NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Marc Limas
Phone: (559) 591-0800
Email: ml@altaid.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2025
This is the second of two recent land acquisitions by the District, both of which are the largest in the past 50 years.
DINUBA, CA – Alta Irrigation District (Alta) finalized the purchase of 80 acres to develop the London West Pond recharge basin, located at Avenue 384 and Road 56. The future basin will be next to the existing London Pond recharge site in London, California.
“We are excited to give our growers greater access to water, while also making strides toward groundwater sustainability,” said Chad Wegley, Alta’s General Manager.
Just last summer, the District purchased 40 acres to develop Traver North Basin on the junction of Avenue 376 and Road 44. Both groundwater recharge sites are the largest property acquisitions by the District in 50 years.
The two groundwater recharge basins will help Alta achieve its goals to divert more surface water and contribute to groundwater sustainability efforts in compliance with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The basins will ultimately increase available water supply during dry years for growers, while bolstering the water table to operate sustainably. The projects will also support nearby residents reliant on groundwater for drinking water.
Construction on London West Pond is projected to start in 2026 and total project cost is an estimated $8.5 million, including the land purchase, project design, and construction costs. The land purchase was made possible by local investment through assessments. Alta will complete the London West Pond with a low-interest loan from the Infrastructure State Revolving Fund Program (IBank).
Traver North basin closed escrow in summer 2024 and is expected to begin construction in winter 2025. The Traver North basin is funded in part by a $1 million award from Congressional Representative Jim Costa’s Community Project Funding Requests. The total project cost is estimated at $4.5 million.