LAKE PIRU : Water to Recharge Underground Basins
The United Water Conservation District is scheduled today to begin releasing water from Lake Piru in an annual program to take water from the reservoir to replenish underground water basins.
Over the next 30 to 45 days, United will release 25,000 acre-feet from Santa Felicia Dam at Lake Piru. The water will flow into Piru Creek and eventually into the Santa Clara River, said Frederick Gientke, district general manager.
“There will be about a six-inch wave moving down the river,” Gientke said.
Gientke said residents or farmers who live or work near the river should be aware that there will be water in the usually dry riverbed.
“We wanted to alert residents who have business in and about the river,” he said.
The water will flow downstream toward Ventura until it reaches the Freeman Diversion Dam at Saticoy. There, the water will be funneled into canals that carry it to settling ponds.
The ponds allow the water to seep into ground-water basins below, recharging drinking and agricultural water for Santa Paula, Ventura and the Oxnard Plain.
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