Novel Storm Drain Receives Two ‘Outstanding’ Accolades

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Nisha Ajmani
(360) 481-0391
nisha@cvstrat.com

December 4, 2023

Novel Storm Drain Receives Two ‘Outstanding’ Accolades
Project Recognized for Exemplary Flood Management and Sustainability

Beaumont, CA – An innovative stormwater capture project, known as the Beaumont MDP Line 16, received two notable awards earlier this year and will advance for state-level recognition. The project was a joint venture between Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD) and Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District.

The MDP Line 16 is an underground storm drain that serves as both a tool for flood protection in the Cherry Valley community and a vital means of conservation, with the ability to capture enough water to supply as many as 900 local families for a year.

The project received the Outstanding Flood Control Project of the Year Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Los Angeles Section and an Outstanding Flood Management Project accolade from the ASCE San Bernardino and Riverside. The project is now under consideration for a Region 9 Award, which encompasses all of California.

“We are honored to receive distinguished recognition for this unique solution to flood mitigation and groundwater replenishment,” Board Director Andy Ramirez said. “Not only did we create a critical tool for long-term water sustainability, but we built local and regional partnerships that are committed to safeguarding drinking water resources for years to come.”

The project eases flood impacts by capturing 150 to 500 acre-feet of stormwater annually in an area especially susceptible to flooding. Without the drain, stormwater would continue to flow alongside Brookside Avenue in Cherry Valley and directly into Marshall Creek, to be lost downstream.

Captured stormwater can now be delivered directly to BCVWD’s existing recharge ponds, which feed the Beaumont groundwater basin. The project fosters adaptability to California’s shifting weather patterns, allowing BCVWD to bank additional water supplies during wet years and rely on increased water security during dry spells.

BCVWD and Riverside County Flood Control celebrated the launch of the project on September 7, 2023, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The day featured remarks by County of Riverside Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, BCVWD General Manager Daniel Jaggers, and Riverside County Flood Control General Manager-Chief Engineer Jason Uhley. The event offered a facility tour and was attended by BCVWD Board members and key partner agencies from around the region.

The project received $1.2 million through the Prop 84 Integrated Regional Water Management Implementation Grant, supported by the Department of Water Resources and the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority. For more information, visit bcvwd.org.

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Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District was formed in 1919 and is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. BCVWD is an independent special district that provides water service to 59,000 customers in a 28-square-mile service area.