the Grower October 2019
A publication for TID irrigation customers
Snowpack leads to plentiful 2019 Irrigation Season Thanks to a massive snowpack and a wetter
inches) also were wetter than historical
than normal February, March and May, the
average for the Tuolumne. All this equates
Tuolumne River wrapped the 2018-2019
to some 46 inches of precipitation in the
Water Year on Sept. 30 with a full natural flow
watershed this year compared to the average
around 3 million acre-feet (AF), well above
36 inches.
the historical DWR average of about 1.9 million AF.
Don Pedro Reservoir is currently being operated so the lake level will be lowered to elevation
The above average season continues the trend
801.9 feet or below until April 27, 2020, when
of decent or better years for the Tuolumne
storage in the Reservoir can be increased
Watershed on the heels of the drought years of
steadily to a full capacity elevation of around
2012-2015.
elevation 830 feet.
February historically yields around six inches
Don Pedro is consistent with the statewide
of watershed precipitation, however nearly 14
trend of reservoirs currently being at or near
inches of precipitation fell this past February.
capacity while making room for flood control for
March (nearly eight inches) and May (5.65
the winter.
Important Dates Last day to place irrigation orders October 27, 2019 Final day of irrigation season October 30, 2019 Water Use Statements mailed Mid-November Water transfers must be completed December 20, 2019 Second installment of Fixed Water Charge due December 20, 2019 First installment of Assessments due December 20, 2019 Irrigation Water Use statement due December 31, 2019
What authorities can GSAs enforce to comply with SGMA? Turlock Irrigation District is a member of the West Turlock Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), one of two GSAs (the other is the East Turlock Subbasin GSA) in the Turlock Subbasin. The GSAs were formed in 2017 to help comply with the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). The GSAs are currently developing a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) that will guide groundwater management in our area for decades to come. These two GSAs are hard at work to
device shall be borne by the owner
develop a GSP before the Jan. 31, 2022
or operator of each groundwater
requirements on new groundwater
extraction facility.
well construction to minimize well
state deadline. You can stay up to date by visiting turlockgroundwater.org to sign
5. GSAs may require pumpers to file an
10. GSAs may impose spacing
interference and impose reasonable
up for an email list, learn more about GSA
annual statement indicating the total
operating regulations on existing
members or get more information about
extraction in acre-feet of groundwater
groundwater wells to minimize well
upcoming meetings. The GSP engagement
from the facility during the previous
interference, including requiring
and outreach process will be a robust one,
water year.
extractors to operate on a rotation
seeking input from stakeholders well before
6. GSAs may acquire by grant,
basis.
the Turlock Subbasin draft GSP is released,
purchase, lease, gift, devise, contract,
which is expected to be sometime in 2021.
construction, or otherwise, and hold,
extractions by regulating, limiting, or
use, enjoy, sell, let, and dispose of,
suspending extractions from individual
It’s important to know these GSAs will be the
real and personal property of every
groundwater wells or extractions from
local regulators of groundwater quantity and
kind, including lands, water rights,
groundwater wells in the aggregate,
quality once a GSP is adopted locally and
structures, buildings, rights-of-way,
construction of new groundwater
approved by the state. As such, by taking
easements, and privileges, and
wells, enlargement of existing
a look at selected parts of sections 10725,
construct, maintain, alter, and operate
groundwater wells, or reactivation
10726 and 10730 of California’s Water Code,
any and all works or improvements,
of abandoned groundwater wells, or
within or outside the agency.
otherwise establishing groundwater
we wanted to make you aware of just 12 of the powers and authorities that these GSAs will have once a GSP is finalized: 1. GSAs may adopt rules, regulations, ordinances, and resolutions. 2. GSAs may conduct investigations. 3. GSAs may require registration of a groundwater extraction facility. 4. GSAs may require that the use of every groundwater extraction facility
7. GSAs may appropriate and acquire surface water or groundwater and
11. GSAs may control groundwater
extraction allocations. 12. GSAs may impose fees, including,
surface water or groundwater rights,
but not limited to, permit fees and
import surface water or groundwater
fees on groundwater extraction or
into the agency, and conserve and
other regulated activity, to fund the
store within or outside the agency.
costs of a groundwater sustainability
8. GSAs may provide for a program of
program, including, but not limited
voluntary fallowing of agricultural
to, preparation, adoption, and
lands or validate an existing program.
amendment of a groundwater
9. GSAs may provide surface water
sustainability plan, and investigations,
be measured by a water-measuring
in exchange for a groundwater
inspections, compliance assistance,
device satisfactory to the GSA. All
extractor’s agreement to reduce or
enforcement, and program
costs associated with the purchase
cease groundwater extractions (in-lieu
administration, including a prudent
and installation of the water-measuring
recharge).
reserve.
Rules to live by this winter From time to time, it is important for the District to remind growers and others working near District canals and facilities regarding a few selected rules set forth in TID’s Irrigation Rules. TID’s Irrigation Rules exist pursuant to Water Code Section 22257 to ensure the orderly, efficient, and
System changes? We’re here to help Growers planning to convert from flood to drip/
Agreement (RLA). Each of these two approvals
micro/sprinkler irrigation are encouraged to
can take several weeks to process as new
contact TID prior to performing work so TID can
side gates require TID approval, and the RLAs
verify that a non-standard head can be delivered.
are approved by AGM Water Resources after an internal review by key department/division
Remember, irrigation systems connecting to TID
managers.
facilities must be reviewed and approved by TID prior to construction. Systems installed without
Growers shall not plant or place trees,
prior approval may be denied water if the
vines, shrubs, fences, or any other type of
configuration is not compatible with the District’s
encroachment in, on, or over any District or
infrastructure and operations.
improvement district conduit or any District right-of-way unless the District has given specific
Talking to TID before making a decision on your
written approval for such encroachment.
irrigation system helps ensure you do not invest in the wrong type of system. Additionally, TID
Please contact TID prior to placing encroachments
encourages you to contact the District if you wish
in the District’s rights-of-way. TID can also help to
to install a new sidegate in the canal system.
identify and mark the right-of-way, often at no cost
New installations will only be allowed in the canal
to growers.
system through the month of February, weather permitting.
Growers intending to use TID canals and laterals or Improvement District facilities for irrigation
Growers wanting to backflush surface water from
purposes during the off-season must contact
their micro system into the canal are required
the Water Distribution Department (883-8356) to
to have prior approval of a Revocable License
coordinate the use.
the Grower | October 2019
equitable distribution, use and conservation of water resources of the District. These rules are designed to allow TID to continue to meet the needs of all growers that rely on irrigation water. TID endeavors to deliver irrigation water in a flexible, timely manner consistent with the physical and operational limits of delivery facilities. In order to do this, TID needs to be able to conduct water distribution operations and maintenance while free of obstructions. A full copy of TID’s Irrigation Rules is available online at tid.org/water/irrigation. Water Distribution Operators also have copies available for growers. TID thanks you for your continued compliance.
333 East Canal Drive P.O. Box 949 Turlock, CA 95381 (209) 883-8300
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