The Interior Dept.'s Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $98.3-million contract to build a new reservoir in southern California near the Arizona border to a team of Ames Construction Inc., Phoenix, and Coffman Specialties Inc., San Diego. The project's total cost is $172 million.
Regional water agencies are financing the project and will get shares of the water. The Southern Nevada Water Authority will pay $114.7 million--two-thirds of the total cost--and receive 400,000 acre feet of water through 2036. California's Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and the Central Arizona Water Conservancy District each will contribute $28.7 million, and get 100,000 acre ft. apiece, according to MWD.