Reclamation breaks ground on Phase 1 of Friant-Kern Canal pump station replacement

PORTERVILLE, Calif. — The Bureau of Reclamation, in partnership with the Friant Water Authority, broke ground on Phase 1 of the Friant-Kern Canal Pump Station Replacement Project, which the agency said would improve long-term water reliability for communities, farms and businesses in the San Joaquin Valley.

The Department of the Interior invested $200 million to upgrade the canal's aging pump stations, Reclamation said in a news release. Phase 1 will replace five pump stations, launching a two-phase effort that will ultimately modernize 13 stations, according to the release. Reclamation said the project will support 250,000 residents in underserved communities, and that the canal carries water from Millerton Lake near Fresno to farms and communities across Kern, Tulare, Fresno, and Kings counties.

Preconstruction activities, including design, permitting, and environmental compliance, are underway, with construction continuing into 2027, Reclamation said.