Valley Protective Association as well as San Bernardino County, and also involved the reloc- <br />ation of underground water-collection galleries and outlets - constructed before the turn of the cen- <br />tury and still in operation - to preserve the ground water supply of the San Antonio Water Company. <br />Our borrow excavation in the reservoir area was so performed as not to reduce the supply to the col- <br />lection system. At Prado Reservoir, we coordinate operation of the reservoir with the spreading oper- <br />ations of the Orange County Flood Control District in the Santa Ana River. <br /> <br />Our operation of two other projects should be of!interest to you: Whitlow Ranch Reservoir, <br />on Queen Creek in Arizona, has an ungated outlet designed to reduce our standard project flood to a <br />discharge that can be absorbed in the downstream ground water basins. Mojave River Reservoir, which <br />is now under construction in California, will also have In ungated outlet so designed as to reduce <br />floodflows to a discharge that will permit their complete percolation into the downstream ground wat- <br />er basins. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />Thus far, I have confined my discussion to the c(!nservation of floodwaters, local runoff, and <br />imported water. However, we also recognize another imRortant source to enhance and augment the <br />ground water supply, and that is waste-water reclamation. Although the Corps has not been directly <br />involved in such effort, we have made our reservoir lands available for waste-water reclamation by <br />local sanitation districts. Probably the best known is the pilot plant operated by the Los Angeles <br />County Sanitation District at Whittier Narrows Reservoir, where more than 16,000 acre-feet were <br />reclaaned for ground water recharge in the water year 1966-67. Another plant is now in the design <br />stage for construction at Sepulveda Reservoir by the City of Los Angeles Department of Water and <br />Power. Current plans indicate that the plant will be in 'operation about 1970. The City of Chino, <br />which operates a plant in Prado Reservoir, reclaimed 1,730 acre-feet for ground water recharge in the <br />water year 1966-67, and the City of Corona has started ~onstruction of another reclamation plant in <br />the same reservoir. The effluents from these plants will qontribute a significant input to the ground <br />water supply. I would like to point out that the City of L6s Angeles is planning nine more plants to be <br />completed in the next 20 years. Also of interest is the, plan being considered by the Los Angeles <br />County Flood Control District to reclaim waste water no* being discharged by the Hyperion plant in- <br />to the ocean. The reclaimed water would be used for hydraulic barriers to prevent salt water intrusion <br />in the Manhattan Beach area. ' <br /> <br />v <br /> <br />-12- <br />