The Flood Managed Aquifer Recharge Strategy: Report on the Merced River Flood-MAR Reconnaissance Study

Speaker: Ajay Goyal, California Department of Water Resources

Abstract

In the past decade, California has witnessed highly fluctuating and unprecedented climatic conditions. Within the San Joaquin region, water and flood managers have grappled with both extremes – two record-setting wet years alongside the driest three- and four-year droughts on record. These extreme climate conditions are hallmarks of the effects of climate change and significantly stress our natural and managed water systems. Many of California’s water management challenges are clearly manifested in the San Joaquin Valley — flood risk is among the highest in the nation; water supplies are unreliable with groundwater managed unsustainably in many locations; and ecosystem habitats and species are in decline. Flood managed aquifer recharge (Flood-MAR) is an integrated and voluntary water management strategy that can, at scale, benefit these multiple water sectors while reducing climate vulnerability. California needs innovative and integrated water solutions, implemented with multi-sector co-management, to reduce flood risk and replenish its depleted aquifers. 

DWR, in partnership with the Merced Irrigation District (MID), conducted a pilot study to determine the potential of using Flood-MAR in the Merced River watershed within the San Joaquin Valley. This reconnaissance study 1) assesses watershed vulnerability to climate change for flood protection, water supply, and ecosystems, 2) develops Flood-MAR strategies reflecting a range of operational complexity and infrastructure improvements, and 3) quantifies the performance of Flood-MAR strategies in providing multi-sector benefits.

The analytical foundation of the study is an innovative and integrated toolset that facilitates shared assessments and results for water managers from multiple sectors. In this presentation, study results will be presented from the Merced River Flood-MAR Reconnaissance Study, including state-of-the-art risk-based results reflecting our uncertain climate future.  A broad range of potential effects and benefits will be described, including for flood risk, groundwater sustainability, salmonids, subsidence mitigation, groundwater dependent ecosystems, shorebird and pollinator habitats, and reliability for underserved communities. Finally, the presentation will highlight advancements that are now included in a fuller set of Flood-MAR studies for the Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced, and Upper San Joaquin watersheds.

Speaker Bio

Ajay Goyal is the Manager of the Statewide Infrastructure Investigations Branch at the Department of Water Resources. Over the past 30+ years, he has worked on the planning, design, and construction of many large water resources projects.

While at the Bay Delta Office, he served as the project manager for the Franks Tract Project, and the Delta Salmon Outmigration Study. For the past fourteen years, in the Division of Planning, he has been serving as the program manager for the Surface Storage Investigations Program, the System Reoperation Program, and the Flood-MAR Program. He also led the development of the Water Available for Groundwater Replenishment report. Currently, under the Flood-MAR Program, Mr. Goyal is leading the climate vulnerability analyses and adaptation planning for Merced River watershed, Stanislaus River watershed, Tuolumne River watershed, Calaveras River watershed, and the Upper San Joaquin River watershed. He is also leading the San Joaquin Valley Conveyance Study.

Mr. Goyal holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and a master’s degree in structural engineering. He is a licensed Civil and Structural Engineer.

Chapter Updates

We are thrilled to continue our hybrid meeting format. We believe this decision aligns with our mission to foster collaborative interaction and ongoing dialogue between professionals, and that offering both options is the best way to provide a multi-resource platform of collaboration and information exchange.

To support this more open format, we are charging a nominal ticket cost, similar to our pre-pandemic meetings. This support will directly contribute to covering costs associated with virtual event hosting, securing in-person event spaces, and providing refreshments. Importantly, we want to emphasize that students will still attend free of charge. Ticket costs will be the same for in-person and virtual attendance, and will include access to the recorded meeting content.

Social (Optional)

Please feel free to join us for social after the meeting at the location below. Please note that Social costs are NOT included in the ticket price. 

Location:

OMG Cocina Mexican Restaurant

1500 7th St #1F,

Sacramento CA 95814