Oakdale Irrigation District water resources plan - a California water management case study
Date
2007-10
Authors
Knell, Steven R., author
Eldridge, Gregory W., author
U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage, publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
In response to a range of internal and external drivers and the need to protect the district's pre-1914 water rights, Oakdale Irrigation District (OID) developed a long-term Water Resources Plan (WRP). The 100-year-old irrigation district provides irrigation and domestic water service to over 55,000 acres in California's San Joaquin Valley. The study effort created a strategic roadmap for the implementation of a $170 million capital program focused on protecting OID's water rights while meeting the changing needs of its constituency and serving the region. The second phase included programmatic environmental documentation, which is being followed by design and construction of facility improvements. This multi-disciplined effort included detailed land use modeling, water balance modeling, on-farm surveys, a comprehensive infrastructure assessment, and the development of a phased infrastructure plan to rehabilitate and modernize an out-of-date system. The approach also integrated water right evaluations, groundwater studies, development and evaluation of program alternatives, financial analyses, environmental compliance, and public outreach. Key benefits resulting from WRP implementation include protecting the district's water rights, increasing reliability during droughts, and modernizing a century-old system to meet the needs of its current and future customer base. Implementation includes a balanced effort of water transfers and expansion of service into OID's sphere of influence while keeping water rates affordable. OID's infrastructure will be rebuilt, modernized, and expanded, and customer service and water use efficiency will be enhanced.
Description
Presented at the Role of irrigation and drainage in a sustainable future: USCID fourth international conference on irrigation and drainage on October 3-6, 2007 in Sacramento, California.