Mojave Water Agency awards $17.9m contract for West Victorville groundwater banking pilot

Mojave Water Agency awards $17.9m contract for West Victorville groundwater banking pilotAmes Construction has secured the contract to build a 12,000 to 18,000 acre-feet capacity recharge basin, beating the engineer's estimate as the agency races to meet a strict December 2026 state grant deadline.

Ames Construction won the bid at $17.9 million, significantly under the $25 million engineer's estimate and a competing $28 million bid from Nicholas Construction Inc.

The project involves excavating over 400,000 cubic yards of soil to construct two large recharge basins on a 40-acre site.

Construction is slated to begin by May 30 to meet a strict December 31, 2026 deadline tied to a $12 million reimbursable grant from the Department of Water Resources.

A separate construction management contract estimated at $2.02 million is expected to be awarded at the May 14 board meeting.

The Mojave Water Agency Board of Directors unanimously approved a $17,907,100 contract with Ames Construction on April 30 for the West Victorville Groundwater Banking Pilot Test Project. The award comes as the agency fast-tracks construction to comply with strict deadlines tied to a $12 million reimbursable grant from the Department of Water Resources (DWR). Ames Construction was the apparent low bidder, coming in well below the $25 million engineer's estimate and a competing $28.09 million bid from Nicholas Construction Inc. The pilot project is a key component of the agency's broader pursuit of large-scale groundwater banking, designed to provide greater flexibility in managing local and imported water supplies amid increasing hydrological variability. The facility will be located on a 40-acre site and is designed to provide between 12,000 and 18,000 acre-feet of recharge capacity per year. The design features two large basins that will tee off the existing Mojave River pipeline. To reach the optimal aquifer material for recharge, contractors will excavate more than 400,000 cubic yards of soil. Site investigations revealed that the target geological unit begins about 10 feet below the surface. Agency modeling indicates that after ten years of operation on a three-year cycle, the project will create a groundwater mound with approximately 150 feet of groundwater elevation change directly beneath the basin. The project footprint was slightly reduced during the design phase to accommodate jurisdictional waters on the site and to provide preservation areas for the relocation of 32 Joshua trees. Due to DWR grant stipulations requiring project completion by December 31, 2026, the agency is operating on an aggressive schedule. Notice to proceed is anticipated by May 15, with construction slated to begin on May 30. The contract specifies a 196-day timeline, putting physical completion at December 12, 2026. To support the expedited timeline, staff informed the board that a separate construction management and inspection contract will bypass the usual committee review and go directly to the board on May 14. That contract is currently estimated at $2,022,000, representing less than 12% of the total construction cost.