Riverstone Enjoys Sustainable Water Supply

January 29, 2017

Madera, CA - Although our recent winter storms added to California’s Sierra Mountain snowpack and reservoir levels, much of the Central Valley is still in the midst of extreme drought. But water woes will simply not be a concern for the future families that call Riverstone home—because unlike other residential communities, Riverstone enjoys a balanced supply of this precious natural resource.  

Riverstone is located within southeastern Madera County’s Root Creek Water District, which provides the community with considerably more water than will be necessary to meet demand.
Root Creek Water District’s Groundwater In-Lieu Recharge System will provide for surface water deliveries through five lateral connections, reducing the need for groundwater pumping of agricultural wells.

The 2,000-acre Riverstone is served by the Root Creek Water District (RCWD), which was formed in 1996 to address the declining groundwater table in southeastern Madera County, and to ensure a long-term, reliable and sustainable supply of high-quality water for all water users within the District. The RCWD covers 9,230 acres in southeastern Madera County bordering on the San Joaquin River to the south and Highway 41 on the east. The public is invited to learn more by visiting the RCWD website at www.rootcreekwd.com.

“Obviously, water is a critical issue for any Valley development moving forward, but we’re in a great position—for today and the future,” said Riverstone’s Tim Jones. “The District provides our community with a sustainable water supply which, on average, provides considerably more water than will be necessary to meet the water demands of both our Riverstone development and agriculture in the District.”

Quality—as well as quantity—is also a top concern for the District. “Our new state-of-the-art water delivery system is built using the most stable and non-corrosive materials available,” said Nick Bruno, RCWD President. “Such a system will ensure the highest possible water quality for decades to come.”

Bruno continued, “The RCWD is considerably ahead of the game as well. The District is years ahead of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, which requires most of the groundwater basins in this area to adopt a plan for groundwater sustainability by 2020 and achieve sustainability by 2040.”

The Riverstone community will balance its groundwater and meet its estimated average annual demand through: local groundwater wells, reclaimed wastewater, surface water purchased via a contract that can provide a firm supply of approximately 7,000 acre-feet of water per year, as well as surplus and flood water purchased from Madera Irrigation District through a Sale and Conveyance Agreement.

Facilitating RCWD water balance is the RCWD’s Groundwater In-Lieu Recharge System. Consisting of 2.7 miles of mainline pipeline that runs from the Madera Canal (Lateral 6.2) into the boundaries of the district, the system will provide for surface water deliveries through five lateral connections into the district, reducing the need for groundwater pumping of agricultural wells. The use of surface water instead of pumped groundwater will aid in reducing—and even reversing—the groundwater overdraft within and around the Root Creek Water District.

Water—and the importance of preserving it—was also the driving force behind Riverstone’s approach to its landscape. “Our focus from the very beginning was a low-water, low-maintenance design,” said Terry Broussard of Clovis-based, award-winning Broussard Associates Landscape Architects. “We’re creating a thematic landscape providing varied color and textures. It all feels very lush, but it’s very drought tolerant.”

Situated in the heart of the region’s path of growth, Riverstone—when complete—will total approximately 6,578 single-family, attached and multi-family homes. Family-friendly amenities are anticipated to include multiple resort-style community clubhouses, numerous neighborhood parks and open space, miles of hiking and biking trails, a dog park and community farm, and on-site schools belonging to the award-winning Golden Valley Unified School District.

Now selling at Riverstone are the community’s first new homes—Santerra at Riverstone by McCaffrey Homes. For more information, visit www.McCaffreyHomes.com or call (559) 673-7533. Lennar Homes, one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders, is the second homebuilder at Riverstone, with a new collection of homes currently under construction. Interested homebuyers are strongly encouraged to add their name to the Interest List at www.RiverstoneCA.com.    




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