Canal Capacity
Part III of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct feasibility studies and implement infrastructure improvements within the Friant Dam Division of the Central Valley Project. These include restoring canal capacities and installing reverse-flow pump-back facilities to support water management and restoration goals. To view the Settlement Act, click here.
Friant-Kern Canal Middle Reach Capacity Correction Project
The Friant-Kern Canal flows south from Friant Dam to serve water users throughout the southern portion of the eastern Central Valley.
Part III of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, Section 10201, states that the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to conduct feasibility studies on the following improvements and facilities in the Friant Division, Central Valley Project and include capacity restoration for the Friant-Kern Canal due to issues caused by subsidence.
Part III funding was used to develop the environmental documents for this project were finalized on September 18, 2020 with a Record of Decision finalized on November 4, 2020. Those environmental documents can be found here. Click here for more information about the project.
Friant-Kern Canal Pump-Back Project
On September 19, 2025, in support of the SJRRP Water Management Goal, the San Joaquin River Restoration Program signed a Finding of No Significant Impact for the Friant-Kern Canal Pump-Back Project. This project provides funding for the construction and installation of two seasonal pump-back facilities for the Friant-Kern Canal (FKC). The project also approves Friant Water Authority access to the project footprints located on federal land.
The seasonal pump-back facilities will support conveyance of recaptured Restoration Flows and other acquired Central Valley Project (CVP) and non-CVP waters to Friant Contractors via the FKC, in accordance with Paragraph 16(a) of the Settlement; Part III, Section 10201(a)(2) of the Settlement Act; the Secure Water Act; and, appropriations for Western Drought Response included in Public Law 113-235.
Under the project, a four-bay seasonal check structure with up to 200 cubic feet per second (cfs) capacity will replace the existing temporary pump-back facility at the Shafter Check Structure, and a two-bay seasonal check structure with up to 75 cfs capacity would replace the existing temporary pump-back facility at the Lake Woollomes Check Structure. These pump-back facilities would be removed at the end of each seasonal period and installed again at the beginning of the following season.
The project FONSI and Environmental Assessment are available here.
Madera Canal Restoration Project
Part III of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act, Section 10201, states that the Secretary of the Interior is authorized and directed to conduct feasibility studies on the following improvements and facilities in the Friant Division, Central Valley Project: Restoration of the capacity of the Madera Canal.
This page will track the progress on the Madera Canal Restoration Capacity Project.