When the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) began constructing the Colorado River Aqueduct, it acquired land for a small surface reservoir adjoining the pumping plant at Hayfield, between Palm Springs and Desert Center. When this natural basin adjoining the pumping plant was filled with water in 1939, it failed to retain that water. Investigations showed that the bottom of the reservoir was too porous to hold water, and the planned surface reservoir was cancelled. However, the land was retained.

MWD is now implementing a groundwater storage program in the Hayfield basin. MWD's Board of Directors has authorized $7 million to begin implementation. The Board has also authorized a feasibility investigation of the Upper Chuckwalla Groundwater Basin for a similar program. These two valleys are located in the Mojave Desert near the Julian Hinds and Eagle Mountain Pumping Plants. Approximately 58,600 acre-feet were stored in the Hayfield Groundwater Storage Program during demonstration program.

Spreading facilities and extraction wells will be constructed during implementation of the full-scale project. In addition, MWD will monitor evaporation, water quality, and water level information during the life of these programs.