California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR)’s State Water Project (SWP) is the largest state-owned producer of water and power in the U.S. and the largest user-financed water system in the country.

The SWP delivers clean water to over 27 million Californians, 750,000 acres of farmland, and California businesses. The system consists of canals, pipelines, reservoirs, and hydroelectric power facilities stretching over 705 miles.

MWH has served as the prime consultant on DWR’s On-Call Construction Project Management Services (CPMS) for three DWR project headquarters: Pearblossom, Sacramento, and Oroville.

• Our support includes construction management, inspection, contract administration, and engineering services—all delivered through flexible staff augmentation tailored to demands.
• MWH and our subconsultants have delivered over 100 professionals statewide to support critical infrastructure work.
• Our team manages maintenance and improvement work on large hydroelectric pumping-generation plants, large diameter pipelines, dams, reservoirs, water conveyance structures and buildings, turnout facilities, ground water improvement/ recharge and transfer facilities, environmental enhancement and mitigation and restoration projects, SWP flood prevention facilities including Arroyo Pasajero detention basin and inlets, SWP reservoir spillways, dredging and sediment removal, aqueducts, levees, roads, bridges, multipurpose buildings, and fish passage structures.

AROUND-THE-CLOCK INSPECTION AND OVERSIGHT FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR WORK AT MP 54.95 OF THE CALIFORNIA AQUEDUCT

At Mile Post 54.95, a major leak exceeding 450 GPM developed on the primary side of the canal. A failure would have caused catastrophic impacts, including flooding of Interstate 5, nearby orchards and residences, and disruption of water deliveries to downstream contractors. On August 11, 2021, Syblon Reid Contractors mobilized to construct earthen cofferdams, dewater the area, and repair the embankment and concrete liner. The target was to complete repairs and remove cofferdams by October 1. MWH provided 16 inspectors with around-the-clock inspection and oversight. Successful completion of repairs and cofferdam removal occurred by the second week of October, mitigating risk and restoring system reliability.