Feds grant $5M to Indian Wells for flood protection

Indian Wells has received a $5 million federal grant for the Whitewater Channel Lining Project that aims to enhance flood protection, the city announced Thursday. 

The project will improve the Whitewater River Stormwater Channel’s structural soundness to safeguard Indian Wells from damage-causing floods by installing about 7,400 feet of concrete-reinforced slope protection along the north and south sides of the channel, officials said. The channel has a total drainage area of 743 square miles and is a key “flood conveyance system” for the Coachella Valley. 

This project will line the area of the channel located downstream from the municipal golf course, according to the city’s website. In addition to reinforcing the north and south sides of the channel slopes, “scour will be mitigated by deepened footings along the base of the wall. The channel lining will protect the slopes from erosion, lessening the impacts of sediment transport downstream from the project site.”

Officials also anticipate the project will drive economic development and create jobs in Indian Wells. 

“This funding marks a significant milestone for Indian Wells’ infrastructure and economic growth,” Indian Wells Mayor Greg Sanders said in a statement. “On behalf of the entire City of Indian Wells I want to express my thanks to Congressman Calvert for championing such a transformative project that will ensure the safety and security of our community and lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.”

Rep. Ken Calvert, R-Corona, secured the project’s funding as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which allocated $44.1 million for projects within Calvert’s 41st Congressional District.

“Riverside County continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the state and country, which is why we need additional resources to build long-overdue infrastructure projects for our residents,” Calvert said in a statement. “My staff and I have worked collaboratively with the Indian Wells City Council and staff to prioritize the Whitewater Channel Lining project to receive federal funding. This project will provide the community with much-needed protection from flood-related damage and facilitate economic development for the region.”

More information and project updates are available on the city’s website.

No information on the project’s time frame was immediately available.

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