The Palmdale Ditch (Ditch) is owned and operated by Palmdale Water District (PWD) to convey raw water from Littlerock Reservoir to Lake Palmdale. The Ditch was constructed in the late 1800s and is approximately 8.5 miles long. PWD operates the Ditch intermittently in accordance with seasonal water availability and PWD water allocations. Approximately 30 percent of the Ditch is either lined with concrete or utilizes culverts and tunnels to cross roadways and steep terrain, and the remaining 70 percent of its total length remains an unlined earthen ditch.
PWD has been concerned about water losses from the Ditch and has previously converted segments of the Ditch to a buried pipeline. In 2021, PWD hired Hazen and Sawyer (Hazen) to prepare a feasibility study evaluating the potential water savings that could be achieved by replacing the remaining open channel segments with a buried pipeline, concluding that approximately 1,450 acre-ft per year could be conserved. This allowed PWD to receive grant funding from both the California State Department of Water Resources and the United States Bureau of Reclamation to convert the remaining open channel segments to an enclosed pipeline, currently referred to as the Palmdale Ditch Conversion Project (Project).
In addition to limiting future water losses, PWD plans to increase the conveyance capacity from the current maximum rate of 20 cubic feet per second (cfs) to a new flow rate of 60 cfs. This proposed 60 cfs will be combined with an additional 6 cfs from an existing connection with the Antelope Valley East Kern Water Agency located at Sierra Highway for a total combined flow of 66 cfs between Sierra Highway and Lake Palmdale. Therefore, the use of existing conduits and metering devices will need to be evaluated hydraulically for suitability for this ultimate flow rate.
Palmdale Ditch Conversion – Preliminary Design Report
This Preliminary Design Report has been prepared to document the actions taken and decisions made to finalize the Project scope before preparing final detailed design documents suitable for public bidding.
Palmdale Ditch Conversion Preliminary Design Report
Palmdale Ditch Conversion Feasibility Study
The purpose of this study is to perform hydraulics analysis and pipe sizing to convey 60 cubic feet per second from Littlerock Dam to Lake Palmdale; complete a pipe materials evaluation and recommend a material selection; evaluate water loss savings; develop feasibility level cost estimates for construction; and prioritize ditch sections for replacement.
