Chino Basin Program

Applicant	Inland Empire Utilities Agency
Status	MCED Issued
Project Type	Conjunctive Use
Public Benefits	Ecosystem Improvements, Water Quality Improvements, Emergency Response
Total Project Cost	$985,500,000
Maximum Conditional Eligibility Determination (MCED)	$215,265,405
Early Funding	$10,763,270

Projected Timeline

Environmental Documentation: The Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) was completed in 2022. Additional project level environmental documentation is expected to be completed in Fall 2026. A Pulse Flow EIR, certified by the Department of Water Resources (DWR), needs to be adopted by the Program.

Permits and Approvals: Pulse flow exchange agreements, wastewater change petition, and other permits that could be required pending completion of preliminary design reports are all expected to be obtained in 2026.

Public Benefit Contracts: Contracts with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for pulse flows on the Feather River, the State Water Board for reduction of Total Dissolved Solids, and DWR for emergency response benefits are expected to be completed in late 2026.

Non-Program Funding: The Inland Empire Utilities Agency and local participating agencies anticipate agreements to be in place in 2027.

* Completion dates are Commission staff’s best estimates based on applicants’ quarterly reports and other public information as of July 30, 2025.

The Chino Basin Program (CBP) is a series of innovative water treatment and storage projects structured to modernize regional water supplies, storage, and delivery systems. Through several water infrastructure improvement projects, the CBP will help address challenges caused by imported water supplies through the development of new, local water supplies, thus increasing local water supply resiliency and reliability. The CBP will develop a state-of-the-art Advanced Water Purification Facility and aquifer replenishing wells that will develop and store 15,000 Acre Feet per year in the Chino Basin. Additionally, the CBP will expand existing and build new conveyance pipelines and develop additional production facilities to maximize recycled water usage in the region.

Once implemented, these projects will address the immediate needs of the region while unlocking the potential for additional storage and water recycling projects in the future. These projects also demonstrate significant benefits for state and local environmental and ecosystem health through a unique exchange to support pulse flows in the Feather River and improving the habitat for native species in the Santa Ana River