Merced Area Groundwater Pool Intrests (MAGPI)

MAGPI consists of 15 municipal and agricultural water purveyors operating in the County of Merced including:

• Black Rascal Water Company
• Chowchilla Water District
• City of Atwater
• City of Livingston
• City of Merced
• County of Merced
• LeGrand Community Services District
• LeGrand-Athlone Water District
• Merced Irrigation District
• Merquin County Water District
• Planada Community Services District
• Stevenson Water District
• Turner Island Water District
• Winton Water & Sanitary District

In addition, non-purveyor Members at Large include: 

• East Merced Resources Conservation District  

Non-Member Interest Groups:

• Meadowbrook Water Company
•  Lone Tree Mutual Water Co

Formed in 1997 by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), MAGPI is tasked with developing technical data and management strategies to ensure the health of the groundwater basin.  Since its formation, MAGPI's main issues have been implementation of the Merced Groundwater Management Plan, which promotes conjunctive surface water and groundwater management.  In June 2001, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and MAGPI entered into a MOU to work cooperatively to promote conjunctive use projects within the Merced basin.  Other activities completed by MAGPI include: 

Data Assessment (2002; DWR funding), which described the regional hydrogeologic setting of Eastern Merced County, compiled available water resources data and developed a data management plan for MAGPI members.

Conjunctive Use Site Assessment (2003; DWR funding), which compared and evaluated alternative artificial recharge sites.

Cressey Pilot Recharge Basin (ongoing; MID funding), which is providing very promising results with respect to infiltration rates for spreading basins.

Public Involvement (ongoing; DWR funding), aimed at improving coordination among MAGPI members and between MAGPI and other entities in the Basin

Groundwater Monitoring (ongoing; AB303 funding), aimed at defining stream-aquifer interaction along Bear Creek, in the vicinity of Merced.