Project Summary

In 2005, the Mountains Restoration Trust (MRT) received funding from the California Water Resources Control Board to conduct a Recharge Suitability Analysis (RSA) within a 32,000 acre area in the western region of the Headwater to Groundwater Project. The project primarily encompasses the undeveloped areas of the Santa Susana Mountains, the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley Basin (SFB) in Los Angeles County, California. MRT, together with a team of cooperating agencies, scientists, local university students and private consultants conducted the study.

Purpose

The study's purpose was to analyze and protect the areas currently recharging the SFB and potential of increasing ground water recharge by determining the most suitable areas to recharge native water. Presently, water recharged into the SFB is imported from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Northern California. However, growing demand and environmental concerns will likely reduce the availability of water from this source.

Expected Results

Results are expected to assist watershed management of the SFB by better understanding the role of the natural environment within and immediately surrounding the study area. The decreased reliance on Delta-derived water will help protect the beneficial uses of the Bay Delta system and CALFED objectives of ecosystem quality and water supply. The study was completed March 1, 2008.

Click here for the Final Report - HEADWATER TO GROUNDWATER FINAL REPORT, March 19, 2008 (pdf 3.5MB)

Key components

The Headwater to Groundwater Project was an assessment project only. Recommendations were presented to appropriate agencies to determine the most effective course of action. Data gaps were filled with water chemistry analysis, wetlands were mapped, streams were surveyed and baseline data was analyzed.

Click here for a full report - Headwater to Groundwater Recharge Suitability Analysis
(pdf 7.5 MB)
Click here for a full report - Recommendation, Implementation Blueprint (pdf 1.5 MB)