San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency

11/02/2026

History was made in Calimesa!

On October 14, more than 90 water leaders, elected officials, and community stakeholders joined San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) to celebrate the ribbon cutting of the County Line Recharge Basin and Turnout Project, marking the first time in the city's history that imported water is being used to replenish local groundwater supplies.

Completed in just 12 months, on time and on budget, the project features a seven-acre recharge basin, a new turnout connecting to the East Branch Extension of the State Water Project, and a repurposed 14-inch pipeline. Together, these facilities can recharge up to 479 million gallons annually, strengthening water reliability for approximately 18,000 residents.

Riverside County Fifth District Supervisor Dr. Yxstian Gutierrez was instrumental in making this project possible, championing $3.1 million in federal funding through the Riverside County Board of Supervisors toward the project's original $6.2 million cost. His leadership helped advance a regional partnership between SGPWA, San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, and South Mesa Water Company, bringing together existing infrastructure, strategic funding, and shared expertise.

The ceremony welcomed leaders from across Southern California's water community, including CalMutuals Executive Director Adán Ortega, Jr., who delivered featured remarks, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California Board Vice Chair Michael Camacho. Supervisor Gutierrez also joined the celebration, presenting proclamations recognizing the project partners and their contributions.

SGPWA extends its appreciation to Supervisor Gutierrez, our Board of Directors, staff, and regional partners whose commitment and collaboration brought this project to completion. Together, we are strengthening the Pass region's water future through investments that will benefit generations to come.

To learn more about the project, visit https://loom.ly/pU4ZsBg.

10/31/2026

We had a magical time at the HCN Bank Trunk or Treat, where SGPWA Board members and staff got into the Halloween spirit with a Harry Potter-themed trunk.

Events like these are a wonderful opportunity to connect with local families and be part of the community that makes our region so special.

Thank you to HCN Bank for hosting such a festive event!

Wishing everyone a Happy Halloween weekend 🎃

10/12/2026

Big congratulations to SGPWA Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Ustation, who has been elected Southern California Director of the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO)!

Jennifer plays an essential role in advancing SGPWA’s mission. From responsible financial planning and stewardship of public dollars to helping position the Agency to make long-term investments in water reliability, her work supports nearly every aspect of what we do.

Founded in 1957, CSMFO is California’s statewide organization for government finance professionals, providing opportunities for collaboration, education, professional development, and the exchange of ideas among public finance professionals.

Jennifer’s election gives SGPWA and the Pass area a voice in that statewide network while creating another opportunity to share ideas and learn from public finance leaders across California.

Congratulations, Jennifer! We are proud to have your leadership at SGPWA and representing Southern California.

10/10/2026

Collaboration is how California solves its toughest water challenges.

General Manager Lance Eckhart and members of the SGPWA team recently joined the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for a tour of the Lower Colorado River, an important opportunity to see the system firsthand and hear directly from the people and communities who depend on it.

Thank you to tour host Michael Camacho, Metropolitan Vice Chair and Inland Empire Utilities Agency Board Secretary/Treasurer, for bringing water leaders together for these important conversations. We also appreciate the speakers from the Quechan Indian Tribe, Imperial Irrigation District, and Coachella Valley Water District for sharing their perspectives, expertise, and experience.

California’s water challenges cross service areas, county lines and watersheds. So must the solutions. Thank you to Metropolitan and every partner who made the tour possible.

09/10/2026

What’s next for the Pass Area?

Save the date for State of the Pass, a forward-looking conversation about the region’s economic future and the water, infrastructure and partnerships that support it. From housing and business water investments to long-term water reliability, we’re bringing regional leaders together to look ahead at the opportunities shaping the Pass Area.

Special guest: Dr. Christopher Thornberg, Beacon Economics

Tuesday, October 6, 2026�8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.�
Morongo Casino Resort & Spa�

This is a unique and "not-to-miss" opportunity. Tickets are available on Eventbrite https://loom.ly/U-oFXx8

Watering the Economic Future of the Pass Area

08/29/2026

A sudden rupture inside the San Jacinto Tunnel became a dramatic chapter in the story of water in the Pass Area, with consequences that extended well beyond the tunnel itself.

In the latest excerpt from The Last 32 Miles, former newspaper reporter and water agency historian Jeff Crider revisits the rupture and its aftermath as part of the story of how water infrastructure developed across the region. The upcoming book traces the history of SGPWA, the State Water Project, and the East Branch Extension as we approach SGPWA’s 65th anniversary.

Read the latest installment and uncover another piece of the water history that shaped the Pass Area: https://loom.ly/PJNJZ18

08/24/2026

How do we prepare California for an uncertain water future? Sites Reservoir is designed to expand storage and give the state greater flexibility in managing its water resources. Discover more at SitesProject.org

08/20/2026

Nearly 100 years ago, local reports warned that groundwater in the San Gorgonio Pass was being pumped faster than nature could replenish it. As early as 1926, experts recognized that sustaining the region would require additional water supplies beyond the local groundwater basin.

At the time, the Pass was primarily an agricultural community. As the decades passed, orchards and irrigated farmland gradually gave way to neighborhoods, businesses, and industry, bringing new water needs and new challenges.

Today, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency works to protect local groundwater for current and future generations by importing supplemental water, recharging local aquifers, and partnering with local water providers to manage resources sustainably. In recent years, the Agency has recharged tens of thousands of acre-feet of imported water into local groundwater basins, helping move the region toward a more sustainable water future.

Looking back reminds us how much our region has changed, and why thoughtful water management remains just as important today as it was a century ago.

Want to explore more of the people, challenges, and decisions that shaped water in the Pass? Keep an eye out for the upcoming book, “The Last 32 Miles,” coming later this year with more stories from the region’s water history.

08/14/2026

Sites Reservoir is more than a local project. With 30 participating agencies across California, it reflects a shared, statewide effort to strengthen water reliability for communities, farms, and the environment. Learn more at SitesProject.org

08/06/2026

Tomorrow is the deadline to file for the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency Board of Directors.

Serving on the SGPWA Board is an opportunity to help guide decisions that support water reliability, regional planning, and the communities of the San Gorgonio Pass.

To run for office, you must be a registered voter and reside within the SGPWA Division you wish to represent, or within the Agency's boundaries for the At Large seat.

The nomination period closes Friday, August 7, for three Board seats:

• Division 3
• Division 4
• At Large No. 2

Contact the Riverside County Registrar of Voters to obtain candidacy papers. For more information, call the Registrar of Voters at (951) 486-7200.