Modesto Irrigation District

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Modesto Irrigation District
Modesto Irrigation District Logo.png
District overview
Formed 1887 (1887-MM)
TypeIrrigation district
HeadquartersModesto, California
Employees412
Websitewww.mid.org
Map
{{{map_alt}}}

The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) is a special-purpose district that provides irrigation and drinking water, and electrical service, to customers in the San Joaquin Valley within Stanislaus County, California.

It was the second established irrigation district in California, using the resources of the Tuolumne River. The district now supplies irrigation water to 3,100 agricultural customers, electrical service to over 120,000 customers, and drinking water to the city of Modesto.

History[]

The Modesto Irrigation District was the second irrigation district to be established in California, in July 1887, under the Wright Act of 1887, which allowed the formation of special-purpose districts throughout California. The voters within the district's proposed boundaries were overwhelmingly in favor of the formation, but a determined opposition to the district's formation and taxing authority carried on a legal battle with the district until the US Supreme Court sided with the district in 1898. Anti-irrigationists continued to prevent the collection of taxes until 1901.[1]

The district initially sought to divert water from the Stanislaus River, but ultimately decided that the Tuolumne River was a better source of water. In 1893, the La Grange Dam was completed, enclosing . This small dam provided a diversion point for water delivered to the , which provided 2/3 of the building cost. After a long delay caused by legal battles, the district finally started providing irrigation water in 1903.

Between 1904 and 1913 the Modesto Irrigation District, Turlock Irrigation District, and the city of San Francisco were embroiled in a dispute over the use of the Tuolumne River. San Francisco needed more drinking water, and the two districts wanted to continue exclusive use of the river. Despite opposition from John Muir and the Sierra Club, San Francisco ultimately prevailed with the passing of the Raker Act, which authorized construction of the O'Shaughnessy Dam on the Tuolumne River, and eventually turned the Hetch Hetchy Valley into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. By 1940, San Francisco and the two districts had become allies to protect and develop the Tuolumne River watershed.

In 1911, the was completed, enclosing the . The first Don Pedro Dam was completed in 1923, enclosing Don Pedro Reservoir. The dam construction costs were divided between the district and the Turlock Irrigation district. In 1971, the second Don Pedro Dam was completed, enlarging the reservoir from 290,000 acre feet to 2,030,000 acre feet.

Electrical service started in 1923, after the Don Pedro Powerhouse connected with the Don Pedro Dam was completed.

In 1978, the district merged with the .

In 1994, the district started drinking water service to Modesto after the was completed.

Reservoirs and dams[]

There are three reservoirs operated by the Modesto Irrigation District:[2]

Other facilities[]

The district operates several major facilities:

  • - Electricity Generation
  • - Electricity Generation
  • - Electricity Generation
  • - Electricity Generation
  • - Electricity Generation
  • - Electricity Generation
  • - Water Treatment

Governance and management[]

The Modesto Irrigation District is governed by a Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists of five members, one from each geographical division of the district. A Board President and Vice President are selected yearly by the board. Daily management is provided by a General Manager and four Assistant General Managers (AGMs)

The Board of Directors has the follow members as of 5 Dec 2013:

  • Larry Byrd (Division 1)
  • John Mensinger (Division 2)
  • Paul Campbell (Division 3)
  • Stu Gilman (Division 4)
  • Nick Blom (Division 5)

The General Management consists of:

  • Scott Furgerson (General Manager)
  • Greg Salyer (Senior Assistant General Manager Electric Operations)
  • James McFall (Assistant General Manager Electric Operations)
  • Scott Van Vuren (Assistant General Manager Finance/Treasurer)
  • Ed Franciosa (Assistant General Manager Transmission & Distribution)
  • John Davids (Assistant General Manager Water Operations)

References[]

  1. ^ Barnes, Dwight. "The Greening of Paradise Valley". Modesto Irrigation district. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. ^ "MID Fast Facts". Modesto Irrigation District. Retrieved 15 January 2013.

External links[]

Coordinates: 37°38′37″N 121°00′09″W / 37.6436°N 121.0026°W / 37.6436; -121.0026

Retrieved from ""