Fenner Valley Watershed

Every minute, valuable water is lost to evaporation at the dry lakes in Fenner Gap. We aim to prevent this loss by capturing and storing this water at Mojave Groundwater Bank – preserving it for communities that need it. Fed by a natural recharge of up to 50,000 acre-feet annually from mountain runoff, the system combines smart water banking with ongoing monitoring and active recharge efforts to ensure the long-term protection of local water supplies and the surrounding desert ecosystem.

The Mojave Groundwater Bank holds more than twice the full capacity of Lake Mead, the nation’s largest surface reservoir, which now holds less than half its design volume due to prolonged drought.

Protecting Mojave Desert Ecosystems

The Mojave Desert is home to the Desert Tortoise and other endangered species. In 2015, we set aside 7,400 acres of our land primarily for the Fenner Valley Desert Tortoise Conservation Bank.  Regional partners that may be developing projects that could impact the Desert Tortoise can secure credits in our bank to support mitigation measures and stewardship programs on site.

Sustainable Groundwater Management

In 2012, San Bernardino County approved a sustainable yield plan for managing the aquifer system at Cadiz Ranch, including an extensive groundwater monitoring program.  Our comprehensive Groundwater Management, Monitoring, and Mitigation Plan includes more than 100 monitoring elements with pre-planned adjustments in case of unexpected results to avoid adverse impacts to the surrounding environment.

Learn more about how the project will operate

Environmental Reviews

For more information on the projects dedication to protecting the surrounding environment.