FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (November 20, 2025) – The recent storms that brought approximately 3.5 inches of rain to the region allowed the Orange County Water District (OCWD; the District) to capture more than 5.6 billion gallons of Santa Ana River stormwater that will be recharged into the Orange County Groundwater Basin. The groundwater basin, managed by OCWD, provides approximately 85% of the drinking water supply for 2.5 million people in north and central Orange County.

A large portion of these stormwater flows is currently held behind Prado Dam in Riverside County. This stormwater capture is possible because of OCWD’s long-standing partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE operates Prado Dam and allows stormwater to be held longer and released at controlled rates so OCWD can safely move it down the Santa Ana River and store the water underground.

“Our planning and investments are turning rain into reliable drinking water for local communities,” said OCWD President Denis R. Bilodeau, P.E. “OCWD staff maintain and improve our recharge systems all year, so they are ready when storms arrive. That work is paying off by capturing every drop we can and directly adding to Orange County’s water supplies.”

Santa Ana River stormwater capture is a key part of OCWD’s strategy to increase the use of local water. By using more stormwater, OCWD reduces the need to buy water that must be imported from far away, which can be more expensive and less reliable.

OCWD’s and USACE’s ability to capture stormwater has been further improved by the use of Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) at Prado Dam. FIRO uses advanced weather forecasts and data to better understand the size, timing, and path of storms and atmospheric rivers. This allows dam operators to safely hold more water when conditions allow and release it in a way that maximizes how much can be sent to OCWD to be stored underground.

“We are capturing more stormwater than ever before, and FIRO positions us to capture even more in the years ahead,” added Bilodeau.

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