New regional water partnership advances RiverArc project aimed at improving water supply reliability and reducing reliance on the American River
Auburn, Calif. – The Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) Board of Directors last week approved a Joint Powers Agreement with the cities of Sacramento and Roseville, establishing the RiverArc Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and formalizing a regional water supply partnership that has been years in the making.
RiverArc is a long-term regional water supply project that would use an existing intake structure on the Sacramento River to draw water for treatment at a new regional water treatment plant and delivery through new and existing pipelines. By creating another pathway for water to reach the region, the project would diversify water supplies, improve reliability, and reduce reliance on the smaller American River, which currently serves as a major water source for the Sacramento region. RiverArc improves water supply while also helping the fishery of the lower American River by leaving more water in Folsom Reservoir.
Independent governing structure
The new JPA creates an independent governing structure through which the three agencies can work together to advance the planning, design, financing, construction, and eventual operation of RiverArc.
"The timing is right to formalize this partnership to continue moving RiverArc forward," said PCWA Director Jefferson Willoughby. "This JPA allows us to act as a single unit so we can take advantage of funding opportunities to meet the region's future water needs."
Planning for RiverArc has been underway for more than a decade, with PCWA serving as the administering agency for the partnership since 2016. The project is currently advancing through environmental review and other planning work, laying the groundwork for RiverArc to provide an additional regional water supply when the time comes.