The Bureau of Reclamation says it has completed Phase 1 of the Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project with a ribbon-cutting celebration of 10 miles of new, concrete-lined canal. The new lining replaced an original section that had sunk from persistent groundwater removal since its construction in 1951.
The project is jointly funded by the Bureau of Reclamation, the California Department of Water Resources and Friant Water Authority. Ultimately, it will restore conveyance capacity from 1,600 cubic feet per second to the original 4,000 cubic feet per second.
The Friant-Kern Canal serves 1 million acres of farmland and 250,000 people from Fresno to Bakersfield. Phase 2 of the project will use $22 million in funds provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to remedy additional sinking canal space.
“The completion of Phase 1 will provide incalculable benefits for the farms, communities and people of the Friant Division for decades,” Jason Phillips, Friant Water Authority’s chief executive officer, said in a press release.
