The District received its first portion of the Measure M2 Grant in the amount of $1,704,375 for the Fletcher Basin Improvement Project from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

Fletcher Basin, the 4.8 acre project site located near Fletcher Avenue and Batavia Street in the city of Orange, was formerly used to retard stormwater flow prior to discharge into the Santa Ana River.

"Modifications are being implemented to convert this site into a recharge basin and flood control facility that will help provide water reliability when we need it most," says OCWD Director of Engineering Chris Olsen.

These modifications include excavation and disposal of existing soils, backfilling the basin with clean sand, and construction of a water supply pipeline and pump station.

OCTA awarded a Measure M2 Environmental Cleanup Program Fiscal Year 2013-14 Tier 2 Water Quality Grant ($2,525,000) to the Fletcher Basin Improvement Project in 2014. Total construction cost to build Fletcher Basin is $4.3 million. OCWD staff will receive the remaining balance of the Measure M2 Grant upon project completion and submission of the project final report to OCTA.

This is a cost-shared project between OCWD and the Orange County Flood Control District. The project is scheduled to be complete in early Spring 2016.