Cadiz has selected Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, to serve as the Owner's Engineer for the Mojave Groundwater Bank project. This $800 million initiative is set to become the largest new water infrastructure project in the Southwest.
The Mojave Groundwater Bank, once completed, will add 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply, provide 1 million acre-feet of underground storage capacity, and establish a pipeline network exceeding 350 miles, connecting the Colorado River and California Aqueducts. The project aims to secure affordable water supplies for communities across California and Arizona.
"Stantec is unmatched in the engineering industry for its expertise in water supply infrastructure and has been our trusted partner for nearly 20 years. We are very pleased to select Stantec to oversee design, development and construction as we move into this critical phase in bringing the Mojave Groundwater Bank online," said Susan Kennedy, CEO & Chair of Cadiz Inc.
As part of the agreement, Stantec will take on the role of Owner's Engineer, assisting in contractor selection under a Construction Management at Risk delivery model. Additionally, the company will lead the engineering, procurement, and construction management process, aiming for an accelerated construction timeline.
The Mojave Groundwater Bank, once completed, will add 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply, provide 1 million acre-feet of underground storage capacity
"Water supply variability resulting from climate change threatens long-term water security throughout the Western U.S., and the water delivery system must be updated and expanded to safely and reliably meet the needs of our communities," said John Hanula, senior vice president at Stantec. "Stantec has decades of experience working with utilities throughout California and the West. We understand the complexities of bringing new infrastructure online, and we are honored to be part of the innovative Mojave Groundwater Bank that will set many firsts in our regional water infrastructure."
Situated at the base of a 2,000-square-mile watershed system, about 40 miles north of the Colorado River Aqueduct and 220 miles east of California State Water Project facilities, the Mojave Groundwater Bank is underpinned by an underground aquifer system. This aquifer currently holds an estimated 30 to 50 million acre-feet of groundwater—more than the combined storage of Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the two largest surface reservoirs in the U.S.
The project has been permitted to provide 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply to communities in the Mojave River Basin, the Colorado River Basin, and California's Inland Empire. It is also authorized to store up to 1 million acre-feet of imported water, helping alleviate pressure on the overburdened State Water Project and Colorado River systems.
In late 2024, Cadiz announced a groundbreaking partnership with Native American Tribes to construct, own, and operate the Mojave Groundwater Bank. This collaboration marks the first time in U.S. history that a large-scale water infrastructure project has been developed off tribal lands through such a partnership. The total estimated cost for construction remains at approximately $800 million.
