A 23-mile segment of the earthen All American Canal [right, credit US Bur. of Reclamation] west of Yuma is being replaced with a concrete-lined parallel canal to reduce the amount of water lost by leaking into the sand dunes. It's expected to save 67,700 acre feet of water per year, equivalent to the needs of 500,000 southern Californians. An estimated 30 million cubic yards of sand are being excavated before the new canal will be lined according to the Yuma Sun.
The project was challenged by groups concerned that the leakage is a major recharge source for the Mexicali Valley aquifer.