ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD/District) celebrated a significant milestone in its Well 23 Groundwater Project on August 27 with the signing of a Project Agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at the future Well 23 site at Warner Basin in Anaheim. 

The agreement represents the culmination of more than four years of collaboration and marks an important step toward advancing the design of YLWD’s Well 23, which will become the District’s 11th groundwater well. Once complete, the project will provide an additional source of locally produced water and help reduce the District’s reliance on imported water supplies, strengthening the long-term reliability and resilience of the water supply serving the community.

The ceremony brought together federal, regional and local leaders who helped make the project possible, including Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-40), the YLWD Board, the Orange County Water District Board, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“It was a lot of hard work to get us to where we are today, but we certainly did not do it alone,” said Mark Toy, YLWD General Manager. “In my experience, great projects are a result of great partnerships, and we are incredibly grateful to the partners who have helped bring this project to this important milestone, and especially to Representative Young Kim, without whom this project would not be made possible.”

Congresswoman Kim’s advocacy was instrumental in helping YLWD secure $1.1 million in federal funding to advance the Well 23 project. Her continued support for critical water infrastructure helped establish the foundation for the partnership celebrated at the ceremony.

Col. Josh Bost, commander of the Los Angeles District, USACE, highlighted the broader importance of the partnership, emphasizing that investments that make water systems more reliable, resilient, and sustainable ultimately strengthen the communities that depend on them.

“Water reliability is a shared responsibility,” said Gene Hernandez, YLWD Board President. “This project demonstrates the tremendous value of partnerships and what we can accomplish together to protect and strengthen our local water supplies.”

YLWD is grateful for the partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Congresswoman Young Kim and her staff, the Orange County Water District, and the many individuals whose advocacy, expertise and commitment have helped move Well 23 forward. For YLWD, the Well 23 partnership represents a meaningful investment in the future—one that will help diversify local water supplies, strengthen resilience, and support reliable water service for generations to come.

To hear from the leaders and partners who helped make this milestone possible, watch the full Well 23 Project Agreement Signing Ceremony on YLWD’s YouTube channel.

For more information on the Well 23 Groundwater Project, contact the Yorba Linda Water District at 714-701-3000 or email the Public Affairs Team at pio@ylwd.com.